NEW Product Announcement - Spike Glycol Chiller

[Thorrak]

Mail day! First impressions incoming soon..

 

[GoMeanGreen]

Hope your experience is going better than mine. So far I’m not impressed with what I received.

Hopefully Spike updates the OP here as they are now listing as a 7 gallon tank, not 9. As I filled mine with the recommended 7.5 gallon mixture it overflowed at 7. Sight glass reading is inaccurate as well.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Hope your experience is going better than mine. So far I’m not impressed with what I received.

Hopefully Spike updates the OP here as they are now listing as a 7 gallon tank, not 9. As I filled mine with the recommended 7.5 gallon mixture it overflowed at 7. Sight glass reading is inaccurate as well.

Sorry about the issue! The sight glass is just a reference point. When 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 pumps are added it will throw off the reading. However, there is non reason to know you have exactly 6.6 gallons but instead you want to know if it's below the coils. Also we have updated the instructions to be a little more clear. When you start pumping glycol into your conical chilling coils the reservoir will drop and thus that's why we recommend the full 2.5gal of glycol and 5gal of distilled water.

Other than some minor instruction issues how is the machine performing?

 

[hilljack13]

Hope your experience is going better than mine. So far I’m not impressed with what I received.

Hopefully Spike updates the OP here as they are now listing as a 7 gallon tank, not 9. As I filled mine with the recommended 7.5 gallon mixture it overflowed at 7. Sight glass reading is inaccurate as well.

Mine has a leak, but I am getting excellent support thus far. It is unfortunate since all the units we supposedly tested before shipping. My sight glass is off a good .5gal.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Mine has a leak, but I am getting excellent support thus far. It is unfortunate since all the units we supposedly tested before shipping. My sight glass is off a good .5gal.

With new products come new issues however like you noted we will always make it right for you. Each and every one of the units were QC'd in Milwaukee by our production team and engineers. But small things do slip through. Since it's just a small leak I'm sure it's an easy fix. Like mentioned above the site glass is just a reference point so you can quickly see from the outside if you're good or low. Adding pumps, hoses, etc will almost ensure the sight glass is never 100% accurate.

 

[matt_m]

My sight glass is off too, reads 7.5G when I put in about 6.75. Don't see 3 pumps displacing that much. That said, just ditch the markings, really don't see how it matters.

I'm a little surprised at the hysteresis between on and off of almost 6 degrees. We'll see when I get stuff in my fermenters if it matters.

Overall though it seems like a really nice unit. Its definitely quieter than my Penguin 1/2HP. Couldn't tell if it was running (it was) over my water heater vent fan. Had it running a few days with no load, but plan to brew tomorrow.

 

[GoMeanGreen]

Sorry about the issue! The sight glass is just a reference point. When 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 pumps are added it will throw off the reading. However, there is non reason to know you have exactly 6.6 gallons but instead you want to know if it's below the coils. Also we have updated the instructions to be a little more clear. When you start pumping glycol into your conical chilling coils the reservoir will drop and thus that's why we recommend the full 2.5gal of glycol and 5gal of distilled water.

Other than some minor instruction issues how is the machine performing?

As you say, I should only be interested in knowing if my coils are covered. The sight glass should read the volume of the tank, regardless of what’s in tubing and coils. Sure I can figure it out based on the level in the sight glass but why did you mark it with numbers if they don’t matter?

So far it seems to be working well. I’ve no experience with glycol chillers before this but it is keeping my fermentation at the intended temperature. Should be cold crashing by end of week, looking forward to seeing how it performs then.

As matt_m mentions the 6 degree differential seems high. I did catch it once where it had to start cooling my fermenter when it was at the high end (33.8) of a 28.0 set temp. Ended up not being a problem with one vessel but not sure if that will cause problems with multiple or while crashing.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

As you say, I should only be interested in knowing if my coils are covered. The sight glass should read the volume of the tank, regardless of what’s in tubing and coils. Sure I can figure it out based on the level in the sight glass but why did you mark it with numbers if they don’t matter?

So far it seems to be working well. I’ve no experience with glycol chillers before this but it is keeping my fermentation at the intended temperature. Should be cold crashing by end of week, looking forward to seeing how it performs then.

As matt_m mentions the 6 degree differential seems high. I did catch it once where it had to start cooling my fermenter when it was at the high end (33.8) of a 28.0 set temp. Ended up not being a problem with one vessel but not sure if that will cause problems with multiple or while crashing.

The differential is that high because you don't need/want the compressor kicking on every 5 minutes. If your pump kicks on and starts cycling fluid it will most likely trigger the Chiller to turn on. Otherwise your chiller will be on every 5mins trying to stay at 28F when it doesn't need to be. Once it turns on it'll have the entire reservoir from 35F to 28F in a couple minutes.

 

[cfrazier77]

The differential is that high because you don't need/want the compressor kicking on every 5 minutes. If your pump kicks on and starts cycling fluid it will most likely trigger the Chiller to turn on. Otherwise your chiller will be on every 5mins trying to stay at 28F when it doesn't need to be. Once it turns on it'll have the entire reservoir from 35F to 28F in a couple minutes.

This is correct, it protects the compressor and the compressor will keep up with your fermenter once the pump kicks on.

 

[sbro]

Hopefully Spike updates the OP here as they are now listing as a 7 gallon tank, not 9. As I filled mine with the recommended 7.5 gallon mixture it overflowed at 7.

I had a similar experience. with 2 pumps in the tank, I stopped filling before 7 gallons because it was getting up to the return line holes and would spill if I put any more in. Then remembering to look at the sight glass, it was at 7.5 gal.

I suspect the sight glass was calibrated before installing the cooling coils which is why the numbers are different from what was poured into the tank.
The sticker on the chiller says 8 gal max but that must be the tank prior to coils and pumps (or maybe without the in/out holes) Spike said they would update their "user manual verbiage and documentation" which I interpret as new stickers for future models as well, to make this issue more clear the users.

 

[Nate R]

@SpikeBrewing ... maybe you can update newer models with blank sight glasses and some decals.. then users can fill up a set amount with all pumps etc. inside, pour in a set amount (for example- 6 gallons) and then attach the stickers?
Oh- and THEN you can sell replacement decal/stickers as users update thier pumps, etc. Get that incremental revenue, baby!
Just an idea... (feel free to send me some swag for this genius idea! )

 

[davidst]

With another round of shipping opening up, how does everyone like their chiller?