Cheap compact wort pump

[augiedoggy]

Is it really simple like wire to PWM then PWM to pump?

yup

 

[mendozer]

when mine comes in, I hope it's as easy as yours sounded to hook up

 

[iijakii]

I just got two of the Topsflos with ss fittings for $50/pc on eBay. Made an offer instead of their $70 buy price and they accepted. Wondering if I should have just tried the $20 ones, but those have such mixed reviews and everyone seems to love their bigger topsflo.

 

[augiedoggy]

I just got two of the Topsflos with ss fittings for $50/pc on eBay. Made an offer instead of their $70 buy price and they accepted. Wondering if I should have just tried the $20 ones, but those have such mixed reviews and everyone seems to love their bigger topsflo.

they both work fine... the topsflo is bigger... just doesnt seem to flow anymore than the tan one in my setup with little restriction.

 

[iijakii]

Yeah, I hadn't seen any reviews of people snapping their topsflos in half though, lol.

 

[Woodbrews]

Would this power supply work for this Topsflo pump?

Eventually, I assume it would be possible to build a PWM controller, like this, into a project box to control the speed of the pump.

But I also assume that the pump could be used without a speed controller, correct?

FYI, I'd be using the pump primarily for recirculating my eBIAB kettle.

Thanks,
Woodbrews

 

[iijakii]

Yeah that would be fine. Even overkill, really.

 

[mendozer]

I just got two of the Topsflos with ss fittings for $50/pc on eBay. Made an offer instead of their $70 buy price and they accepted. Wondering if I should have just tried the $20 ones, but those have such mixed reviews and everyone seems to love their bigger topsflo.

ooh sweet deal. I got mine straight from great breweh or whatever from canada.

 

[SilverZero]

Would this power supply work for this Topsflo pump?

Eventually, I assume it would be possible to build a PWM controller, like this, into a project box to control the speed of the pump.

But I also assume that the pump could be used without a speed controller, correct?

FYI, I'd be using the pump primarily for recirculating my eBIAB kettle.

Thanks,
Woodbrews

I use my tan pump every brew to recirculate my kettle during hop stand, chilling, and transfer, and I power it directly off a 12V computer PSU I salvaged and converted to a bench-top PSU. Works great.

 

[Woodbrews]

I use my tan pump every brew to recirculate my kettle during hop stand, chilling, and transfer, and I power it directly off a 12V computer PSU I salvaged and converted to a bench-top PSU. Works great.

Thanks for that. I just received my Topsflo and will use it for the next eBIAB brew. I definitely had some temperature stratification during the mash (measured by a RTD in a T fitting with my sight glass and a clip-on bimetal thermometer clipped to the top of the kettle. I stirred periodically, so I don't think it affected my mash, but adding recirculating likely would reduce the need for stirring. It also makes sense to use it for chilling; even with an immersion chiller, recirculating the wort while the IC is in the kettle is better than just letting it sit there.

For transfer, gravity works fine for now.

 

[iijakii]

Cute lil bugga

Not sure how I'll mount them yet though.

 

[pvtschultz]

I purchased a used Speck MY2-6000 off of eBay for around $60. It is stainless and magnetically coupled. The rated 6 gpm is plenty to whirlpool and the pump is nearly silent. I am driving it with a multi voltage 2 amp laptop power supply.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Mojzis]

I purchased a used Speck MY2-6000 off of eBay for around $60. It is stainless and magnetically coupled. The rated 6 gpm is plenty to whirlpool and the pump is nearly silent. I am driving it with a multi voltage 2 amp laptop power supply.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

Tried searching ebay, and i'm seeing the MY2-8000 for 62$ shipped. 8 GPM, 24vdc, inlet ID is 1/4" and outlet ID is 5/8". Seems odd. Is this the way yours is?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-Speck-...-GERMANY-/370634187107?_trksid=p2054897.l4275


Could you show us a picture on how yours looks?

 

[pvtschultz]

Tried searching ebay, and i'm seeing the MY2-8000 for 62$ shipped. 8 GPM, 24vdc, inlet ID is 1/4" and outlet ID is 5/8". Seems odd. Is this the way yours is?

Could you show us a picture on how yours looks?

That pump has the barb outlet, but not the threaded inlet. You could probably tap the inlet if you are handy or have access to someone with a pipe tap. My pump came with 1/4" female BSP in/out ports which accepted MPT with little fuss. Otherwise, keep an eye out. They seem to come up regularly on ebay. The MY2-8000 draws a listed 4.5 amps which makes for a more expensive power supply.

 

[johns]

are these german pumps submersible?


also on their website it says that they operate at 80c max. If the impeller and housing are stainless or brass and its magnetic driven, why would it not be food safe?

Any thought or ideas would be appreciated.

http://www.speck.de/index.php?id=62&L=1&tx_pumps_pi1[cat]=62&tx_pumps_pi1[prod]=54

 

[pvtschultz]

Not submersible. From what I understand, the impeller itself is plastic, though I can't confirm. I have run mine at boiling temps but had to throttle it back due to cavitation. I need to wrap up my plumbing inside the keggle before I can whirlpool and better use the pump post boil.



Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[pvtschultz]

This guy used a length of copper tubing and JB Weld to make a usable inlet.

http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=27117


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Mojzis]

Ive got one of these for my magnetic stir bar
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Durable-Pul...828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c3d5541a4

and two of these for my pumps,http://www.ebay.com/itm/10A-DC-12V-...699?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c768bba43

these should work also..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-36V-PWM...919?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ecf1c3cdf

How well do these pwm's work for you? Do they go from off to full throttle?

I'm asking because I bought this one for my panel:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hi-Q-Pulse-...128?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ce86df20

And it barely reduces speed. I was considering getting a different size pot.

 

[pvtschultz]

How well do these pwm's work for you? Do they go from off to full throttle?



I'm asking because I bought this one for my panel:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hi-Q-Pulse-...128?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35ce86df20



And it barely reduces speed. I was considering getting a different size pot.

Try reversing the polarity. I used to use the cheap LED dimmers to control the fan speed in my stir plates. The first tries didn't work because I had the polarity going to either the input of the PWM or the fan backwards.

Which pump are you using it for?


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Mojzis]

Try reversing the polarity. I used to use the cheap LED dimmers to control the fan speed in my stir plates. The first tries didn't work because I had the polarity going to either the input of the PWM or the fan backwards.

Which pump are you using it for?


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

By reversing the polarity do you mean switching up the pot wiring?

I'm trying to use it for my topsflo (which I just broke and need a new one). But when it didn't slow the pump down far enough I tried it on my little tan one. Same thing. Then I tried using the pot from my LED dimmer (which works great) on the pwm and it didn't even run.

 

[pvtschultz]

I'm not sure how well those brushless motors can be slowed down. Might be better off putting a valve on the discharge side to regulate flow.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[Woodbrews]

I purchased a Topsflo TS5 pump recently (12v). Can anyone recommend a reliable variable voltage power supply for it?

I can run it off a 12v wall wart, but I'd like to be able to control its speed. I am hoping to find a variable voltage power supply that would do it.

Thanks!

 

[Indian_villager]

So after a while my tan pump has been giving me trouble as of late. I find that the issue is gumming up of the brass bushing they are using as a "bearing" anyone run into this issue or solve it?

 

[augiedoggy]

I'm not sure how well those brushless motors can be slowed down. Might be better off putting a valve on the discharge side to regulate flow.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

well I am sure because its been mentioned by myself and others going pretty far back in this thread who use them. If you read some of the thread you will see they do work fine.
Ive been using them with pwm controllers since december with no issues.... They work and they might stress the pumps less than a ballvalve..

 

[mendozer]

ok finally got my PWM.

I have this plug and this PWM

That's one of the pictures on amazon. Is the left two the power cord and the right bundle from the pump?

 

[Weezy]

ok finally got my PWM.

That's one of the pictures on amazon. Is the left two the power cord and the right bundle from the pump?

Yes, left two are power in from 12v power supply, right is out to pump. This one is powering two devices, as you can see two sets of wires on the out side.

 

[mendozer]

ok sweet. I'll hook this up and post pics when I get around to it. Gotta get a box first.

 

[jcoxen]

I've got a question for someone who knows a LOT more than me about motors and pumps. I found these two pumps on eBay

This one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121312406089?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

and this one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380857777247?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Specs on the pumps are very similar and I've done some additional digging on the Internet for more information which brought me to this page...

http://www.dcbrushlesspump.com/Brushless-DC-Pump(DC40C)-p29.html

From the looks of things, the difference between the two pumps is that one is 2-Phase and one is 3-Phase (and comes with a PWM speed controller). The 3-Phase version handles higher temps but seems to be pretty much identical otherwise.

So, are both of these the same pump - one with a PWM and one without? Or are the internals different on the pumps?

 

[EdMerican]

I've got a question for someone who knows a LOT more than me about motors and pumps. I found these two pumps on eBay

This one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121312406089?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

and this one...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380857777247?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Specs on the pumps are very similar and I've done some additional digging on the Internet for more information which brought me to this page...

http://www.dcbrushlesspump.com/Brushless-DC-Pump(DC40C)-p29.html

From the looks of things, the difference between the two pumps is that one is 2-Phase and one is 3-Phase (and comes with a PWM speed controller). The 3-Phase version handles higher temps but seems to be pretty much identical otherwise.

So, are both of these the same pump - one with a PWM and one without? Or are the internals different on the pumps?

Not claiming to be a pump expert but the first mentions being food grade, but working temp up to 60c. Thats pretty far from boiling.

The second says it has a working range to 100c but doesn't say food grade.

I am viewing it on my phone though and may not get the full picture without more digging.

 

[Kmcogar]

Can someone put a stickie together for this pump? Or a new thread....I want to get one but this thread is forever long. I see people have used a PWM. Why? Control flow rate? Can someone post a complete build? Before and after and maybe it working on their brew day. And info that helps keep this pump in good working order for a long time. I've never had a pump but a buddy told me he has to prime his pump....I don't even know what that means but does this one need to be primes. CHEERS and Thank you ahead of time.