Home Super Brewery Build: Hybrid Electric/Gas 3BBL Build

marcb · Feb 20, 2014

marcb said:
Cpe systems from Canada, they advertise on probrewer and really have the best prices around (and fantastic support)

My other march nano pumps have about 15' of head, these have like 65'

Not only planning on leveraging for CIP but also to design a variable program for automating keg washing correctly.... And hey, it's always great to be able to push the envelope!

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Sorry, 65gpm and 55' head

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marcb · Mar 18, 2014

Prepping for a monster brew day on Sunday, added a second line to the glycol chiller tonight and received 300lbs of grain! Good times!

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ChocolateMaltyBalls · Mar 18, 2014

What are you brewing?

Oh, and isn't 300lbs only a month's supply? :ban:

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marcb · Mar 18, 2014

ChocolateMaltyBalls said:
What are you brewing?

Oh, and isn't 300lbs only a month's supply?

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Lol, on a normal month yes, it's been a crappy start to the year though so brewing hasn't been top priority...

We're brewing an Amarillo Pale with a lot of Munich and a fantastic Saison! Testing out all four elements running at once as the garage is getting an upgrade once again!

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marcb · Mar 19, 2014

Ready for action, two separate lines, independently controlled that will be pushing 28 degree glycol through 50' 1/2" stainless coils in my 240l fermenters for temp control!

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ClaudiusB · Mar 19, 2014

marcb said:
Ready for action, two separate lines, independently controlled that will be pushing 28 degree glycol through 50' 1/2" stainless coils in my 240l fermenters for temp control!View attachment 186943

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I hope those quick connects work out for you.
I have the high flow shut off versions and decided to remove the shut off part to give me a better flow with lower pressure circulation pumps.
They will clog up if you have any slush flowing around or cheap RV glycol which breaks down into slimy mess. I read a warning not to use RV glycol for a circulation system and they are correct. After a year it turned out to be a nightmare to clean the system and valves.

My system has been running now a few years 24/7 with no problem.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

ClaudiusB · Mar 19, 2014

marcb said:
New toy showed up today!View attachment 180639

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Great looking pump.

What is the flow rate and pressure?

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

marcb · Mar 19, 2014

ClaudiusB said:
I hope those quick connects work out for you.

I have the high flow shut off versions and decided to remove the shut off part to give me a better flow with lower pressure circulation pumps.

They will clog up if you have any slush flowing around or cheap RV glycol which breaks down into slimy mess. I read a warning not to use RV glycol for a circulation system and they are correct. After a year it turned out to be a nightmare to clean the system and valves.

My system has been running now a few years 24/7 with no problem.

Cheers,

ClaudiusB

I have had the first leg running on this for about a year now with fantastic results, only drawback is when placing the coil in a screaming hot bucket of PBW I need to ensure a pair of drain lines are connected or I blow a $20 shutoff connector each time. I used the nsf glycol recommended for the system and it is still as clear as it was a year ago yesterday when I pulled it apart!

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marcb · Mar 19, 2014

ClaudiusB said:
Great looking pump.

What is the flow rate and pressure?

Cheers,

ClaudiusB

65gpm and 55' head, using it for Cleaning/sanitizing the fermenters this weekend for the first time!

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marcb · Mar 20, 2014

Shouldn't every garage look like this?

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bhamripper · Mar 20, 2014

Yes, but less that ugly 49ers helmet. Go Hawks! All kidding aside, you have done an amazing job and am highly jealous of your setup. Keep the updates coming!

marcb · Mar 20, 2014

bhamripper said:
Yes, but less that ugly 49ers helmet. Go Hawks! All kidding aside, you have done an amazing job and am highly jealous of your setup. Keep the updates coming!

That was Ronnie Lott's helmet, I'll be happy to pass along that you don't like it.... Feel free to PM me your address so he knows how to properly address the complaint ; )

Shifting gears, framing of the production facility is done and most of this kit will be headed off to it's new home shortly! First refill of the 50lb cylinder today, damn that thing is heavy! Bought a backup 20lb cylinder today to lessen the chance of a similar beermergency in the future!

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p-nut · Mar 21, 2014

I wonder if you could answer a tankless water heater question. Does a March 809 generate enough flow to keep the TWH running. I read through this thread and I got the impression that it does. We are thinking about recirculating from the HLT -> counter flow heat exchanger -> pump -> tankless water heater -> then back to the HLT. We would run the pump wide open. The only reason I ask is because all the manufacturers recommend a minimum pressure. It seams to me that as long as you can maintain a minimum flow you will be ok. Have you found this to be the case. Also how good is the temp control of this unit?

Great build by the way!

marcb · Mar 21, 2014

p-nut said:
I wonder if you could answer a tankless water heater question. Does a March 809 generate enough flow to keep the TWH running. I read through this thread and I got the impression that it does. We are thinking about recirculating from the HLT -> counter flow heat exchanger -> pump -> tankless water heater -> then back to the HLT. We would run the pump wide open. The only reason I ask is because all the manufacturers recommend a minimum pressure. It seams to me that as long as you can maintain a minimum flow you will be ok. Have you found this to be the case. Also how good is the temp control of this unit?

Great build by the way!

Yes indeed, look for a manufacturer that specifies a very low activation flow rate, my rinnai is the lowest I could find at .5 GPM activation rate. I would opt for a higher flow pump if possible like the march 3 series but you shouldn't have issues.

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marcb · Mar 21, 2014

marcb said:
Yes indeed, look for a manufacturer that specifies a very low activation flow rate, my rinnai is the lowest I could find at .5 GPM activation rate. I would opt for a higher flow pump if possible like the march 3 series but you shouldn't have issues.

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Thinking this through a little more, the tankless is most likely 3/4" I/O. You'll have to keep your loop small with that pump and 1/2" line. Might be wise to pick up one of the used march 5 series....

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p-nut · Mar 21, 2014

Thanks. Our loop will be less than 10 feet. Worst case we will just get a bigger pump.

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marcb · Mar 21, 2014

Thanks Claudius for the sourcing info for a new hot water flow meter!

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ClaudiusB · Mar 22, 2014

marcb said:
Thanks Claudius for the sourcing info for a new hot water flow meter!View attachment 187501

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You welcome

After a few readings you will have neck pains, I don't.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

marcb · Mar 22, 2014

ClaudiusB said:
You welcome

After a few readings you will have neck pains, I don't.

Cheers,

ClaudiusB

Did yours come like that or can I dismantle and change the orientation? Given the mechanical nature of the meter I was not too keen to dismantle.....

Do'Oh! I just rotated the face 90 degrees, no dismantling required...

Now to find a sanitary one for determining volume into fermenter

ClaudiusB · Mar 22, 2014

marcb said:
Do'Oh! I just rotated the face 90 degrees, no dismantling required...

I should have told you from the beginning, sorry I am not a nice homebrewer.

Now to find a sanitary one for determining volume into fermenter

Like my Halliburton 1-1/2" ?

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

SavoryChef · Mar 22, 2014

Have a link to those meters?

marcb · Mar 22, 2014

SavoryChef said:
Have a link to those meters?

http://www.omega.com/pptst/FTB4000.html

there is also a version with pulse output but for the hot water side I was looking for a counter to know what is going into the mash tun. this is a totalizer (like your water meter outside your house and is non-resetable.