Cheap compact wort pump

[MX1]

Again, I think that hte best option is to use these smaller pumps in the HLT, if it fails as a HLT recirc, then you really have not lost anything from your ability to continue brewing.

Tim

 

[theCougfan97]

Has anyone been able to repair a non responsive small beige pump? Or is it dead and gone with no hope of repair?

 

[Mojzis]

Are these things breaking frequently?

I've only got two batches with mine and I'll be bummed if it dies soon.

 

[BrewDawg79]

Again, I think that hte best option is to use these smaller pumps in the HLT, if it fails as a HLT recirc, then you really have not lost anything from your ability to continue brewing.

Tim

Thanks, Tim. That's exactly what I plan to use mine for. Just ordered one, and it's on the way.

 

[two_hearted]

Has anyone been able to repair a non responsive small beige pump? Or is it dead and gone with no hope of repair?

I was able to repair mine. I disassembled and found some gunk lodged in some tight places. I agree that these should only be used for water. They can too easily be shut down with the tiniest but of trub or hops.

 

[sablesurfer]

I am assuming mine is ded ded. You can take the cover off the front, where the blades are. If you had something wedged in there, you can clean it. Taking the washer that holds the blades off is more difficult and I kinda bent mine.
There is no way to get into the motor area on mine. It is all glued up I guess.

 

[Super_Coo]

I was thinking of trying one of these pumps to transfer wine through a 1-micron filter into another carboy but just wanted to see if you guys had any thoughts on that. My only concern/issue might be priming it to get it started?

 

[Mojzis]

I was thinking of trying one of these pumps to transfer wine through a 1-micron filter into another carboy but just wanted to see if you guys had any thoughts on that. My only concern/issue might be priming it to get it started?

If you have a port on your fermentation vessel you should be good to go. However, I would be concerned with oxidation when I filtered and placed into another carboy....

 

[Schlomo]

Had one of my 2 pumps go out on my during my last brew session. I have one setup to recirc my HLT, and one to transfer/recirc my mash, the one that failed was on the mash. I took the head off it and noticed that when i put power to it, it tried to move, but there was too much friction on the inside. If you pull out the impellar while it is connected to the magnet on the center shaft, I noticed that there was enough small bits of wert on the inside that would cause the friction. Cleaned out the middle and the magnetic drive and it worked like a charm.

 

[Daves69]

I bought one of the tan pumps a few months ago, I used it on the HLT to recirc/set the grain bed, I was brewing a pumpkin beer and even with the pumpkin in the mash It worked great! However with that said all I wanted to use it for was see if putting a pump into my system made sense for me. Well it did so I bought a Chugger now I am looking to buy a second chugger and recirc though my HCFC.

 

[dyqik]

Dropped my little tan pump (into sanitizer) on Monday, and broke off the two mounting tabs. It carried on working fine though. I guess I need to find a U shaped clamp to clamp it to the piece of wood I attached it and the switch to.

I think I might also be looking for a more powerful pump, as my cooling rate by recirculating through the kettle and CFC chiller is massively limited by the flow rate of the pump - the output cooling water is barely warm, even with the water flow set to about 1/4 of maximum. I guess a Chugger or March is the safe option here. I'd keep the little tan pump as a potential RIMS pump though.

 

[bethebrew]

Recirculation pumps are not a good thing. Gravity is a good thing. I use gravity. No priming issues, no cavitation issues, unlikely to have motor failure or get clogged up.

 

[dyqik]

Recirculation pumps are not a good thing. Gravity is a good thing. I use gravity. No priming issues, no cavitation issues, unlikely to have motor failure or get clogged up.

How do you recirculate with gravity, exactly?

 

[Mojzis]

How do you recirculate with gravity, exactly?

By picking things up and putting them down like a boss. Duh

 

[two_hearted]

Recirculation pumps are not a good thing. Gravity is a good thing. I use gravity. No priming issues, no cavitation issues, unlikely to have motor failure or get clogged up.

If you have the right pump, recirculating with a pump is a beautiful thing. Flip a switch and wait 10-20 minutes and you have brilliantly clear wort.

 

[dyqik]

By picking things up and putting them down like a boss. Duh

And that's a smart thing to do with 11 gallons of boiling wort?

 

[Mojzis]

And that's a smart thing to do with 11 gallons of boiling wort?

Sure, why not? Test out the new affordable healthcare

 

[inamays]

I used my little tan pump this weekend for the first time, and while I would say it is a bit of a challenge getting the pump to prime properly to push fluids through, once it gets going, it works really well. I can see the allure of "self-priming pumps" after using this little guy.

Overall, I'm super satisfied and feel that this is a great value at $20.

 

[MX1]

Recirculation pumps are not a good thing. Gravity is a good thing. I use gravity. No priming issues, no cavitation issues, unlikely to have motor failure or get clogged up.

My HLT does not care about cavitation.

While many are using these to move wort, I will use as a HLT recirculation only.

Tim

 

[jcp]

Can someone tell me what camlock fittings I would need for each side of the tan wonder (i.e. input and output) if I wanted to pick them up from, say, Bargain Fittings? Use small words, and speak to me as if I had a head injury, or something.

 

[ianw58]

From BrewHardware:

Type A

If you use the make camlock parts on all equipment, use female camlocks on your hoses. That way, either end of the hose works.

Best tip I've had fir ages came from Bobby. Use a little keg lube on the cams when you first get them. It'll be MUCH easier to make them work. After they've been worked a few times, they won't need the lube any more. Thanks, Bobby!

 

[mattd2]

From BrewHardware:

Type A

If you use the make camlock parts on all equipment, use female camlocks on your hoses. That way, either end of the hose works.

Best tip I've had fir ages came from Bobby. Use a little keg lube on the cams when you first get them. It'll be MUCH easier to make them work. After they've been worked a few times, they won't need the lube any more. Thanks, Bobby!

Or a type A on the outlet and a type D (femal camlock x female NPT/BSP) on the inlet, this way you could hook it straight to the outlet and then the hose on to that.

 

[jcp]

Welp, my wife is in Chicago for the weekend, so I needed a project to keep me sane. Since I had my tan wonder pump, I decided to pull the somewhat-pricey trigger on two ball valves, a 90-degree elbow for a whirlpool, and a thermometer for my brew kettle. Combined with some high-temp silicone hose, some hose clamps, and an old DC power supply from my (very unsuccessful) PC watercooling days and a few trips to the local Tru Value, I give you my own incarnation of the cheap wort pump:

Here is the tan wonder, mounted to a Radio Shack project box and outfitted with a SPDT (Single-Pole Double-Throw) switch. I would have preferred a pump caddy of some kind, but I wanted to brew without worrying that I was risking shorting out the wiring.

No fooling, that power supply can deliver 12V of direct current at 17 freaking amps. I had blown a couple of wall warts and was rummaging through my garbage bag of surplus computer parts when I looked up and saw this bad boy on the shelf. No chance of the tan wonder outrunning this thing! I attached 15 feet of extension cord to the project box so I can keep the power supply well out of the reach of any liquid.

Here's my newly upgraded el cheapo, lightweight aluminum brewpot. The fittings are worth infinitely more than the pot itself, which I got with my propane burner at Lowe's. The metal is so lightweight that I didn't even bother with a step bit; a 1" spade bit with occasional sprays of silicone lubricant and I was through.

The equipment is all from morebeer.com, and is extremly well put together. All in all, a successful build day. I'm looking forward to being able to cool my wort without having to deal with the inevitable wild yeast contamination, which plagues all of my batches. At the end of the boil, I plan to lid up (with some notches cut into the lid to deal with the immersion chiller), fire up the tan wonder, sit back, and watch the temps drop.

 

[punkiwishiwere]

This has been asked before without a reply, but has anyone tried or have insight into the use of the last pump on the spreadsheet?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC50C-1240S...318?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item338143962e

It says nothing about food-grade, so I'm assuming it is not.

 

[mendozer]

i ended up buying the Topsflo one from brewingpump.com. I figure go with the bigger one with SS NPT for $70 aint bad. I'll fit it to a laptop charger or something similar soon

 

[Krusher]

Hi there guys just read threw all 54 pages and i was wonder about a pump to transfer wine from my carboy or plastic conical threw one those filter plates or whole house filter .what you guys think bout this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-RV-Mari..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item2323ea6bd4&vxp=mtr

 

[ianw58]

Hmmm. Probably not food safe. Beware.

 

[greyghost]

I have only one to say about these pumps save your money and buy a chugger. I have been through 5 of these enough to buy a chugger which I finally did. Now happier than a pig in poop .

 

[Mojzis]

I have only one to say about these pumps save your money and buy a chugger. I have been through 5 of these enough to buy a chugger which I finally did. Now happier than a pig in poop .

I like my little cheap pump, but no way in hell i'd buy 5. If anything this little thing has made me want a real pump more.

 

[TripleHopped]

Hi there guys just read threw all 54 pages and i was wonder about a pump to transfer wine from my carboy or plastic conical threw one those filter plates or whole house filter .what you guys think bout this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-RV-Mari..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item2323ea6bd4&vxp=mtr

I have seen other ones like this one that say they are food safe. One could probably take that this is food safe since it mentions they can be used in RV's, Mobile Homes for sinks and taps.