I'm still in the dark.
Is this "grant" you speak of some sort of raspberry pi controlled automaton, bearing a resemblance to Hugh Grant, which breaks up dough balls in your mash tun? Creepy concept, but I'll subscribe out of sheer morbid curiosity...
No. A grant is used in between a MLT and pump (and other places) to avoid back pressure, provide a sample area, and other good things.
Actually, I love grants, for the reasons you mention. Trying to figure how they work with non-self priming pumps?
Not sure I'm convinced of the need on the Homebrew scale. I can take a sample from the BK or MT just as easy as a grant. I have never had any issues with back pressure, so I don't need to avoid it. Finally I'm at a loss for any other "good things" they might contribute on the Homebrew scale.
My understanding is that some brew houses use positive displacent self priming pumps where you cannot use a ball valve on the output of the pump to throttle back the flow. In this case the grant is filled up, pump cicles on to drain the grant quickly, grant empties and pump turns off. Repeat cycling the pump on/off as the grant fills up until you are done sparging. Given that most all homebrewers are using magnetic drive pumps that you can throttle back the speed by using a ball valve, I see no need for a grant.
That is part of the reason I went with the 5.5 gallon. I use a ball valve on the pump output to control the flow. I have it down pretty good now to keep the balance but it does take a little monitoring until it's balanced.
I also love to build stuff!
And here I got all excited because I thought there was a fellow homebrewer living in the same town I do...Show me your Grant build. I'm interested in hearing how you prevent underflow and overflow issues. As well as where you found parts?
I don't understand your question. You can use the grant manually just like you would flysparge without one. Once the grant is half full or whatever you open the grants valve and turn on the pump and adjust until you're desired level is maintained. If I was using one it would not even drain fully so repriming wouldn't be a issue. CheersI would love one, and have the stockpots, but outside of Btaz's method, don't know how to use one with a non-self priming pump. The in hose is in the wort in the grant, right? How do you guys flood the pump?
Edit: I should correct it to say, standard non-self priming pumps, like the Chuggers I have?
I don't understand your question. You can use the grant manually just like you would flysparge without one. Once the grant is half full or whatever you open the grants valve and turn on the pump and adjust until you're desired level is maintained. If I was using one it would not even drain fully so repriming wouldn't be a issue. Cheers
I'm I correct thinking you keep the pump below the grant?I don't understand your question. You can use the grant manually just like you would flysparge without one. Once the grant is half full or whatever you open the grants valve and turn on the pump and adjust until you're desired level is maintained. If I was using one it would not even drain fully so repriming wouldn't be a issue. Cheers
YupI'm I correct thinking you keep the pump below the grant?
Im very interested to know how this unit is working for you? Im thinking of making something similar but don't know how to proceed. I understand the mechanics but the electrical setup is greek. Do the floats feed into the control unit? and the control unit sends power on/off to the pump? I would be making this with its own control/power setup and pump, it would be separate from my brew controller(tower of power). Any thoughts or advice would be great.Here is the grant I built for my 3 vessel E-HERMS. I connect it between the MLT and my wort pump. When I fly sparge, I gravity feed into the grant and when it's full, it pumps at full speed to the BK. The grant uses 2 float switches like these. I used a DPDT switch like this to divert the power from my wort pump switch to be controlled by a liquid level sensor like this. The liquid level controller also needs a 9-12v AC or DC power source. The floats are connected to my control panel with these aviation connectors. When the liquid level reaches the upper switch, it turns the pump on and it runs until the level drops below the lower switch. I also use a one way check valve on the pump outlet like this to keep the wort from back-flowing from the BK to the grant while the pump is off. I didn't plan it that way (though you probably could), but it pumps almost exactly a gallon per cycle, so you can easily check your sparge rate. Is it necessary? probably not, but I find it much easier to control and I don't have to listen to that pump the whole time. I also love to build stuff!View attachment 587040 View attachment 587041
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