Cheap compact wort pump

[alien]

That's the set up I have. It's easy to get the wires back to front. What voltage do you have going in, have you measured it? I got variable flow rate at 10 cm head using about 10 VDC on my SP20/20 solar pump.

You should be able to tell how fast it is pumping from the pitch of the whine that the motor makes. It's a rather discouraging noise. It certainly operates more quietly without using the dimmer.

The issue with the whine is that this LED dimmer works around 1kHz which is fast enough so that you can't see flicker on LEDs, but slow enough that you can hear motor whine in the audio range. Proper motor speed controllers use PWM at > 20kHz so the whine is too high pitched to hear.

 

[KramE]

The ebay Tops 15 knock off's shipping is down from $100 to $0.99, but it now costs $85. Crazy seller.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-Power...712?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccf8d6058

 

[lakedawgs]

That's the set up I have. It's easy to get the wires back to front. What voltage do you have going in, have you measured it? I got variable flow rate at 10 cm head using about 10 VDC on my SP20/20 solar pump.

You should be able to tell how fast it is pumping from the pitch of the whine that the motor makes. It's a rather discouraging noise. It certainly operates more quietly without using the dimmer.

The issue with the whine is that this LED dimmer works around 1kHz which is fast enough so that you can't see flicker on LEDs, but slow enough that you can hear motor whine in the audio range. Proper motor speed controllers use PWM at > 20kHz so the whine is too high pitched to hear.

Took the dimmer to work and one our electricians opened it up. Determined the pot was good but the board was not. Not worth trying to get a refund. Just ordered a PWM like the one I use on my stir plate. My coworker said that is a much better solution anyway.
THANKS

 

[wheineman]

I sent a message to Niceyounglady asking if she would sell outside of ebay for the original price. I will update everyone with what she says!

 

[alien]

Sorry it didn't work out. The LED dimmer is itself a PWM device. When it works

 

[tre9er]

I got a very broken english reply from the ebay seller myself, saying something was wrong with the shipping cost on the listing and she was going to get her "colleague" to fix it. Still think they realized demand was higher than expected for these, so they jacked up the price.

 

[lakedawgs]

Sorry it didn't work out. The LED dimmer is itself a PWM device. When it works

Shoot, as much of the ridiculously cheap stuff I buy like this from Honk Kong, this is the first thing to not work and the pot if fine and will be saved.
Here is the PWM I use on my stir plate. http://tinyurl.com/bcvottv

 

[WestCoastBrewmonkey]

Has anyone ordered one from solarproject.co.uk?

 

[alien]

Has anyone ordered one from solarproject.co.uk?

Yes, I ordered the SP20/20, 14W version.

 

[WestCoastBrewmonkey]

Yes, I ordered the SP20/20, 14W version.

Happy with it? That's the one I was considering buying.

 

[alien]

So far I've only used it to transfer fluids rather than recirculate but I have no complaints. It runs quietly and pumps at a reasonable rate. The customer rep has been responsive to emails.

I wanted the more powerful version for the fastest possible recirculation but if I was getting a second one just to transfer liquids I'd get the cheap beige one off ebay. I'm not 100% they are the same pump but for $22 I would take the chance. I suspect these pumps do need replacing eventually so I am somewhat sensitive to price.

 

[wheineman]

From YoungNiceLady on Ebay:

Thanks for your message.
I am happy to hear that you like the item, but sorry that we found the last several items defective, I am afraid as a reliable seller, we could only send the product in 100\% well-tested and perfect working condition, so we raise the price to control sales, I think i am telling you truth, so i hope you can understand me, thanks a lot.
If you really want, could you help to wait for the price return to normal, thanks a lot,
Or if you need it urgently, could you help to order it from other sellers, please kindly understand that.
Any questions will be welcomed to touch me any time.
I will try my best to help you.
Have a nice day.
Best wishes.

 

[tre9er]

From YoungNiceLady on Ebay:

Her engrish is impeccable

 

[wheineman]

I get the feeling that "she" is neither young, nor a lady! Maybe nice, but I also think there is some price gouging there!

 

[alien]

Road of borrocks!

 

[troutcatcher413]

I just ordered this one off eBay from hk. http://bit.ly/12TugAR


Specs claim food grade and 105*c



Brand new and high quality.
This is brand new water pump P-38E, food-grade, high quality and reliable.
Suitable for: Aquarium, solar-panel circulate system, fountain, electronic refrigerator, water heater etc.
Rated voltage: 12V DC.
Rated current: 0.8A.
Food-grade: Yes .
Capacity: 6.5L/Min (109 GPH).
Pump head: 2M.
Noise: <=60dBA/10cm.
Working temperature: -35C ~ +105C.
Service life: 26000 hours up.
Motor: DC brushless motor.
Pump: Centrifugal pump.
Size:9.2cm x 4.5cm x 6.3cm - 3.62inch x 1.77inch x 2.48inch.
Package Included:

1 x Centrifugal Water Pump
NO Retail Box. Packed Safely in Bubble Bag.

 

[KramE]

From YoungNiceLady on Ebay:

Doesn't sound good for me!

 

[stinkmuis]

I just got one of these, powered with a drill

 

[johns]

I just got one of these, powered with a drill

more info, where did you find this, what is the head like, and the flow rate. Do you have any other picture please? What is the rated rpm or just goes as fast and the drill can spin? Any negitives?

 

[stinkmuis]

i found it here ( holland)

http://www.brouwmarkt.nl/pomp-voor-boormachine-p-383.html

I think it wil go just as fast as the drill, i use,d it ones and span the drill easy. 50 liters in something like 6 minutes ( i think it can go much faster) easy to clean to. Just pomp water and starsan when you are done, and hang it out to dry. bought it for 69,00 euro. No downside found so far

this weekeind i am brewing again and i will make some pictures

 

[johns]

thats in interesting design, but a bit too expensive for me. I think for almost the same price a chugger could be found.. However do you think they would ship to the states? Let us know

 

[stinkmuis]

I dont know if the ship to the state's. just send an email to find out.

 

[KramE]

I just received my ebay pump (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-Power...712?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ccf8d6058). I ordered it when it was $32, and it feels solid i.e. heavy. I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but after looking at the threads they are clearly not NPT (as predicted).

It only goes about one and half turns into the ball valve, and while I knew this ahead of time, now that I have it in my hands, I am less than thrilled when it comes to trusting those two threads to circulate hot wort.

Can anyone attest to the non-tapered threads actually maintaining a solid hold?

Again, I would like to acknowledge that these "issues" were known prior to ordering thanks to everyone researching on this thread.

 

[alien]

I have the solarproject.co.uk pump with non-tapered 1/2" BSP threads and can attest that 1/2" NPT fittings go on just fine and don't leak provided you use enough PTFE tape. Proper 1/2" BSP fittings that seal on a washer are probably preferable though if you are unscrewing them a lot. I have 1/2" BSP copper tap connectors from the UK, not sure what's available here but John Guest do beverage fittings in 1/2" BSP.

 

[johns]

FYI Krame those pumps are now 86 usd.....Its not even NPT ...WTF. For those prices better to buy a chugger, which defeats the purpose of this thead.

I just hate greedy people. I will never buy a pumb from her. She is in China. Better to buy something here.

 

[WestCoastBrewmonkey]

For those with a pump with BSP threads you will be ok. The only difference between them and NPT is 5 degrees on the threads. They are both 14 threads per inch. There are BSP to NPT adapters available or you could just put a couple extra rounds of tape.

 

[KramE]

Anything wrong with taking a 1/2" NPT die and following the threads to shave off the 5 degrees? The adapters are $40+

 

[lakedawgs]

I also wondered about running a tapered die for a couple of turns.

 

[KramE]

In case no one has seen these.. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006NTNGN0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Makes connecting wires easier than splicing

 

[whitehause]

Anything wrong with taking a 1/2" NPT die and following the threads to shave off the 5 degrees? The adapters are $40+

I think this would work. A thread file would work as well I think.