two cooling questions

[scottvin]

1) Do people use two immersion chillers - such as, one in an ice bath connected to the second chiller in the wort and run the tap water through the ice bath chillers to the chiller in the wort to the sink/ground? If so, how do you connect the two chillers to each other?

2) If I want to get a plate chiller, do I need a pump as well? Or, can I just use gravity?

Thanks!

 

[mtbcoach]

1 - yes, connect just like connecting two garden hoses together.

2 - pump needed for proper results.

 

[kh54s10]

1) I do. I made a 20', it was that or 50' at HD. It didn't cool as fast as I wanted so I got another coil and a couple more hose clamps.

2) AFAIK, yes. That is way out of my present budget.

 

[JakeFegely]

When I added my plate chiller, I first attempted to use it without a pump. It was summer and my incoming water was in the upper 60's F. First pass only got the beer into the upper 90's. I ended up siphoning back into the kettle and running it through the chiller - 2 more times! I bought a pump before my next brew and it works much better. I typically get the beer down to pitching temp in 10-15 minutes. (I recirculate into the kettle until the thermometer on the output of the pump is where I want it).

I still use my old immersion copper coil in the summer to pre-chill the water into the plate chiller.

 

[brewsme]

In the summer months (Houston water is ~80*) I use the immersion coil to drop the temp with tap water to approximately 100* and then hook up the input to the following pump in a bucket of ice water to drop the temp the rest of the way. Total process take about 15-20 minutes. I prefer this method because I like to see everything that touches my wort.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_792_792

It's important to stir the wort while it's cooling. This makes a huge difference. When I first started cooling with an immersion coil I wasn't stirring and it took twice as long! I use a SS Mix-Stir connected to a cordless drill at low speed:

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=10408

I use a 2x4 with a hole drilled in the center so the drill can stir the wort without having to hold the drill. This make the process automated so I can clean up while the wort is cooling. Highly recommended!

 

[rhamilton]

IMO, don't buy more copper for a pre-chiller, it's just more hassle than it's worth. A submersible pump (~$20), connections (<$5), a 5-gallon bucket, and a good amount of ice will get you chilly under 15 minutes and well under $100 bucks (ho'made IC included).

I know plate chillers rock, but I like to KISS -- keep it simple, stupid. And I'm cheap

 

[scottvin]

IMO, don't buy more copper for a pre-chiller, it's just more hassle than it's worth. A submersible pump (~$20), connections (<$5), a 5-gallon bucket, and a good amount of ice will get you chilly under 15 minutes and well under $100 bucks (ho'made IC included).

I know plate chillers rock, but I like to KISS -- keep it simple, stupid. And I'm cheap

can you give me a hint where to get the pump at?

 

[rhamilton]

can you give me a hint where to get the pump at?

I got mine from harbor freight. The higher the flow rate, the faster it will cool so you can splurge for a better model if you want higher performance.

 

[scottvin]

Can I just buy a male hose adapter from home depot or lowes?

 

[banderson25]

You could just use some tubing and hose clamps with a slightly larger diameter than the copper or stainless tubing your chiller is made from.

 

[scottvin]

I have read that running the water full bore from the faucet isn't the best way to cool down the wort. I thought that if it is on all the way, the cooling is better. Thoughts?