Hello all,
So I have been browzing around trying to figure out how others were using their march pumps. I really wanted it to be portable, but I also had not quite seen a design that I liked. All of the pumps seem to be mounted with the head in a very breakable location.
Anyways, some stainless quick disconnects, Computer parts, a stainless HF toolbox and some switches and GFCI outlet later and I have something that I am happy with - it really came out clean and exactly what I was looking for, a completely protected pump with options for future expansion.
Basically the design consists of a stainless toolbox in which the pump is completely isolated from the outside. There are quick disconnects permenently mounted to the side of the box which in turn are flexibly mounted to the pump head. Something else that I did was to make the box have a computer style mail plug so that there are no wires hanging out when not in use.
The first switch turns power on to the GFCI outlet from the external power chord. The second switch turns on power to the small three outlet power strip that is wired to the load side of the GFCI outlet - this allowed me to not have to hard wire the pump, as well as gives me two additional outlets that are energized with the pump for future fans, lights, temp probes, etc..
All in all I am very happy with the out come - please feel free to comment and let me know of anythign that you see may be a problem or some additional features that might be useful. I am plannin a mayden brew sesh with this box next weekend.
Oh, and for those wondering - the flow control is a stainless ball valve that is part of the hoses that connect to the quick disconnect. This way I do not have a big valve sticking out an waiting to be caught on something while not in use...
Cheers!
So I have been browzing around trying to figure out how others were using their march pumps. I really wanted it to be portable, but I also had not quite seen a design that I liked. All of the pumps seem to be mounted with the head in a very breakable location.
Anyways, some stainless quick disconnects, Computer parts, a stainless HF toolbox and some switches and GFCI outlet later and I have something that I am happy with - it really came out clean and exactly what I was looking for, a completely protected pump with options for future expansion.
Basically the design consists of a stainless toolbox in which the pump is completely isolated from the outside. There are quick disconnects permenently mounted to the side of the box which in turn are flexibly mounted to the pump head. Something else that I did was to make the box have a computer style mail plug so that there are no wires hanging out when not in use.
The first switch turns power on to the GFCI outlet from the external power chord. The second switch turns on power to the small three outlet power strip that is wired to the load side of the GFCI outlet - this allowed me to not have to hard wire the pump, as well as gives me two additional outlets that are energized with the pump for future fans, lights, temp probes, etc..
All in all I am very happy with the out come - please feel free to comment and let me know of anythign that you see may be a problem or some additional features that might be useful. I am plannin a mayden brew sesh with this box next weekend.
Oh, and for those wondering - the flow control is a stainless ball valve that is part of the hoses that connect to the quick disconnect. This way I do not have a big valve sticking out an waiting to be caught on something while not in use...
Cheers!