Galvanized Steel on water side of plate chiller?

[TheMan]

I'm looking for the cheapest way to go from the water out/in side of my plate chiller to a hose barb...is galvanized steel an option? or bad idea?

It's only for the water from the hose. NOT touching any wort or beer.

Could it deteriorate and ruin the chiller itself?

 

[greenbirds]

No empirical evidence here, but I would be wary of galvanic corrosion problems between your chiller and the fittings. This website indicates there is high potential between galvanized steel and SS. http://www.ssina.com/corrosion/galvanic.html

 

[phoenixs4r]

You CAN. I wouldn't suggest it, as it will deteriorate and could possibly clog the chiller over time. How long? I don't know.

What's wrong with a hose?

 

[weaselchew]

You probably can find a cheap nylon MIP/FIP to barb (or whatever combo you need) fitting that would be great for that use.

 

[TheMan]

You CAN. I wouldn't suggest it, as it will deteriorate and could possibly clog the chiller over time. How long? I don't know.

What's wrong with a hose?

This was my worry, deterioration which could clog the chiller over time. I wasn't sure if it was a real worry or not.

It has a 3/4" NPT male input and output on the chiller for the water side, so a direct hose attachment is not possible. Plus, it's being put into a toolbox which means I need to connect via the 3/4" and elbow it to a hose barb within about 2 inches. I was pricing out the fittings and copper came to $15 for each side, the galvanized steel came to $5 each side.

In the end, a $20 difference to prevent unusual wear on my $100 chiller is worth it. I was just looking for the most economical method.

 

[weaselchew]

In addition to the nylon fittings, something like Watts 3/4" x 3/4" Male Garden Hose to FIP Adapter ($3.53 at my lowes) would give you your garden hose thread. They make them with a female garden hose hookup as well. You could probably even get a 3/4" FIP to barb brass fitting for not much more than the nylon fitting. Either way is quite a bit cheaper than copper (and possibly even the galvanized based on your price)

 

[TheMan]

Oh, the galvanized price, $5, was for the galvanized elbow and a brass 1/2" hose barb.

I will look for a nylon NPT adapter, hadn't really considered it. I have two garden hose adapters attached to the outside of the toolbox so this isn't an issue. The inside plumbing needs to be non garden hose threads. Not much connecting and disconnecting will go on inside the toolbox. I had found exactly what I wanted in the galvanized steel section...couldn't find the same fittings in brass section. I'll go look for a brass or nylon fitting at Lowes. I've already checkd HD and ACE. Otherwise I'll have to shell out the premium to do it correct.