Pumps

[ekthurber34]

What is the best pump for a 5 gl batches. The ones I have been looking pump 6-7 gpm. Is there anything smaller

 

[kombat]

Lots of home brewers use a March 809 pump (I think that's what it's called). Others use a Chugger pump, which is basically the same thing, but a little cheaper.

 

[ekthurber34]

Is that a little over kill for 5 gl batch

 

[iijakii]

Kind of, yeah. There aren't many good substitutes though. There's stuff like the GreatBrewEh pump, which is a lot smaller and runs inline. It's honestly not that much cheaper though, and the reviews here on HBT have been mixed. I was planning on getting one until I read 3x different threads of BIAB guys that had issues after awhile and ended up buying a March/Chugger.

 

[LordUlrich]

A march 809 is about the smallest brewing pump you will find.
Also pump rating numbers are a bit misleading. The Max flow is at 0 head, which is not the case. The 1/2 in tube adds a surprising amount of head, plus you want to pump up hill a little bit at least.
I brew 5 gallon batches and use a march 809.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Home Brew mobile app

 

[schiersteinbrewing]

http://www.homebrewing.org/Chugger-Pump-Plastic-Head-Inline_p_3195.html

I just bought this one for my five gal batches, it works great. Makes brew day a lot easier.

 

[241]

Overkill? Never!

I went with the plastic head chugger. Great price, works great for 5 gal batches

 

[BeastMaster]

Had the same question. I was hoping to find a slightly cheaper solution, I guess you've got to pay to play...

 

[IvanTheTerribrew]

Yeah it's pretty pay to play. I've heard of the solar pumps but don't know much about them. I just got a chugger stainless steel head for Christmas and I do mostly 5 gal batches. Haven't gotten to use it yet but it definitely will be so useful and not overkill. Wort is roughly 8-10# per gallon. So 5.5 gallons of wort plus a pot is easily 50#. If I can avoid lifting that by just having a pump, that's a simple decision. But yeah so far I haven't seen a really cheap way that will also keep it food safe.