Cheap compact wort pump

[Mojzis]

Yeah there's definitely no room for a coating. That silicone lubricant may be better... but I have never used the stuff so idk how well it would work.

 

[BillNye]

It's a coated magnet.

You say coated but how do you know? Have you taken one apart yourself? Or just speaking based off what others have said?

I haven't taken one apart myself yet so I don't know for sure. But just going off their video the inside appears to have an exposed magnet just like the eBay ones. They appear to be the same pump, so if they figured out a way to put some coating on the magnet then we can too.

Can anyone with first hand experience confirm or deny if this is true? Can someone post up pics?

 

[iijakii]

I know there are pictures in the thread here somewhere of the impeller and magnet of the two pumps taken apart. One did have a coated magnet I do believe. I'm way too lazy to search/dig for it though.

 

[BillNye]

Looks exactly the same as the $20 eBay pumps I just bought.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

^^^^^^^

Are you "BillNye" the Science Guy?



Post a link to them, Please Sir.....

 

[johns]

if it aint broke dont fix it. i have a little black one and it works as it should. use it yesterday in fact, even with some malt inside the intake port. no silicone coating on it.

btw, i always take it apart and clean it after every brew.

 

[BillNye]

^^^^^^^

Are you "BillNye" the Science Guy?



Post a link to them, Please Sir.....

Haha I wish!

I got two of these, I am not so keen on the plastic fittings but I don't plan on hanging it off the kettle so I will see how this works out before spending more than triple the price on a topsflow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230941130611?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

[Mojzis]

Haha I wish!

I got two of these, I am not so keen on the plastic fittings but I don't plan on hanging it off the kettle so I will see how this works out before spending more than triple the price on a topsflow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230941130611?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I have two of these also. I hang mine off the kettle. I'll feel like a dope if I ever bump into it and snap it off...

FWIW these black ones seem to pump faster and get stuck less often than the little tan ones.

 

[Indian_villager]

I have two of these also. I hang mine off the kettle. I'll feel like a dope if I ever bump into it and snap it off...

FWIW these black ones seem to pump faster and get stuck less often than the little tan ones.

Have both and can confirm the black ones are more robust. The tan ones rely on a brass bushing as a "bearing" it is easy for that bushing to get gunked up and stall.

 

[Konadog]

Yeah there's definitely no room for a coating. That silicone lubricant may be better... but I have never used the stuff so idk how well it would work.

That won't work either as it will just get washed away the first time you use it with hot water/wort.

 

[Mojzis]

That won't work either as it will just get washed away the first time you use it with hot water/wort.

You sure? I figured it was like a more dense oil type lubricant. Non polar and polar won't mix. The silicone should repel the water/wort.

But this is just my theory. Thinking out loud here.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

It'll wash off, as mentioned.
The only thing that MIGHT stay on there, is that water repellin' stuff that Rustoleum is advertising these days, and I doubt you would want that in your beer.

 

[mattd2]

Have both and can confirm the black ones are more robust. The tan ones rely on a brass bushing as a "bearing" it is easy for that bushing to get gunked up and stall.

What do the black ones use for the bearing? I would say (just from the aparent size) that the black ones don't stick as much because they have a more powerful motor.

 

[jcoxen]

What do the black ones use for the bearing? I would say (just from the aparent size) that the black ones don't stick as much because they have a more powerful motor.

I found
this page about this pump. It also answers my earlier question about 2 phase vs 3 phase.

I'm looking at this motor because the performance is as good as a regular (i.e. Chugger or March) pump but at less than 1/2 the price. The one thing I do not have definitive answer on yet is if the pump is food safe.

 

[Mojzis]

I wonder if the magnet is coated in the "high-precision carbon fiber sleeve" they mention. Might be worth an email to the company..

 

[mrz2010]

I just purchased this pump off amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EEIXPOM/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1#productDetails

I noticed it has 4 wires coming out the bottom. What are the extra 2 wires for? I ordered the non-submersible version, just wondering if I should cancel my order and pick up the submersible one that shows only the standard 2 wires instead?

 

[KPSquared]

Might be the "wired to work with our variable speed controller" part.

 

[mrz2010]

Might be the "wired to work with our variable speed controller" part.

Thanks, looked at their website and it look like that's it. Hopefully it will still run without it


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[mrz2010]

Might be the "wired to work with our variable speed controller" part.

Thanks, looked at their website and it look like that's it. Hopefully it will still run without it


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[Indian_villager]

What do the black ones use for the bearing? I would say (just from the aparent size) that the black ones don't stick as much because they have a more powerful motor.

No bearing, It works off a ceramic shaft which seems more forgiving.

 

[knope]

What if I went with this tiny pump for mash recirculation and a little boost for a gravity fed immersion chiller?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EEIX8X0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Mojzis]

Much too small IMO.

Has anyone got the topsflo pump and checked to see if the magnet was actually coated?

I have been emailing back an ebay seller of the larger topsflo knock-off trying to get them to give me the manufacturer's email. So far all I have gotten from them is an offer of 5$ back and that the pump is made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. They don't seem to get my point about the magnet.

 

[mattd2]

Much too small IMO.

Has anyone got the topsflo pump and checked to see if the magnet was actually coated?

I have been emailing back an ebay seller of the larger topsflo knock-off trying to get them to give me the manufacturer's email. So far all I have gotten from them is an offer of 5$ back and that the pump is made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. They don't seem to get my point about the magnet.

So are these pumps actually made of ABS? I thought ABS had a working temp limit of <90°C? Could this be a reason for peoples pumps binding up?

 

[Mojzis]

So are these pumps actually made of ABS? I thought ABS had a working temp limit of <90°C? Could this be a reason for peoples pumps binding up?

I googled the serial number and found other sites including sears that claimed it is made from abs and was 100% food grade.

Melting temp is 105C and 221F. I think peoples pumps bind up because of the metal disk that are in the tan ones. Mine gets easily jammed. The black one however has a ceramic shaft and blade which so far seems much better..

 

[knope]

Much too small IMO.

I think you are right. I'm fine being around 1 GPM, but I forgot to adjust for head.

 

[Mojzis]

I finally got a response on the magnet. The manufacturer says the magnet is a carbon-steel magnet and is safe for food contact. Whether this is true or not idk. I tried a quick search and didn't pull up anything out of the ordinary.

 

[mendozer]

how are people mounting these to toolboxes (like the march box mounts)? I took mine apart today to do this and figured that there wouldn't be a watertight seal if I did this.

 

[EdMerican]

I finally got a response on the magnet. The manufacturer says the magnet is a carbon-steel magnet and is safe for food contact. Whether this is true or not idk. I tried a quick search and didn't pull up anything out of the ordinary.

Carbon steel usually rusts very easily. Sounds like a terrible idea to use in something for water transfer. I don't see any real problems with food contact, however. Rusting and seizing sounds like a potential problem but can be fixed with a little scotch brite and elbow grease. That might be something to keep an eye on.

 

[mendozer]

Here it is mounted.

It works but I also fiddled with my coolers and now they leak. Damn!

 

[Danno81]

Aren't cell phone chargers 12v converters? I used one to power a computer fan in my diy stir plate. I would think that u could just wore an old charger to this pump....


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