Regret a Pump?

[storytyme]

I drain the mash tun with my pump until there is about a gallon of recoverable wort, and then gravity drain the rest into a small pot to dump into my kettle. Pumping all the way down generally leaves a small amount of wort in the mash tun since air can be pulled into the false bottom elbow once liquid level approaches the kettle valve, and once you turn the pump off to void the air, you lose siphon. When pumping from the mash tun, I choke down flow with the pump outlet valve to get a steady flow into my boil kettle without pumping so fast that I risk compacting the grain bed. Usually takes 5 mins or so to completely drain my mash tun for 11 gallon batches.

The other problem is I only have a boil kettle and tun with fitting for the pump. I use the kettle as both HLT and BK, so after the first drain I still have my sparge water in the kettle so the first running needs to go into another vessel. I have a 5 gal SS pot and a 7 gal aluminum pot but neither have ports. Just trying to work my way around that until I get a keggle. Any suggestions would be great and with minimal lifting would be even better. Thanks

 

[baulz]

I used the pumps a couple of times, mainly to circulate the wort during chilling, and it worked great for that. But it's just another thing to clean after I'm done brewing. I'd rather keep the wort moving manually than clean the pumps, so they stay in the basement.

I use mine to pump cleaner through all my system (mashtun, tubing, chiller, etc.) after brewing. Nice and easy way to clean everything in one shot.

 

[wardens355]

The other problem is I only have a boil kettle and tun with fitting for the pump. I use the kettle as both HLT and BK, so after the first drain I still have my sparge water in the kettle so the first running needs to go into another vessel. I have a 5 gal SS pot and a 7 gal aluminum pot but neither have ports. Just trying to work my way around that until I get a keggle. Any suggestions would be great and with minimal lifting would be even better. Thanks

How big is your tun? If you have considerable head space, you could mashout with several gallons and pump into your boil kettle. Then your sparge water volume will be smaller and more manageable. So I would heat the initial mash water in your valved kettle, pump into your tun. Then heat mashout volume in your valved kettle to whatever temp to get you to around 170F, pump in after the mash, stir, vorlauf with pump, and transfer to valved kettle. Heat the smaller sparge volume in your 5 gal pot, dump into mash tun, stir, vorlauf, transfer to 5 gal pot, and dump into boil kettle.

 

[storytyme]

How big is your tun? If you have considerable head space, you could mashout with several gallons and pump into your boil kettle. Then your sparge water volume will be smaller and more manageable. So I would heat the initial mash water in your valved kettle, pump into your tun. Then heat mashout volume in your valved kettle to whatever temp to get you to around 170F, pump in after the mash, stir, vorlauf with pump, and transfer to valved kettle. Heat the smaller sparge volume in your 5 gal pot, dump into mash tun, stir, vorlauf, transfer to 5 gal pot, and dump into boil kettle.

It is a 10 gal cooler. There is usually head space unless it is a 10 gal batch. I like your thoughts on this. How do you vorlauf with the pump?

 

[AnOldUR]

How do you vorlauf with the pump?

When you recirculate the mash, it has the same effect as a vorlauf. The grain bed sets and clear wort comes out. The only difference is where you direct the flow.

 

[govner1]

I use mine to pump cleaner through all my system (mashtun, tubing, chiller, etc.) after brewing. Nice and easy way to clean everything in one shot.

*^^^This

 

[storytyme]

When you recirculate the mash, it has the same effect as a vorlauf. The grain bed sets and clear wort comes out. The only difference is where you direct the flow.

Great. Thanks.

 

[ImNoExpert]

I've two pumps. I bought them both about a year and a half ago. I've yet to use them once.

I don't really need them for my current setup, but I bought them for a Brutus-style rig I started building that I affectionately call "Best Intentions". I've got everything done but the electronics, and then I got distracted by a different money pit.

*sigh* Some day....

This makes me has a sad.

 

[wardens355]

It is a 10 gal cooler. There is usually head space unless it is a 10 gal batch. I like your thoughts on this. How do you vorlauf with the pump?

Just pump from the discharge valve back up into the top of the mash tun. I drape my hose over the rim and keep the camlock on to keep some extra weight up there. Don't want the tube slipping out and shooting wort everywhere. I start up the pump with the tube above the liquid surface so any air evacuated from the pump doesn't bubble out and splash. I choke the flow with the effluent valve until there is a relatively steady, low flow into the top that won't disturb the grain bed. I then submerge the outlet into the liquid until it doesn't want to slip out, and put the top on loosely. Let it sit for several minutes and check to see if its running clear. I could put a valve on the mash tun to recirc to, but I am content operating this way.

 

[storytyme]

Just pump from the discharge valve back up into the top of the mash tun. I drape my hose over the rim and keep the camlock on to keep some extra weight up there. Don't want the tube slipping out and shooting wort everywhere. I start up the pump with the tube above the liquid surface so any air evacuated from the pump doesn't bubble out and splash. I choke the flow with the effluent valve until there is a relatively steady, low flow into the top that won't disturb the grain bed. I then submerge the outlet into the liquid until it doesn't want to slip out, and put the top on loosely. Let it sit for several minutes and check to see if its running clear. I could put a valve on the mash tun to recirc to, but I am content operating this way.

Thanks for all the info. Can't wait to try it out.

 

[b-boy]

I like my pump now. I hated it when I first got it. I use it with my plate chiller and to recirculate wort for whirlpooling. I don't use it for water or mashing. I still use gravity for that. I originally used high-temp PVC hose, but switch to silicone. now that I can see how everything is flowing, I like the pump a lot more.

 

[hunter_le five]

This makes me has a sad.

 

[brettwasbtd]

Thanks for all the replies. Most of which confirmed what I was thinking. Just not the best use of dollars for me at this time. I ended up making a priories list and kept moving a pump further and further down the list haha. Funny the one person who has had two and never even used them

 

[hunter_le five]

Funny the one person who has had two and never even used them

Just one in the long line of questionable decisions that is my life.

 

[govner1]

I'll get some pix when I brew Thursday. Tied up w/ other projects away from my house for now.

Here are pix of my portable pump stand. A buddy welded it together for me. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1420225822.580100.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1420225863.963785.jpg

 

[brettwasbtd]

Bias disclaimer, blah blah blah.

A pump may not be an instant help. In fact, you'll have buyer's remorse the first 3 times you use it. However, It slowly creeps into your process though and you'll leverage it for more and more things and then we'll have to pry it from your cold dead hands.

Whirlpool cooling with an immersion chiller is way faster than leaving it sit still. Stirring it manually is a way to not buy a pump. No doubt, you can do everything with gravity and manual lifting. A pump lets you move liquid uphill and therefore lets you lower all your vessels to a more safe and efficient height.

Decided to hold off on the pump, though I did just order a set of camlocks and hose from you last night. My current kettle has a ball valve but no way to attach a hose. Tried ball valve to a funnel last brew day and it was a mess!

 

[augiedoggy]

Thanks for all the replies. Most of which confirmed what I was thinking. Just not the best use of dollars for me at this time. I ended up making a priories list and kept moving a pump further and further down the list haha. Funny the one person who has had two and never even used them

you could always buy one of the $20 dc food grade pumps...I use three of them in my system and have for a year now... I love them....
it would at least give you a better idea if you want to spend the money on a bigger one if you have some need for the higher flow (24v ones are only 3 gallons per minute max which is plenty for me)

 

[brettwasbtd]

you could always buy one of the $20 dc food grade pumps...I use three of them in my system and have for a year now... I love them....
it would at least give you a better idea if you want to spend the money on a bigger one if you have some need for the higher flow (24v ones are only 3 gallons per minute max which is plenty for me)

How do those pumps handle a lot of hop pellets? I have never been a fan off using a hop bag/spider ( just another thing to clean) so I throw my hops right in the kettle

 

[passedpawn]

How do those pumps handle a lot of hop pellets? I have never been a fan off using a hop bag/spider ( just another thing to clean) so I throw my hops right in the kettle

I've never had anything ever get stuck in my pump. Anything small enough to get into the pump apparently always comes back out.

Now, my plate chiller is another story

 

[AnOldUR]

I've never had anything ever get stuck in my pump.

Which pump do you use?

 

[edroberts]

you could always buy one of the $20 dc food grade pumps...I use three of them in my system and have for a year now... I love them....
it would at least give you a better idea if you want to spend the money on a bigger one if you have some need for the higher flow (24v ones are only 3 gallons per minute max which is plenty for me)

Where would one find one of these cheep pumps?

 

[passedpawn]

Which pump do you use?

March HS809. The one with the opposing ports, not the one with the ports at right angles.

 

[augiedoggy]

Where would one find one of these cheep pumps?

amazon and ebay are full of them... here is a link to a couple but there are cheaper sellers.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24V-Solar-H...555?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e068ca1b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-Solar-H...930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35e0a622b2

there are sellers in the states but of course they are marked up because of the shorter wait...

These same pumps are also rebranded by us solar and sold by them too at 2x3 times the price. I have 5 of these...3 24v and two 12v... they draw about 1 amp each max and the 24v is stronger and pumps faster....
you can find 24v and 12v powersupplies there as well as I did but an old pc powersupply or 12v wall wort (1amp or higher) will work for the 12v ones...

 

[grathan]

Decided to hold off on the pump, though I did just order a set of camlocks and hose from you last night. My current kettle has a ball valve but no way to attach a hose. Tried ball valve to a funnel last brew day and it was a mess!

I thread a dip tube into the ball valve. To sanitize I turn it upside down and fill with star san last 5 minutes of brewing. It's cut to the prefect height of my carboys.

Pumps seem to handle pellet hops pretty well.



I posed a similar question to the forum earlier this year, not sure if any info there you might find useful...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/anyone-choose-not-use-pump-471360/


My current thoughts are to move away from a pump. My best beer of the year was made without one. I even forgot to varlauf that one, so the clarity thing goes out the window. I want to design my brew setup to handle both gravity and a pump though as I go back and forth.

 

[augiedoggy]

I use these instead of ball valves to control the speed... they work great, I also use them to control a dc stir bar motor and my homemade yeast stirplate...(12v pc fan build)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111531108290?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT