Flow meter for water

[day_trippr]

No, this isn't a fluid dynamics thing, it's about potentially damaging a kettle drain by bumping into an excessively long rigid drain path...

Cheers!

 

[RPh_Guy]

No, this isn't a fluid dynamics thing, it's about potentially damaging a kettle drain by bumping into an excessively long rigid drain path...

Cheers!

I see.
I was wondering whether I should attach it to the mash tun drain or the pump. Those are the only places with threads in my loop.
The hardware on my mash tun doesn't currently stick out very far. I can barely even get the ball valve handle into the closed position since it's so tight against my cooler.

 

[day_trippr]

If I was going to incorporate this meter (which, tbh, is tickling my inner dweeb ) I'd stick an elbow on the output of my MLT drain valve and locate the meter below, ending with the same male camlock I use now, pointing down instead of "out". At least that'd cut the "stick out" down and reduce the odds I'd clip the drain plumbing during a brew day...

Cheers!

 

[Vale71]

I'm under the impression that BSP and NPT are more-or-less compatible at the 1/2" size, especially with the use of tape.

Although I don't know what a long lever moment is.

BSP and NPT are, if you look at their specs, perfectly identical only in the 1/2" size. Every other size is totally incompatible.

 

[RPh_Guy]

BSP and NPT are, if you look at their specs, perfectly identical only in the 1/2" size. Every other size is totally incompatible.

I believe there's still a slight difference in thread diameter at the 1/2" size.

 

[Vale71]

If there is it's so minuscule that you can hand-tighten them with no effort whatsoever.
Thread size and pitch are 100% identical and that's what really matters as even a minor difference in pitch would cause the parts to seize after less than a full turn.

 

[augiedoggy]

If there is it's so minuscule that you can hand-tighten them with no effort whatsoever.
Thread size and pitch are 100% identical and that's what really matters as even a minor difference in pitch would cause the parts to seize after less than a full turn.

I second this.. I have many plastic bsp 1/2" threaded things paired up with NPT counterparts including all my tan dc pumps I use at home.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

why cant you just make some marks on the inside of the MLT for gallon and half gallon levels?

That won't work if you're underletting. Not sure if the OP is doing that, just pointing out that it's not always that simple.

 

[postalbunny]

Just FYI, avoid these types:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007NHS9M4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I ordered it in an attempt to try and measure water volumes in/out of my HLT "cold"... and it's wildly inaccurate. Useless really... and it won't take temps you want.

 

[501irishred]

Sorry, brain fart. Here it is:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/329...chweb0_0,searchweb201602_2,searchweb201603_53

This is my first time ordering through AliExpress. Is shipping as slow as it appears? Currently it’s showing it’s due within “55 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes, 22 seconds”. I guess maybe they make up for in speed with precision?

 

[doug293cz]

This is my first time ordering through AliExpress. Is shipping as slow as it appears? Currently it’s showing it’s due within “55 days, 8 hours, 35 minutes, 22 seconds”. I guess maybe they make up for in speed with precision?

The stuff I have ordered from China (not a lot) always showed up way earlier than the estimate. I think they tend to use worst case shipping times to avoid over promising and getting complaints.

Brew on

 

[postalbunny]

yes... when i ordered last it took over 4 months as the handoff to the carrier was lost/missed. basically only order if you have 6mo to wait, its literally coming from china in the cheapest way possible.

 

[501irishred]

I guess the expression “on a slow boat to (from) China” has now been quantified!

 

[Vale71]

There are faster shipping options but for small items the cost exceeds that of the goods so it's really not worth it. I've actually never had to wait longer than three months even with the cheapest option. On the plus side, of the 50+ orders I've placed so far not a single item has ever gone missing.

 

[Soulshine2]

That won't work if you're underletting. Not sure if the OP is doing that, just pointing out that it's not always that simple.

I've never underlet my mash . I run my water into the MT (Igloo cooler) to preheat it, I run a few degrees over so the temperature of the tun compensates and within 10 minutes of preheating I either add hot water to raise the temperature or lift the lid to cool to get to my dough-in pre-mash temp. I add the mash to the water and stir as I do. NOT add water to the mash so as not to have dough balls. Then I either single mash infuse or step mash depending on my recipe/style. I also double or triple batch sparge to pre-boil volume...so your idea that its not always that simple is out the window. It IS actually that simple. No need to complicate things as some people like to do . I read about the use of pumps(I've tried it, went back to my manual method long used- its called gravity and adjust flow by opening or closing the hand valve a certain degree) , flow meters, computer control panels, all the electro-gizmos and techno-gadjets used to do such a simple process. My Lord, just graduate your vessels ,use common sense and simple measuring tools, stand there and brew your beer. Its not like we're sending crude oil into the cat cracker to make gasoline here.
I'm Sorry, I've addressed this before and its only my opinion. I just dont understand the complexity some brewers go to . I just see most of it as unnecessary.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I've never underlet my mash . I run my water into the MT (Igloo cooler) to preheat it, I run a few degrees over so the temperature of the tun compensates and within 10 minutes of preheating I either add hot water to raise the temperature or lift the lid to cool to get to my dough-in pre-mash temp. I add the mash to the water and stir as I do. NOT add water to the mash so as not to have dough balls. Then I either single mash infuse or step mash depending on my recipe/style. I also double or triple batch sparge to pre-boil volume...so your idea that its not always that simple is out the window. It IS actually that simple. No need to complicate things as some people like to do . I read about the use of pumps(I've tried it, went back to my manual method long used- its called gravity and adjust flow by opening or closing the hand valve a certain degree) , flow meters, computer control panels, all the electro-gizmos and techno-gadjets used to do such a simple process. My Lord, just graduate your vessels ,use common sense and simple measuring tools, stand there and brew your beer. Its not like we're sending crude oil into the cat cracker to make gasoline here.
I'm Sorry, I've addressed this before and its only my opinion. I just dont understand the complexity some brewers go to . I just see most of it as unnecessary.

Some people take LODO very seriously and underletting is a key element. I am like you...I follow nearly the same process (though I don't ever step mash). However, I recognize that not everyone brews with the same process as me and I've seen enough posts to know that there's a pretty sizeable subset of the population that follows a LODO process. Underletting is a key element of that, so that's why I brought it up. I don't feel like it's my place to dictate what processes others follow. They are free to make it as complicated or simple as they desire. I'll still help them out regardless if I can.

 

[day_trippr]

[...] I just dont understand the complexity some brewers go to . I just see most of it as unnecessary.

Why are you here?

 

[Soulshine2]

Why are you here?

same reason as you. its called conversation and communication on a particular subject.
I just see all these people going to the automated extreme , then when the time comes find they have to figure out what went wrong.

 

[matt_m]

BSPT (British Standard Pipe Thread) is similar to NPT except there are important differences. The angle across the flanks of threads (if you sliced the fitting in half long-ways and measured the angle from root to crest to root) is 55 degrees instead of 60 degrees as it is for NPT. Another important difference is that for many BSPT pipe sizes the thread pitch is different than NPT. Thus an NPT male will sometimes fit into a BSPT fitting or vice versa but they will not seal. This is a popular fitting in China and Japan but is very rarely used in North America unless the equipment to which it is attached was imported.

However my experience has been that at homebrewing pressures (next to nothing) judicious use of the good gray thread tape works fine. Probably not a good idea for plumbing water, gas, or hydraulic lines. Or CO2 lines.

 

[501irishred]

same reason as you. its called conversation and communication on a particular subject.
I just see all these people going to the automated extreme , then when the time comes find they have to figure out what went wrong.

Yeah, my wife doesn’t get me either

 

[Soulshine2]

Yeah, my wife doesn’t get me either

Whats that comment supposed to mean.

 

[501irishred]

Whats that comment supposed to mean.

It just means that we all have our own motives for brewing, and get joy out of different aspects of the hobby. Truth be told, I enjoy the “tinkering” evolved as much as the brewing itself. My wife is very much task oriented, and it drives her mad to see me do something a different way just for the sake of seeing if I could.

 

[RPh_Guy]

@Soulshine2
I'm not just tinkering; I'm lazer focused on the final product and actually don't care about the brewing process all the much aside from making it tolerable. However, beer is the sum of its parts so every part of the process require attention.

I have particular standards for what I enjoy drinking. Part of the optimization is step mashing and wort clarification. RIMS provides a way to do that. A flow meter helps optimize the digital control of wort heating for the RIMS, to prevent excessive thermal stress/scorching.

There's nothing right or wrong about my brewing philosophy or yours. It's just a hobby, no reason to rant when someone has different goals than you do.

 

[Soulshine2]

It just means that we all have our own motives for brewing, and get joy out of different aspects of the hobby. Truth be told, I enjoy the “tinkering” evolved as much as the brewing itself. My wife is very much task oriented, and it drives her mad to see me do something a different way just for the sake of seeing if I could.

well, my wife and I "get" each other very well. She enjoys my hobbies almost as much as I do . I enjoy tinkering too, I call it Putzing. I'm resto-modding a 1951 chevy 3100 1/2 ton pickup at the moment . My wife is behind me all the way. Shes even looking for parts for it. She found the bumper for it ,its a 1950 Cadillac bumper, we just got it from the chrome shop the other day .First time we've actually seen it since she found it on ebay way out in California, its beautiful.
Shes self admitted not very creative . In my eyes she is , very much so , in the kitchen . I've added 2 pants sizes in the first 5 yrs since we've been together 9 yrs. She didnt even like beer before she met me. I make her her very own batch of hefeweizen ,3rd one so far.
We are both stubborn people when it comes to getting things or getting things done. We make a damn fine team.

 

[Soulshine2]

@Soulshine2
I'm not just tinkering; I'm lazer focused on the final product and actually don't care about the brewing process all the much aside from making it tolerable. However, beer is the sum of its parts so every part of the process require attention.

I have particular standards for what I enjoy drinking. Part of the optimization is step mashing and wort clarification. RIMS provides a way to do that. A flow meter helps optimize the digital control of wort heating for the RIMS, to prevent excessive thermal stress/scorching.

There's nothing right or wrong about my brewing philosophy or yours. It's just a hobby, no reason to rant when someone has different goals than you do.

I know,youre exactly right and I get that . I just see it as trying to reinvent the wheel or a better mousetrap. Im just an old school "if it aint broke dont fix it" kind of guy.

 

[RPh_Guy]

I've never ordered from AliExpress before. Should I open a dispute before the "Purchase Protection" ends since I haven't received the item yet? That's what the email said to do. Seems like an annoyance; they have the tracking number & they know I haven't gotten it yet.

 

[day_trippr]

I'd go through the motions, as much of a pita it may be.
If you don't, they can use that as some kind of out...

Cheers!

 

[501irishred]

I've never ordered from AliExpress before. Should I open a dispute before the "Purchase Protection" ends since I haven't received the item yet? That's what the email said to do. Seems like an annoyance; they have the tracking number & they know I haven't gotten it yet.

ditto. Kinda like going back to rotary phones.

 

[augiedoggy]

I've never ordered from AliExpress before. Should I open a dispute before the "Purchase Protection" ends since I haven't received the item yet? That's what the email said to do. Seems like an annoyance; they have the tracking number & they know I haven't gotten it yet.

I would do it... I had to once, aliexpress refunded me and the beer taps arrived 2 days later.. I didnt have to but I went ahead and sent payment again because the product was shipped as promised but just took much longer than expected.

 

[HopSing]

Any reason the aliexpress flow meter would not work to measure keg output? I'm thinking of putting this meter inline with each tap to measure how much is left in each keg, or at least get me close. Nothing worse than pulling the tap handle and being surprised it is empty, which seems to be happening a lot lately.

Does it turn off automatically and if so, does it remember the prior flow amount? Any info on battery life would be appreciated too.

~HopSing.