ICEMASTER MAX 2

[Deadalus]

This is the inside of the Icemaster 100 where I put the second set of pass through bulkheads. This model is used as beer chiller in Australia. There is a pump in the upper cavity and then stainless steel tubing is coiled down in the glycol tank. It's like a jockey box.

The second pic has that inner lid taken off. The inner lid has a small hinged door on it like the top but not enough room really for all the lines to get through the cutout where the copper comes through.

These last two are those valved QDs.

 

[WesBrew]

Mine looked like a cesspool inside in comparison. I cleaned it out as best I could. Heavy built up rust spot on the bottom from that clamp rusting.Most likely from replacing the interior hose clamps with Oitker clamps in '22. I don't recall what glycol I used but its possible it was uninhibited. Likely I guess based on visual.
Time to refill and i think ill go with those valved disconnects on the chiller end. The SS QDs i was looking at were going to require drilling and cost around $95.

 

[Deadalus]

Mine looked like a cesspool inside in comparison. I cleaned it out as best I could. Heavy built up rust spot on the bottom from that clamp rusting.Most likely from replacing the interior hose clamps with Oitker clamps in '22. I don't recall what glycol I used but its possible it was uninhibited. Likely I guess based on visual.
Time to refill and i think ill go with those valved disconnects on the chiller end. The SS QDs i was looking at were going to require drilling and cost around $95.

No worries, mine is brand new. I'd avoid the dual kind where the two males are paired and two females paired as they don't flip over as far as I know. You can't reverse the flow with the duals. Now I have to check which glycol I bought...

 

[jnecessary]

No worries, mine is brand new. I'd avoid the dual kind where the two males are paired and two females paired as they don't flip over as far as I know. You can't reverse the flow with the duals. Now I have to check which glycol I bought...

I just got the SS dual connectors. Haven't attached them yet, but my plan is basically what you did, but have 3-4" of flexible hose off my 90's coming out of the cooling coil. That would allow you to swap the flow direction if needed. I'd question at my 10 gallon scale if it much matters though.

 

[WesBrew]

Since I've got my unit stored in a finished room, I want to install the QDs at the machine so the tubes fan be removed and put away. I'm not sure which direction I'm going to orient them. I might have valved female body on the hose end as Deadulus has. Probably no issue with the male insert open at the bulkhead. Do those with the valved QDs on the tubes drain them back into the machine (assuming you can open the fitting by pressing the button) or just leave the glycol in the tube/coil assembly?

 

[Deadalus]

I just got the SS dual connectors. Haven't attached them yet, but my plan is basically what you did, but have 3-4" of flexible hose off my 90's coming out of the cooling coil. That would allow you to swap the flow direction if needed. I'd question at my 10 gallon scale if it much matters though.

I haven't seen anything in SS that is a dual connector but the plastic (acetal) ones I found (only a few) all seemed to insert in only one position. This would disallow changing the direction because they couldn't be flipped at the QD. The plastic ones look like this, that's the female. Are you using dual the same way? It's entirely possible that you are I just want to clarify.

On my first batch, I cold crashed down to a set point of 34 but was stuck at 36.7F. I think I went in and changed the differential(+/-) to 2 degrees but it didn't move. So I lowered the set point to 33F and it didn't move. My Icemaster 100 only uses Celsius, and I am still familiarizing my brain with the degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit equivalents. I was positive Celsius though. I went ahead and flipped the lines but then I also set the glycol unit lower. It's possible I was stuck at 36.7F because that was as low as possible due to ambient temperature but it's possible I had an inversion. I have the glycol unit on -2 and I was able to get it down to 34F. Just a small uni though at 7 gallons (alone). I did do a yeast dump at 36.7 but it didn't seem to have a lot of hops in it, barely any. I will do another one later as I want to drop the hops out.

 

[Deadalus]

Since I've got my unit stored in a finished room, I want to install the QDs at the machine. I'm not sure which direction I'm going to orient them. I might have valved body on the hose=end as Deadulus has. Probably no issue with the insert open at the bulkhead. Do those with the valved QDs on the tubes drain them back into the machine (assuming you can open the fitting by pressing the button) or just leave the glycol in the tube/coil assembly?

It appears that the button just unlocks them. It is probably the tip configuration that triggers the valve. I disconnected and then pushed the locking mechanism but nothing came out and no air went into the lines. I was expecting to leave the glycol in the lines anyway.

Three factors in my placement decision. First, I didn't want to buy another set to be able to disconnect at the coil and the glycol unit. Second, even though I have a CIP ball, I expect that the coils may need extra cleaning. So I didn't want the long end on the coil. Last, I put the male side on the coils because I am used to my hoses on my brew rig having the female fitting.

 

[WesBrew]

It appears that the button just unlocks them. It is probably the tip configuration that triggers the valve. I disconnected and then pushed the locking mechanism but nothing came out and no air went into the lines. I was expecting to leave the glycol in the lines anyway.

Three factors in my placement decision. First, I didn't want to buy another set to be able to disconnect at the coil and the glycol unit. Second, even though I have a CIP ball, I expect that the coils may need extra cleaning. So I didn't want the long end on the coil. Last, I put the male side on the coils because I am used to my hoses on my brew rig having the female fitting.

I have duotights on the coil end of the tubes that are open. Maybe it will drain when disconnected from coil with the other QD end closed. Eh, i think ill just reverse that and put the valve female end on the chiller bulkhead and the male end on the tubes. Im looking to take the tubes off chiller, drain tubes & coil back into chiller and store both empty when not in use.

 

[jnecessary]

I haven't seen anything in SS that is a dual connector but the plastic (acetal) ones I found (only a few) all seemed to insert in only one position. This would disallow changing the direction because they couldn't be flipped at the QD. The plastic ones look like this, that's the female. Are you using dual the same way? It's entirely possible that you are I just want to clarify.

On my first batch, I cold crashed down to a set point of 34 but was stuck at 36.7F. I think I went in and changed the differential(+/-) to 2 degrees but it didn't move. So I lowered the set point to 33F and it didn't move. My Icemaster 100 only uses Celsius, and I am still familiarizing my brain with the degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit equivalents. I was positive Celsius though. I went ahead and flipped the lines but then I also set the glycol unit lower. It's possible I was stuck at 36.7F because that was as low as possible due to ambient temperature but it's possible I had an inversion. I have the glycol unit on -2 and I was able to get it down to 34F. Just a small uni though at 7 gallons (alone). I did do a yeast dump at 36.7 but it didn't seem to have a lot of hops in it, barely any. I will do another one later as I want to drop the hops out.View attachment 845230

You are correct! I didn't look at the valve, only had it in my mind that only one end was a dual connection (dumb). I suppose I'll need to read a bit about the optimal flow direction before committing to the install.

 

[Deadalus]

You are correct! I didn't look at the valve, only had it in my mind that only one end was a dual connection (dumb). I suppose I'll need to read a bit about the optimal flow direction before committing to the install.

I considered mixing a dual (male or female) and two single male or female Qds but the duals all seem to have some sort of lock/guide that only allows insertion in one position to prevent mixing up the flow direction.

 

[WesBrew]

I went this way. Hopefully works out

 

[jnecessary]

I went this way. Hopefully works out
View attachment 845460

Love it!

I think I'll add 90s to the front of the cooler and to my fermenter coils. Might restrict flow a bit but will be tidier and easier to manage.

 

[WesBrew]

Love it!

I think I'll add 90s to the front of the cooler and to my fermenter coils. Might restrict flow a bit but will be tidier and easier to manage.

I did that last year and love it. 90* elbows, Duotight fittings. I used short pieces I cut off of an old racking cane to connect them to the tubes.

 

[WesBrew]

I got blinking EE codes on both pump controllers. I cant find anything on it. Ideas? Pumps wont turn on. I seem to be able to set the temperature but it goes back to the ee and doesnt turn on. The glycol bath chilled down nicely.

 

[Indian_villager]

I got blinking EE codes on both pump controllers. I cant find anything on it. Ideas? Pumps wont turn on. I seem to be able to set the temperature but it goes back to the ee and doesnt turn on. The glycol bath chilled down nicely.

https://www.homebrewworks.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/STC-Instructions.pdf

Your temp probe wires may be damaged and are reading an open circuit to the controller.

 

[WesBrew]

Going with that …….

….i pulled both wires off of the left temp sensor input (black plug) and cut the ends off. The wires were likely damaged at the connecters. I used a couple of pieces of wire to connect the plug (white) at the panel to the sensor input . Its just twisted on by hand. Pump kicked on and ran perfect.

 

[WesBrew]

The one i wired is still going strong today. QDs are really nice. No leaks. Ill attempt to solder these wires at the temp probe plug tomorrow.

 

[WesBrew]

Success! I soldered the new wires to both temp probe receptacles and kept the twist connecters on the other end. Both units are going strong now. Decent for amateur work.