Pump Question... Should I get one?

[Cranny04]

I just started looking into march pumps...

I figured I would do some research and then decide..

Then I looked at AHS and noticed today is VA's 10% off day..

I use a gravity feed system for all grain brewing. I have a 10 gallon system. When I brew I life a cooler (full of hot water) 6ish feet up to the top level of my system.

I also cool with an immersion chiller..

Just looking for some input on those of you with similar systems and have added a pump..

Is it worth it? I'm look at saving $15 on the pump not including the fittings...

Thanks, Cranny

 

[stratslinger]

I love my pump... For what it's worth, mine is a Little Giant pump like this one. Seems to run quieter than the March pumps my buddies use (not really that big a deal), but most importantly, it'll run dry if you turn your back on it without any ill effects.

 

[Painless406]

I'm familiar with your lifting up coolers full of rediculously hot water and used to have a hell of a time during solo brew days. It never failed that I ended wearing a decent bit of scorching sparge water by the time the day was through. I think the pump is definately worth it. Not only does it save your back and skin from lifting/spilling, but it also gets you one toy closer to expanding to larger batches with volumes and equipment that you'd need an army of friends to help move.

I cast my vote towards buying a pump, because I won't let you have mine

 

[phoenixs4r]

The pump really saved a bunch of burns and weight lifting during brewing, so I recommend it. I wish someone would have made me total the the fittings cost before purchasing the pump though, as I believe when I was all done with upgrading my valves to 1/2", cam locks and diptubes it was actually more than the chugger I bought.

 

[david_42]

Pumps can be very useful, although I admit, I haven't used mine in years. BIAB for 5 gallons batches and they aren't necessary. I keep the pump because I might go to 10 gallon batches in the future.

 

[ACESFULL]

The pump really saved a bunch of burns and weight lifting during brewing, so I recommend it. I wish someone would have made me total the the fittings cost before purchasing the pump though, as I believe when I was all done with upgrading my valves to 1/2", cam locks and diptubes it was actually more than the chugger I bought.

I am contemplating getting a pump to but would like to hear more about what your fittings and such cost ya?

 

[Cranny04]

I am contemplating getting a pump to but would like to hear more about what your fittings and such cost ya?

Me too

 

[Polboy]

i have 3 tier gravity system so i dont have to lift anything still i recently added small solar type pump to BK for recirculation, whirlpool and faster transfer through CFC. Overall I think it was worth it but its another element that make my brew day little more complicated (pump, tubes, rec arm, camlocks ect) so if i were you i would just add extra shelf to the system to eliminate heavy lifting

 

[phoenixs4r]

Ummm well I had to get 2 new ball valves with diptubes. I followed bobby's guide for connecting it all: http://brewhardware.com/fittings/102-camlock-disconnects

2 B style camlocks
4 F style camlocks
4 street elbows (2 for pump, 2 for connection to the vessels. The two for the pump can be debatable, but I like them)
2 weldess bulk heads with compression + 5/8" SS diptubes (I used keggles, might not be needed in your setup and really are the big ticket items)
2 valves (2 piece style)
Total 146, which is 46 more than a paid for the pump.

Not trying to discourage you, I just had no idea that i'd be spending that much afterwards.

This is for a 2 keggle set up, with recirculation of both MT and BK, your setup may vary and might be less.

EDIT: Actually I needed 3 valves because I needed on to throttle the pump, and I bought a 5/8" barb after the output of the pump, so it was closer to $160

 

[Painless406]

Go to morebeer.com, click on their March pumps, and look at all the related items. You'll end up needing or wishing you had most of them, including: couplers, barbed fittings, quick disconnects, and definately a ball valve to restrict your output flow

 

[socalboomer]

I have a three-tier system and don't lift any hot water - just cold water into my HLT. I prefer the simplicity and reliability of gravity. . . Just my $.02

 

[stratslinger]

What you need for fittings depends entirely on what you already have for fittings on your other vessels... Phoenixs4r's example above assumes you're going to want to use camlocks (a very good solution, one that many of us use) with street elbows at both ends of your hoses (which may or may not be necessary - I only have the elbow at one end of mine), and he assumes that you don't have valves or fittings on your kettles or coolers... If you've already got valves in place, you can save the cost of the bulkheads and some of the valves. You can choose to go with barbs instead of camlocks but, from experience, I can tell you that your brew day will go FAR smoother using camlocks or some other form of quick disconnect than it will monkeying around with hoses and barbs...

 

[Schumed]

I used a pump for the first time last weekend I for one was a little disappointed and questioned why I was using one. I was using a chugger pump. To me it didn't seem to be much faster than what gravity could do. I had to spend another $60 for tubes, fittings, etc too. I think it would make a lot more since in an electric setup where you controlled all with a control panel. Do I think it will improve my beer? Not really. Now I'm looking into adding a sparge arm and rims tube in the future so when I get those added to the rig I might change my mind.

Also don't touch the pump head after running boiling wort through it...OUCH!

 

[phoenixs4r]

I used a pump for the first time last weekend I for one was a little disappointed and questioned why I was using one. I was using a chugger pump. To me it didn't seem to be much faster than what gravity could do. I had to spend another $60 for tubes, fittings, etc too. I think it would make a lot more since in an electric setup where you controlled all with a control panel. Do I think it will improve my beer? Not really. Now I'm looking into adding a sparge arm and rims tube in the future so when I get those added to the rig I might change my mind.

Also don't touch the pump head after running boiling wort through it...OUCH!

As far as transferring from the mash tun I have noticed I have to go slower than gravity fed draining. But from kettle to fermenter it takes seconds lol

 

[Cranny04]

Thanks for all the input!! I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a pump!