Spike Conical- observations and best practices

[jturman35]

13 clogs later and finally done! I haven’t quite nailed my racking process for IPA’s just yet! I’m wondering if my 24hr cold crash isn’t long enough.

 

[eric19312]

Hey all. Thought i would help add some insight. Just fwiw, anecdotal, etc. etc.

I have a cf5 with a 5.5% abv.
Have the neoprene jacket.
Cold crashing today.
Started at 9:30am, got to 36 at 1:10pm (4 hours).
Ambient temps close to 63 or so.
Glycol appc 33%, distilled h20 appx 66%.
Penguin 1/3 hp set to 28, with a 1 degree differinital.. (Standard differential setting).
Changed coil cool "in" at 39.1 (as per instruction manual).

Will let this stay at 36 for a bit... may try to push lower temp in a bit. Maybe say 32?

So... pretty super easy to get to 36 with ambient temps. If it was summet, my ac would be at may 78 or so.. give or take... so it may pick up more ambient heat. Ymmv.

Not sure if it’s volume related but seems coil and glyco chills faster than conical in freezer but possibly conical in freezer is able to reach lower temps. I needed a full 24 hours to get my cf15 from 67F to 32F and then another 12 hours to get below 29. First chilling 24 hr period let freezer go as low as 18 F, then limited it to 26F.

 

[Blazinlow86]

13 clogs later and finally done! I haven’t quite nailed my racking process for IPA’s just yet! I’m wondering if my 24hr cold crash isn’t long enough.

View attachment 654004

It appears that you still have alot of solids looking at your sight glass. If you don't get all that out prior to racking your always going to have clogging. On the last 12 gallon batch I did I had close to 2 litres of solids before getting to clear beer. Cheers

 

[mongoose33]

13 clogs later and finally done! I haven’t quite nailed my racking process for IPA’s just yet! I’m wondering if my 24hr cold crash isn’t long enough.

View attachment 654004

I have a suggestion for you. I used to use a jumper like this one connected to an OUT post as you have:

But then I tried something different. I put a camlock post on the fermenter and used this instead:

It's made a huge difference; much faster, and I haven't had it clog once since starting to use it. Part of it I think is that the tubing is larger than the 3/16" transfer jumper shown above, and partly because I don't have a poppet to clog on the upstream side.

 

[eric19312]

13 clogs later and finally done! I haven’t quite nailed my racking process for IPA’s just yet! I’m wondering if my 24hr cold crash isn’t long enough.

View attachment 654004

Not quite clear in the pic...are you using a racking arm? How is it oriented?

 

[eric19312]

I have a suggestion for you. I used to use a jumper like this one connected to an OUT post as you have:

View attachment 654050

But then I tried something different. I put a camlock post on the fermenter and used this instead:

View attachment 654056

It's made a huge difference; much faster, and I haven't had it clog once since starting to use it. Part of it I think is that the tubing is larger than the 3/16" transfer jumper shown above, and partly because I don't have a poppet to clog on the upstream side.

View attachment 654054

How much dry hop in this batch? Sight glass looks like it’s all yeast so any dry hop must still be in the cone.

Also any reason to think the cam lock will work better than a 1/2” barb? I use lots of cam locks too but already bought the barb and used it first transfer.

 

[mongoose33]

How much dry hop in this batch? Sight glass looks like it’s all yeast so any dry hop must still be in the cone.

Also any reason to think the cam lock will work better than a 1/2” barb? I use lots of cam locks too but already bought the barb and used it first transfer.

I think the barb would work fine--the problem is stepping it down to connect to the quick disconnect. If you can't figure out a way to step it down, you might try this:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15hb38.htm

or this:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15hb14.htm

One reason I like the camlock connection--and you may have standardized on something else, or maybe don't use a pump--is that I can connect hoses from the pump or the counterflow chiller to the racking valve via the camlocks, and fill the fermenter through the racking valve/racking arm.

But there are lots of ways to skin this cat.

****

As far as the dry hop issue--I've done a couple IPAs with a fair amount of hops, but they settle below the racking arm. I typically use one of these:

to open up the QD and I flush the beer through it to clear the racking arm. It also has the added benefit of flushing the line of air, and I usually direct that beer into a small plastic pitcher which contents I then use to check final gravity.

 

[eric19312]

I think the barb would work fine--the problem is stepping it down to connect to the quick disconnect. If you can't figure out a way to step it down, you might try this:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15hb38.htm

or this:

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tc15hb14.htm

One reason I like the camlock connection--and you may have standardized on something else, or maybe don't use a pump--is that I can connect hoses from the pump or the counterflow chiller to the racking valve via the camlocks, and fill the fermenter through the racking valve/racking arm.

But there are lots of ways to skin this cat.

****

As far as the dry hop issue--I've done a couple IPAs with a fair amount of hops, but they settle below the racking arm. I typically use one of these:

View attachment 654062
to open up the QD and I flush the beer through it to clear the racking arm. It also has the added benefit of flushing the line of air, and I usually direct that beer into a small plastic pitcher which contents I then use to check final gravity.

Thanks I finally get how that jumper works. I’ve been doing it with a small screwdriver- messy and annoying will get one of these next Bobby M order.

As you say many ways to skin the cat. I do use cam locks on hot side but so far just barbs an TC on fermenter. I use this fitting to connect 1/2” ID racking hose to ball lock QD.

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/fflbarb12.htm

 

[jturman35]

I guess the clogs are a result of being stingy loosing beer and trying to dump minimal yeast/hops. I only dumped maybe 1/2 liter at most. What you see in the sight glass is 4oz of hops. After I finally finished racking it was evident I needed to remove more of the hop debris and crash longer than 18hours. I had the racking cane at 3 o’clock position.

Still learning how to package these hoppy beers. I mostly brew Darker stuff.

 

[SEndorf]

The first brew turned out very well. (Holiday Ale)
Next up will be the hop bomb test with a Rye IPA.
After initial purchase and setup, I needed to tweak it - leg extensions (due to the yeast / hop brink) , 1/4 flare for the racking port (to push to keg) and a 1/2 barb for the racking port (to fill from the counterflow chiller). I also bought a butterfly valve for the sampling port so I can exchange the stone with the sampling valve.
Still trying to get used to the trub glub with minimal beer loss. It might be easier to simply adjust volume for increased fermenter losses.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I guess the clogs are a result of being stingy loosing beer and trying to dump minimal yeast/hops. I only dumped maybe 1/2 liter at most. What you see in the sight glass is 4oz of hops. After I finally finished racking it was evident I needed to remove more of the hop debris and crash longer than 18hours. I had the racking cane at 3 o’clock position.

Still learning how to package these hoppy beers. I mostly brew Darker stuff.

Yea you can't really be stingy and use the conical as designed imho. My advise is make 1 extra gallon than your planning to package and don't feel bad dumping it. You will end up with a cleaner end product and you won't have a bunch of sediment in your serving keg. Cheers

 

[jekeane]

13 clogs later and finally done! I haven’t quite nailed my racking process for IPA’s just yet! I’m wondering if my 24hr cold crash isn’t long enough.

24 hours Probably is on the short side. We crash our hazys for several days at work and dump the cone day 2 and before transfer. At home and on our pilot system I don't bother with dumps from the bottom but I do dump the racking port. I dont use the racking arm. I crash to 40 (what my chiller allows) let it sit a day or two then dump the racking port till clear, it doesn't take much.

I highly recommend using the beer bouncer or the knock of version ($15) in line between your port and the ball lock I have run 40 or so batches of fruited and heavily hopped beer through it and it works excellent. I simply hook my assembly up to my liquid side and purge with the co2 in the keg before hooking up.

 

[eric19312]

24 hours Probably is on the short side. We crash our hazys for several days at work and dump the cone day 2 and before transfer. At home and on our pilot system I don't bother with dumps from the bottom but I do dump the racking port. I dont use the racking arm. I crash to 40 (what my chiller allows) let it sit a day or two then dump the racking port till clear, it doesn't take much.

I highly recommend using the beer bouncer or the knock of version ($15) in line between your port and the ball lock I have run 40 or so batches of fruited and heavily hopped beer through it and it works excellent. I simply hook my assembly up to my liquid side and purge with the co2 in the keg before hooking up.

Is the beer carbed when you are running it through the bouncer?

 

[mongoose33]

Note from Spike in my mailbox today, RE using PRV for spunding purposes:

Dear Brewmasters,

Thank you for your past purchase of a Spike gas manifold, we certainly appreciate your business!

We’ve recently noticed some customers commenting and using the gas manifold as a spunding valve during pressure fermenting. A spunding valve is used to release pressure at a pre-designated pressure level, set by the brewer. The Spike gas manifold, however, was not engineered to be used in the same fashion as a spunding valve. Instead, it was engineered to be a safety pressure release during forced carbonation and pressure transfers.

Using the Spike gas manifold to pressure ferment during primary fermentation can lead to unsafe conditions. When we refer to pressure fermentation we mean adding wort to your conical, pitching yeast, and then sealing off the fermenter with the Spike gas manifold instead of a pressure blow-off (e.g., an airlock, a blow-off tube, etc.). During primary fermentation, the krausen can slowly rise filling the lid head space. If the Spike gas manifold is used instead of a pressure blow-off, the krausen can fill the gas manifold and clog the safety pressure release valve. With the safety pressure release valve clogged and the fermentation reaction creating additional pressure with nowhere to go, eventually a failure can occur that can result in a substantial mess, and potentially an injury.

For these reasons, we do not recommend that you use the Spike gas manifold to ferment under pressure (i.e. during primary fermentation). We at Spike are continuing to investigate reliable and safe options for pressure fermentation. When we identify such an option, we will let you know.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our service team at [email protected]

Thanks,
Team Spike

Well, shoot. That was one of the reasons I bought the Spike, so I could essentially do spunding.

I'm going to have to think about this. I don't let the PRV act as a spunding valve, I wait until there's about 7 or so points of gravity remaining and then seal up the fermenter.

One thing I may look into is using my 1.5" sight glass under the PRV so I could see if the krausen is approaching the top. I mostly do 5-gallon brews in my CF10 so I think this is a non-issue in those cases, but with a vigorous fermentation and a too-full fermenter, I can see how the krausen would invade the pressure manifold.

I suppose, too, that I could just have a blowoff barb or cane on there and when I get to the 7 points or so of gravity remaining, simply quickly swap the blowoff barb for the pressure manifold. It would admit almost no air to do that, and with the fermentation still ongoing, that oxygen should be used up.

Thoughts on all this?

 

[Sbe2]

Note from Spike in my mailbox today, RE using PRV for spunding purposes:

Dear Brewmasters,

Thank you for your past purchase of a Spike gas manifold, we certainly appreciate your business!

We’ve recently noticed some customers commenting and using the gas manifold as a spunding valve during pressure fermenting. A spunding valve is used to release pressure at a pre-designated pressure level, set by the brewer. The Spike gas manifold, however, was not engineered to be used in the same fashion as a spunding valve. Instead, it was engineered to be a safety pressure release during forced carbonation and pressure transfers.

Using the Spike gas manifold to pressure ferment during primary fermentation can lead to unsafe conditions. When we refer to pressure fermentation we mean adding wort to your conical, pitching yeast, and then sealing off the fermenter with the Spike gas manifold instead of a pressure blow-off (e.g., an airlock, a blow-off tube, etc.). During primary fermentation, the krausen can slowly rise filling the lid head space. If the Spike gas manifold is used instead of a pressure blow-off, the krausen can fill the gas manifold and clog the safety pressure release valve. With the safety pressure release valve clogged and the fermentation reaction creating additional pressure with nowhere to go, eventually a failure can occur that can result in a substantial mess, and potentially an injury.

For these reasons, we do not recommend that you use the Spike gas manifold to ferment under pressure (i.e. during primary fermentation). We at Spike are continuing to investigate reliable and safe options for pressure fermentation. When we identify such an option, we will let you know.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our service team at [email protected]

Thanks,
Team Spike

Well, shoot. That was one of the reasons I bought the Spike, so I could essentially do spunding.

I'm going to have to think about this. I don't let the PRV act as a spunding valve, I wait until there's about 7 or so points of gravity remaining and then seal up the fermenter.

One thing I may look into is using my 1.5" sight glass under the PRV so I could see if the krausen is approaching the top. I mostly do 5-gallon brews in my CF10 so I think this is a non-issue in those cases, but with a vigorous fermentation and a too-full fermenter, I can see how the krausen would invade the pressure manifold.

I suppose, too, that I could just have a blowoff barb or cane on there and when I get to the 7 points or so of gravity remaining, simply quickly swap the blowoff barb for the pressure manifold. It would admit almost no air to do that, and with the fermentation still ongoing, that oxygen should be used up.

Thoughts on all this?

When I read the email, I thought of you in this thread and the backlash you received from others.
I start with the blowoff barb then switch to the manifold when I DH with a few points left. I add the manifold first, connect it to gas and pump 2-3 psi of CO2 while I dry hop. I then purge and continue on my way until I am ready to rack.
I have never fermented under pressure so I can’t offer any insights, but I would think that Krausen would not be able to rise as much due to the head pressure created above the beer. Also, you could add fermcap to reduce the krausen.

 

[eric19312]

Note from Spike in my mailbox today, RE using PRV for spunding purposes:

Dear Brewmasters,

Thank you for your past purchase of a Spike gas manifold, we certainly appreciate your business!

We’ve recently noticed some customers commenting and using the gas manifold as a spunding valve during pressure fermenting. A spunding valve is used to release pressure at a pre-designated pressure level, set by the brewer. The Spike gas manifold, however, was not engineered to be used in the same fashion as a spunding valve. Instead, it was engineered to be a safety pressure release during forced carbonation and pressure transfers.

Using the Spike gas manifold to pressure ferment during primary fermentation can lead to unsafe conditions. When we refer to pressure fermentation we mean adding wort to your conical, pitching yeast, and then sealing off the fermenter with the Spike gas manifold instead of a pressure blow-off (e.g., an airlock, a blow-off tube, etc.). During primary fermentation, the krausen can slowly rise filling the lid head space. If the Spike gas manifold is used instead of a pressure blow-off, the krausen can fill the gas manifold and clog the safety pressure release valve. With the safety pressure release valve clogged and the fermentation reaction creating additional pressure with nowhere to go, eventually a failure can occur that can result in a substantial mess, and potentially an injury.

For these reasons, we do not recommend that you use the Spike gas manifold to ferment under pressure (i.e. during primary fermentation). We at Spike are continuing to investigate reliable and safe options for pressure fermentation. When we identify such an option, we will let you know.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our service team at [email protected]

Thanks,
Team Spike

Well, shoot. That was one of the reasons I bought the Spike, so I could essentially do spunding.

I'm going to have to think about this. I don't let the PRV act as a spunding valve, I wait until there's about 7 or so points of gravity remaining and then seal up the fermenter.

One thing I may look into is using my 1.5" sight glass under the PRV so I could see if the krausen is approaching the top. I mostly do 5-gallon brews in my CF10 so I think this is a non-issue in those cases, but with a vigorous fermentation and a too-full fermenter, I can see how the krausen would invade the pressure manifold.

I suppose, too, that I could just have a blowoff barb or cane on there and when I get to the 7 points or so of gravity remaining, simply quickly swap the blowoff barb for the pressure manifold. It would admit almost no air to do that, and with the fermentation still ongoing, that oxygen should be used up.

Thoughts on all this?

I seem to remember the site glass not holding pressure well for another user when he was pressure testing. I think they are designed to hold pressure when full of liquid but perhaps not so well when above liquid line.

Honestly I think this post from Spike is total BS bait and switch. These tanks were sold to ferment under pressure now clarification that’s not what we meant?

 

[CottonBrew]

I, like Sbe2 start with the blowoff barb, then add the manifold when the primary fermentation starts to subside and the krausen drops. I was concerned with krausen contaminating the pressure gage, PRV, or gas port so never started fermentation with the manifold. I add dry hops when I install the manifold and purge with CO2 to reduce the exposure to oxygen.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I, like Sbe2 start with the blowoff barb, then add the manifold when the primary fermentation starts to subside and the krausen drops. I was concerned with krausen contaminating the pressure gage, PRV, or gas port so never started fermentation with the manifold. I add dry hops when I install the manifold and purge with CO2 to reduce the exposure to oxygen.

I do the same. Cheers

 

[FswBG]

What's wrong with spunding off the gas manifold?

 

[Blazinlow86]

What's wrong with spunding off the gas manifold?

If the krausen gets into your spunding valve and prv valve you can over pressurize the vessel. Theres no real way around it and it's the same for all conicals regardless of who made them. I guess if you bought one planning to seal it all the way thru and for whatever reason didn't know that's a possibility it's a bummer. Cheers

 

[Tom R]

A larger diameter PRV would seem less likely to choke up with krausen.
https://www.brewershardware.com/Tri...er-15-PSI-TC15PRV15-1_51.html?category_id=375

 

[Jag75]

I'm not sure I've even came close to reaching the gas manifold. I have the cf5 and have done 5.5 gallon batches and my krausen ring has never hit the lid . Maybe an inch lower the rim . I put the manifold on when fermentation is almost done and I check the pressure every day.

 

[sfrisby]

I highly recommend using the beer bouncer or the knock of version ($15) in line between your port and the ball lock I have run 40 or so batches of fruited and heavily hopped beer through it and it works excellent. I simply hook my assembly up to my liquid side and purge with the co2 in the keg before hooking up.

I know the spike prv topic buried this, but I also was interested in your answer about using this on carbed beer. I never considered using it as I figured it will be a foamy mess trying to keg carbed beer through it.

Thanks.

 

[jturman35]

When I read the email, I thought of you in this thread and the backlash you received from others.
I start with the blowoff barb then switch to the manifold when I DH with a few points left. I add the manifold first, connect it to gas and pump 2-3 psi of CO2 while I dry hop. I then purge and continue on my way until I am ready to rack.
I have never fermented under pressure so I can’t offer any insights, but I would think that Krausen would not be able to rise as much due to the head pressure created above the beer. Also, you could add fermcap to reduce the krausen.

I have fermented four times under pressure 3-4 psi using a spunding valve with no issues. I can see how it would be a potential problem though. I see this more as a CYA legal issue from Spike. I have noticed the krausen doesn’t get quite as high under pressure. I personally haven’t seen it make it to the manifold yet. There is a potential for a blockage and then the fermenter becomes a ticking time bomb.

 

[Jag75]

I dont know exactly what the total area is for headspace but usually it's about 2.5 gallons of headspace , then the lid is domed which helps give it extra space. Have anyone using the spike fermenters seen any krausen markings get up the the lid?

 

[SEndorf]

Of course Spike can't endorse this method. It's just business (and product liability)
I've only one batch so far, but 11 gallons in the CF-10 with one of the most aggressive fermentations I've experienced. It was gassing off the manifold into starsan not in bubbles, but a steady gas stream. Beautiful. Even so, there were no krausen markings near the top of the fermenter or near the manifold.
I would be very hesitant to spund off the manifold if you're pushing the volume to capacity.

 

[Vale71]

Honestly I think this post from Spike is total BS bait and switch. These tanks were sold to ferment under pressure now clarification that’s not what we meant?

I don't recall any statement to that effect from Spike but anyway they're just saying that the gas manifold is unsuitable for spunding or pressure fermentation, not the fermenter itself.
Nothing is keeping Spike's users who want to do either of those things from going out and buying third-party spunding valves and PRVs. The TC attachment is after all an industry standard and not vendor dependent.

 

[CodeSection]

Hey all. Thought i would help add some insight. Just fwiw, anecdotal, etc. etc.

I have a cf5 with a 5.5% abv.
Have the neoprene jacket.
Cold crashing today.
Started at 9:30am, got to 36 at 1:10pm (4 hours).
Ambient temps close to 63 or so.
Glycol appc 33%, distilled h20 appx 66%.
Penguin 1/3 hp set to 28, with a 1 degree differinital.. (Standard differential setting).
Changed coil cool "in" at 39.1 (as per instruction manual).

Will let this stay at 36 for a bit... may try to push lower temp in a bit. Maybe say 32?

So... pretty super easy to get to 36 with ambient temps. If it was summet, my ac would be at may 78 or so.. give or take... so it may pick up more ambient heat. Ymmv.

Were you able to get to 32F? I was able to get to 31.9F....

CF10 with a 7.2% ABV
Neoprene jacket
Ambient temp 69F
Fermentation temp 72F
Glycol 25% / RO 75%
Icemaster 100 -5.5c, with a 1 degree differential
Used coil "in" for less than 40F

 

[mongoose33]

I dont know exactly what the total area is for headspace but usually it's about 2.5 gallons of headspace , then the lid is domed which helps give it extra space. Have anyone using the spike fermenters seen any krausen markings get up the the lid?

I haven't....BUT...I think some of this depends on the yeast, the fermentation temp, and the wort that's fermenting.

I haven't used Kviek yeast but my son has, and he says it's just nuts with how vigorously it ferments. I can imagine a scenario where it goes so fast it just fills up the headspace with krausen.

 

[itsnotrequired]

Note from Spike in my mailbox today, RE using PRV for spunding purposes:

Dear Brewmasters,

Thank you for your past purchase of a Spike gas manifold, we certainly appreciate your business!

We’ve recently noticed some customers commenting and using the gas manifold as a spunding valve during pressure fermenting. A spunding valve is used to release pressure at a pre-designated pressure level, set by the brewer. The Spike gas manifold, however, was not engineered to be used in the same fashion as a spunding valve. Instead, it was engineered to be a safety pressure release during forced carbonation and pressure transfers.

Using the Spike gas manifold to pressure ferment during primary fermentation can lead to unsafe conditions. When we refer to pressure fermentation we mean adding wort to your conical, pitching yeast, and then sealing off the fermenter with the Spike gas manifold instead of a pressure blow-off (e.g., an airlock, a blow-off tube, etc.). During primary fermentation, the krausen can slowly rise filling the lid head space. If the Spike gas manifold is used instead of a pressure blow-off, the krausen can fill the gas manifold and clog the safety pressure release valve. With the safety pressure release valve clogged and the fermentation reaction creating additional pressure with nowhere to go, eventually a failure can occur that can result in a substantial mess, and potentially an injury.

For these reasons, we do not recommend that you use the Spike gas manifold to ferment under pressure (i.e. during primary fermentation). We at Spike are continuing to investigate reliable and safe options for pressure fermentation. When we identify such an option, we will let you know.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our service team at [email protected]

Thanks,
Team Spike

Well, shoot. That was one of the reasons I bought the Spike, so I could essentially do spunding.

I'm going to have to think about this. I don't let the PRV act as a spunding valve, I wait until there's about 7 or so points of gravity remaining and then seal up the fermenter.

One thing I may look into is using my 1.5" sight glass under the PRV so I could see if the krausen is approaching the top. I mostly do 5-gallon brews in my CF10 so I think this is a non-issue in those cases, but with a vigorous fermentation and a too-full fermenter, I can see how the krausen would invade the pressure manifold.

I suppose, too, that I could just have a blowoff barb or cane on there and when I get to the 7 points or so of gravity remaining, simply quickly swap the blowoff barb for the pressure manifold. It would admit almost no air to do that, and with the fermentation still ongoing, that oxygen should be used up.

Thoughts on all this?

concern is with krausen getting into the prv and compromising its safe operation. if sealing up at 7 points left, krausen should have already died down so the chance of it getting into the manifold seems minuscule. i personally use a tc barb with blowoff tube at the start of fermentation and once it dies down, switch to the manifold and use the post connection with tube for blowoff. not worried about clogging at that point and any oxygen that gets in for the brief time the port is open should get used by the yeast. now it is all setup for pressure transfer at end of fermentation.

honestly, i've only had krausen in the blowoff tube a few times, maybe i'm not filling as full or don't have as active fermentation as others? i've got it dialed in pretty good where i typically only have 10.5 gallons of wort going into the fermenter (assuming not a dry hopped bomb). i fill my kegs by weight and by golly, there is typically only a couple pints left over after filling. i take samples but don't dump much, typically right before i want to cold crash and then a day into crash. i don't harvest yeast.

 

[awoitte]

Spike website is dump yeast, cold crash, then force carbonate). I pulled that sample and had a big uh oh reaction but am sure it is going to be fine.

Spike also mentions multiple color variations for determining what yeast to keep for re-use and what to discard. Any good sources on such colors for someone who is just starting with capturing yeast?

PS Just finished reading this thread in its entirety and I must say I'm so happy I took the time. I'm now more knowledgeable in conicals (for sure), general uses for various brewing items and was introduced to several new useful tools/techniques including the spunding valve which I can't wait to use for pressure transferring into kegs! (once I pick up my conical of course =))

 

[Brewdogbrew]

As far as the manifold and pressure fermenting topic:

I base my advice from spending alot of time in the brew house of a local brewery helping with the brewing - PSI build up in a closed container is serious stuff folks. Anything in the fermenter could possibly cause the port to clog (Krausen, organic materials, etc.). The port is only made to release gas and can not push through any matter without a high degree of chance of clogging. If obstructed it could take little time for the pressure to build to dangerous levels. The must be a 100% effective way to release over pressurization 100% of the time if you plan to use this method otherwise the risk is not worth the benefit.

IMHO please take this into consideration.

Cheers!

 

[Nate R]

Were you able to get to 32F? I was able to get to 31.9F....

CF10 with a 7.2% ABV
Neoprene jacket
Ambient temp 69F
Fermentation temp 72F
Glycol 25% / RO 75%
Icemaster 100 -5.5c, with a 1 degree differential
Used coil "in" for less than 40F

View attachment 654231

Yes i was- briefly. I got to 36 no problem, then 35, then (of course!) got impatient (and had to go to bed) and set for 32. I did adjust the penguin down to i think 20.
I checked on it after a few hours, but the coil on top had started to ice up. So i kicked it back to 35 where it easily stayed.
There has got to be some math behind this, inlcuding the variables:
-alc and volumn of beer
-ambient temps
-pump speed
-etc etc
Then i assume there is a perfect right way to set the temp on the inkbird and the temp on the chiller.
Off by a bit, it doesnt get cold enough OR gets too cold and freezes up.

So, here's my $0.03 worth:
-i will use 35/36 and just crash longer- say 36 to 48 hours.
-to get truly to 28 (or 29, etc. basee on beer) either get an upright freezer OR maybe a jacketes conical. I would assume the greater surface area means quicker and more consistent cooling.

Ok, also- on the Spike PRV email...
I read it as "dont use our pressure manifold to spund with. Use it IN ADDITION to a Spunding Valve".
Maybe i missed that?

Also- say i get a pro-grade 1.5" tri clamp Spunding valve and put it on where the pressure manifold goes. Doesnt that also run the risk of a clog?
I think this is why the pros must have a tee (or a seperate prv) for spunding?

 

[Vale71]

Ok, also- on the Spike PRV email...
I read it as "dont use our pressure manifold to spund with. Use it IN ADDITION to a Spunding Valve".
Maybe i missed that?

Also- say i get a pro-grade 1.5" tri clamp Spunding valve and put it on where the pressure manifold goes. Doesnt that also run the risk of a clog?
I think this is why the pros must have a tee (or a seperate prv) for spunding?

The issue with an industrial grade spunding valve is not with it maybe clogging up as that would be very unlikely but rather with user error. If the valve can be set to spund at a pressure for which the fermenter is not rated you run the risk of creating a very dangerous situation which might go unnoticed until you hear the "kaboom". That's why you still need a PRV that is designed to release at a safe pressure that cannot be changed by the user. Again, an industrial grade PRV is really massive compared to Spike's valve on the gas manifold and it's extremely unlikely that it will clog up. Still, it's always best to try and mount these accessories as high above the fermenter top as possible, if only to avoid having to repeatedly clean them.

 

[BoilerInSoCal]

Hi All,
I've been considering a CF or Flex+. This thread has been amazingly informative and helpful (but I'm still suffering from paralysis by analysis!). The ideas and methods here are genius!

But wanted to let you know that a bunch of stuff (including all CFs, but NOT the Flex) is in the Bargain Cave on the Spike website. Looks to be about 6% off. Not sure if this is their Black Friday deal(s) or not.

 

[Nate R]

Hi All,
I've been considering a CF or Flex+. This thread has been amazingly informative and helpful (but I'm still suffering from paralysis by analysis!). The ideas and methods here are genius!

But wanted to let you know that a bunch of stuff (including all CFs, but NOT the Flex) is in the Bargain Cave on the Spike website. Looks to be about 6% off. Not sure if this is their Black Friday deal(s) or not.

No the CF is not on black friday sale. They always have various 'scratch n dent' in the bargain cave.
The spike flex and flex+ is going on sale.

You can go to high gravity brew and get a discoint on gify cards (i think 10%?) And then use them to get the discount flex or flex+.

However... i would stringly consider a cf model. More money but imo a much better deal.
Also consider how you will handle temp control. A flex might fight easier in a dorm fridge. Big savings. A cf will.almost certainly need an upright fridge/freezer OR a temp control package. That is more money.
Just to throw MORE info at you! Lol

 

[jekeane]

Is the beer carbed when you are running it through the bouncer?

I know the spike prv topic buried this, but I also was interested in your answer about using this on carbed beer. I never considered using it as I figured it will be a foamy mess trying to keg carbed beer through it.

Thanks.

I spund with about 1p left and finish carbonating in the keg. I have not had issues with partially carbonated beer. I try to fill pretty slowly and I prechill my keg.

 

[BoilerInSoCal]

No the CF is not on black friday sale. They always have various 'scratch n dent' in the bargain cave.
The spike flex and flex+ is going on sale.

You can go to high gravity brew and get a discoint on gify cards (i think 10%?) And then use them to get the discount flex or flex+.

However... i would stringly consider a cf model. More money but imo a much better deal.
Also consider how you will handle temp control. A flex might fight easier in a dorm fridge. Big savings. A cf will.almost certainly need an upright fridge/freezer OR a temp control package. That is more money.
Just to throw MORE info at you! Lol

Thanks for the gify card info! yeah, the temp control is where I am getting stuck. I have a GE 7 cu. freezer now that I use to ferment (I can get two 7 gal. fermonsters in there at once). I assume the Flex+ will fit in there. I agree that the CF10 seems to have the better features/functionality, but then the costs go way up since -- as you noted -- I'd need a new fridge or glycol unit, both of which look like they'll run me another $800 or so. BUT, I could then upgrade from my two tap dorm frig kegerator by converting the GE into a four tap! As I said...paralysis by analysis! Time for a beer.

 

[Sbe2]

I dont know exactly what the total area is for headspace but usually it's about 2.5 gallons of headspace , then the lid is domed which helps give it extra space. Have anyone using the spike fermenters seen any krausen markings get up the the lid?

With LA3 I have had it blow off into my starsan using the hose barb TC. I fill to 6 gallons when doing a NEIPA. So it can happen. I have never used the gas manifold for the entire fermentation.

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

It appears that you still have alot of solids looking at your sight glass. If you don't get all that out prior to racking your always going to have clogging. On the last 12 gallon batch I did I had close to 2 litres of solids before getting to clear beer. Cheers

Just a +1 on this. Looking back at last IPA 5 gallon/CF5 batch with 6 ounces of dry hops, I wasted about 3qts. Maybe more than was needed on that one, but you just have to waste more with those beers.