I wouldn't say I'm worried, just interested in seeing more peoples' findings. If there's a beneficial tweak that I don't have to develop myself, that will be good to know. Every rig needs a little TLC.
Yes it moves out the way. I mounted it on two TV arms and obviously its being helped by the pully system that I attached to it and the ceiling. Ill take more pics when I get a chance. I test ran it today and I may move to a 6 inch fan. Ive read a helpful thread on it and felt that with such a short run etc that I would be okay as far as "drippage". I think I was wrong. Go big right away do yourself a favor
Don't quote me but I think you will always have condensation drips. That's why condensate hoods are built. You may just want to focus on how to divert it so it doesn't drop in the pot. I think having the fan directly over will make that a challenge.
I wouldn't say I'm worried, just interested in seeing more peoples' findings. If there's a beneficial tweak that I don't have to develop myself, that will be good to know. Every rig needs a little TLC.
I think I'm going to still get the system and just buy a thermometer with a waterproof probe that I can stick in the middle of the mash. Then I can adjust the PID if needed to ensure the mash temperature is accurate. This might be a good option:
http://www.thermoworks.com/ChefAlarm
and use this probe:
http://www.thermoworks.com/TX-1002X-NP
I agree 100% with #3! I saw that somebody in this post had the pulley system on a track so that it would slide out for easy removal. I wish I would have seen that before I ordered mine.
True! I had the trolley system added to mine, which has been great! I've thought the same thing as I slid the basket away from the kettle..."there's no way I'd lift 20+ lbs of wet grain by myself". The only draw back is that it's not weighted very well. It doesn't want to tip right over when you extend the basket out, but it doesn't take much extra movement to want to start it that way! I tossed a few bags of sand on the bottom of the stand and solved that problem pretty quickly.
I am glad I already own a chugger pump. When I ordered this system before it went retail it was still being sold with a chugger pump and I ordered it to have a back up. This pump now listed on the site is somewhat frustrating to those that thought they were getting a quality pump, not some cheap piece. I can't even use the tri clamps since they were welded on. More stuff I need to buy for my current chugger head.
I have yet to be able to use the system as I am awaiting to move into a new house. Everything else seems very well done. This pump has left me a bit upset. My invoice said CHUGGER on backorder.
Yeah just arrived in the mail today. I emailed Tim, hope they want this back bc I have no use for it and would like $100 back and some TC flanges to make me feel right.Did this just arrive? Im gonna have a real problem if this is the pump that comes with my nano home as this is not what was sold to me
Yeah just arrived in the mail today. I emailed Tim, hope they want this back bc I have no use for it and would like $100 back and some TC flanges to make me feel right.
Yeah just arrived in the mail today. I emailed Tim, hope they want this back bc I have no use for it and would like $100 back and some TC flanges to make me feel right.
Sending it back Monday, waiting on the amount I will be credited.let me know if you hear back from him. MIne is supposed to arrive today and I will go ahead and assume (hopefully wrongly) that I have the same thing. it was supposed to ship direct form chugger but I see it ship from CO...
Chugger is suffering from some major quality/certification problems right now, they haven't had a pump in stock for 2 months and we can't even get a status from them about when the issues will be corrected. That obviously put us in a tough position.
The pumps we switched to have the exact same specs for flow rate etc. the difference is in the motor (the head is the same), the new ones are brushless with built in thermal overload protection, they last about 10 times longer than a motor with brushes. We ran that pump for 24 hrs a day for a week straight in our shop to test it. So while it is smaller (because of the brushless design) there is no functional difference.
Sending it back Monday, waiting on the amount I will be credited.
I am right there with you. Tim told me $130 is the credit. Seems fair. I agree, take the hit and make a deal with March.Then they should have TOLD us and gave us options. Not just switched it. Personally get me a march pump then. Not some piece of Chinese junk that's been fabricated with no known history etc as being reliable etc. Also these pumps cost HALF of what we "paid" for. Sorry if I sound a little angry...its because I am. I already have a chugger pump and have been using it to run mine.
I am right there with you. Tim told me $130 is the credit. Seems fair. I agree, take the hit and make a deal with March.
Oddly my box of tri clamp parts included a 3/4" NPT threaded triclamp.....only place that works is on the inlet of a......you guessed it. Chugger pump head.
View attachment 361377
PID set at 151. Top of mash is pretty close. Pump output is around 3/4 with good whirl pooling around top of mash. This is 29.4 pounds of grain. Started with 14.5 gallons of water. I am basically going to fly sparge once I lift the basket so I get 14 gallons of wort. This is a bells two hearted clone. Plenty of hop absorption. Still not quite sure on boil off. I'm guessing 1 gallon an hour. Wish me luck! Lol
It seems the longer it circulates the better. It's really spinning after the mash hour is over. I may let it sit and spin for about 15 minutes just for the heck of it.
this is what it will look likeNever thought of mounting it to the valve itself. I may have kept it. Then again I have a 3way valve off my chugger and have zero hose changes from mash to boil to chill.
Never thought of mounting it to the valve itself. I may have kept it. Then again I have a 3way valve off my chugger and have zero hose changes from mash to boil to chill.
I have my mill set at a loose .45. This is the better of the 2 brews that I have made so for.
As far as the pump, not sure if I'll even use it. I have a chugger that I have been using and it's worked as good as I need it to. Seems as though we did kinda get the shaft as far as quality? I haven't used pumps before so I am new to all the styles and brands.
Can you post a photo? And how much is a 3-way valve?
I'm still an Igloo cooler brewer, so even remedial pump and valve information is new to me!
Can you post a photo? And how much is a 3-way valve?
I'm still an Igloo cooler brewer, so even remedial pump and valve information is new to me!
Thanks for the valve porn! I like the idea of not switching hoses during brew day.
Is anyone using the new-style solid side basket, making 5 gal brews in the 20 gal kettle? Elsewhere I've read concerns about getting the grain underwater in that scenario but I don't know if it's really meaningful. Tim certainly didn't indicate a problem.
I have been doing 6-6.5 gallon batches for a couple year. Nets me a full 5 gallon keg and sometimes a few 22oz bottles if I feel like messing with it. Plan to keep this volume with the 20 gallon system.I'm doing this Saturday and Ill let ya know. I will say that I am making 6 gallons for 5 gallons in the fermenter though as I always lose some somewhere.
Thanks for the valve porn! I like the idea of not switching hoses during brew day.
Is anyone using the new-style solid side basket, making 5 gal brews in the 20 gal kettle? Elsewhere I've read concerns about getting the grain underwater in that scenario but I don't know if it's really meaningful. Tim certainly didn't indicate a problem.
Thanks for the valve porn! I like the idea of not switching hoses during brew day.
Is anyone using the new-style solid side basket, making 5 gal brews in the 20 gal kettle? Elsewhere I've read concerns about getting the grain underwater in that scenario but I don't know if it's really meaningful. Tim certainly didn't indicate a problem.
Enter your email address to join: