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.
Unboxing the Nano from CO Brewing
- Thread starter pretzelb
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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.
in actual usage it wasn't as bad as the test and yes it was easy to position the hood so it dripped onto a towel I had spread out on the floor. Like I said theres a thread on it here in the forums thats extensive. Theres formulas etc. Youre right in that a condensate hood has a channel that usually directs it away. I still think going as big as you can is the best idea right from the start although there are considerations to make such as drafting etc if you have gas etc.
Howhownow
Well-Known Member
I just use one of the plastic rope totes with a duct line running out of the side near the top, 415 CFM inline fan. I don't even run at full blast during boil, no drips. I have a fairly short run, though.
FWIW mine doesn't drip from UNDER the hood it is dripping from the fan housing. under the hood is dry as a bone. Before I do another run I'm going to try sealing the fan and see what that does
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
sounds like a decent idea. You could attach the probe to the center of the basket on an adjustable rod or something as well to hold it in place. Not sure its something Im that concerned about at this point but I cant find fault with your idea.
This is how I have my probe setup though I'm wondering if it is better on the output of the kettle. I just picked up a 1/4" compression connector.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467858567.666115.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1467858567.666115.jpg
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.
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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.
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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.
View attachment 1467989415010.jpg
akthor
Well-Known Member
I added an overhead electric hoist instead of the pulley system.
Mines a 1 bbl system so I wasn't wanting to be hefting a basket of all that grain out by hand.
With a 25% off coupon it was like $99 at Harbor Freight.
Mines a 1 bbl system so I wasn't wanting to be hefting a basket of all that grain out by hand.
With a 25% off coupon it was like $99 at Harbor Freight.
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
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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.
also I spoke to Tim last week and he said nothing about substituting or anything he simply said they would ship direct form chugger sometime in the next week.
im gonna want more than 100 bucks back fwiw more like 140 bucks. You don't make substitutions without asking and quite simply put it is not LEGAL for them to do so.
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...
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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.
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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 ImageUploadedByHome Brew1468029992.822541.jpg
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.
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.
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.
Mine arrived..same as yours, I sent him an email about getting a refund on it, haven't heard back but Ill give him a few days to respond.
Just a quick follow up about the topsflo pump that was sent to me. Rest assured I was not pleased with what happened. After some emailing back and forth with Tim I have decided to keep the pump and give it a try. Tim assured me that they will back the pump if there is a problem with it. I will say that their response to me has been very timely and good and cordial etc. In the end I decided to keep it to see if it really is an alternative to my chugger (which I already own fyi). it does have some benefits especially since it can be mounted right to the kettle (it is light enough for that) and then the valve for the kettle can be attached to it. Ill take a pic if people aren't familiar with this setup so you can see but if you look up topslfo pump in the forums you can see plenty of pics. Ill report back with its use this weekend as I am brewing a marzen for Oktoberfest.
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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.
pretzelb
Well-Known Member
Whoa. 29 lbs grain and 14.5 gallons of water and the whirlpool worked? What was the grain crush?
30Bones
Well-Known Member
Well done. Hope it works.
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!
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.
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.
Im only willingly to give it a try because there are some advantages IF it works as designed and lasts etc. There are some other new pumps that have come out recently that are similar. Im okay with being the guniea pig but if this was my only pump I would have wanted a refund and bought a march if a chugger wasn't available etc.
andrewmaixner
Well-Known Member
BrewersHardware has TriClamp 3-way valves for about $40-60, and NPT for cheaper, depending on your size and connection type/ (3 I/O ports with four settings: all 3 open, 1<-->2, 1<-->3, 2<-->3, so it needs another valve before in input if you want to control the flow rate in.) I like mine. Drew a "T" on the handle in marker to keep track of the internal ball's flow dynamics.
30Bones
Well-Known Member
$60 is what I paid from brewers hardware. Haven't been able to use it yet or completely set my system up to get any pics. Should happen early August.
wildseedgrrrl
Active Member
My next big purchase! How does that effect the overall weight on your kettle or pump. Where do you have it mounted? Do you then not have to switch any hoses at any point?
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.
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'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.
30Bones
Well-Known Member
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.
10 gallon batches will likely be ~11 into the fermentor I assume due to preboil volume needed and possible "living on the edge" for boilovers.
Howhownow
Well-Known Member
I have that setup and run 5 gal batches no problem. I even hold back ~ 1 gal to do a quick pourover sparge. You are good to go for 5 or 10 gallon batches with the 20 gal kettle and solid side basket.
Thanks for the reassurances! Looks like a good system for my needs.
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I have with no issues. It was a fairly big grain bill but not crazy finished beer was 6% ABV
02RedWS6TA
Well-Known Member
Was told mine would ship today. Fingers crossed. Jealous of all the pics.
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