planning my mini brewery

[matc]

Hi folks,

So far, I've been relying on gravity for all my beers and I'm planning an upgrade : a pump

My goal is to use the pump for transfering wort from the mash tun to the kettle, and from the kettle to the fermenter. Is that possible ? I did some research about using a pump on a mash tun and a lot of people seem to have difficulties with that so I'd like to hear the pro's and cons of this idea.

Btw, I will still dump the water from the hlt manually. I'll build a small movable bench for the tun and brew pot.

 

[atoughram]

I've been thinking about adding a second pump, but here's my idea - build a "Walking Cane" out of unistrut but instead of one foot, have four feet so it would stand on it's own. Mount the pump and maybe a plate chiller such at a Therminator to it. Plumb the pump with QD's on both side and a throttle valve on the outlet. Wire it up with a switch on the handle and use it wherever you need a pump! I like the idea of a cane because my back cant take bending over near as much as it used to. It could be moved around without bending over. QD's make it useful anywhere. If I switch to a plate chiller, I will do this.

 

[matc]

ok....but what about my question ??

 

[acidrain]

I use the pump to:
Recirculate wort during the mash (RMS)
Transfer wort to the BK
Recirculate wort during cooling
Whirlpool
Cleaning

I DON't use the pump for:
Transferring hot liquor from the HLT to the MT
Transferring wort from the BK to the fermenter
For those tasks I use gravity.

 

[Dolomieu]

I use my pump to transfer hlt to melt to bk to fermenter. I recirculate boiling wort through it for the last 5 minutes of the boil. I crank the heat a bit as I do it since it will knock the boil down. Then recirculate over my chiller. You do need to be mindful of where you hoses are. My pump is in a tool box and I hook it up with a remote controlled outlet from target, so I can turn it on and off from where ever.

 

[Yooper]

I use a pump to move water, wort, run a HERMS, recirculate wort, pump to the chiller, and transfer to the fermenter. I also use the pump to help with cleaning, as I pump the cleaner around the vessels, then pump the rinse water in and around.

You can use a pump for any of this. Or gravity for some of it, if you choose.

 

[atoughram]

ok....but what about my question ??

I'm sorry... I guess I got wrapped up in my own thoughts...

I use gravity to go from my HLT to the MLT - and I pump it every where else..

 

[doc5md]

I use my pump for everything. HLT to MT, MT to Kettle, Kettle to fermenter. lots of hose switching, and I think a second pump will come at some point

 

[matc]

That's good news ! I'm buying one then. I guess placing a ball valve on the output of the pump is important to avoid compacting the grain when pumping the mlt ?

 

[Yooper]

That's good news ! I'm buying one then. I guess placing a ball valve on the output of the pump is important to avoid compacting the grain when pumping the mlt ?

Well, yes, but it's also useful at other times! You don't want to ever impede the flow to the pump, so you can throttle it back via a ball valve on the output.

I have some quick disconnects on the silicone tubing, to switch between vessels easily.

 

[Dolomieu]

+1 ^ I have camlocks on my system and love them.