Unboxing the Nano from CO Brewing

[andrewmaixner]

.... I'm going to probably lose a half gallon of beer in the piping but I'll be able to plan for it.
...

Last session (high gravity test 1.105, long boil and lower-than-targeted volume), I realized a relatively easy way to almost eliminate piping loss on my (very similar to COBrew) system.

When transferring to fermentation vessels, as soon as the kettle was empty, I shut off the pump and closed the ball valve valve (to prevent backsiphon), then added 3 gallons of clean water to the kettle, and started pumping again.

As soon as I started to see the clear liquid moving through the tubing close to the fermenter, I stopped the transfer. Almost zero loss!

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

New to the forum and about to purchase the 20 gallon CBS Nano system. I have read through this thread and appreciate all the great input. Besides ditching the sight glass for the whirlpool fitting and purchasing the SS manifold,what other options/custom items should I include for the best possible setup. Thanks in advance.

Scott

 

[02RedWS6TA]

New to the forum and about to purchase the 20 gallon CBS Nano system. I have read through this thread and appreciate all the great input. Besides ditching the sight glass for the whirlpool fitting and purchasing the SS manifold,what other options/custom items should I include for the best possible setup. Thanks in advance.

Scott

Tell them you don't want their pump and order a chugger or chugger max. You can have him add a Whirlpool port when you order, my original system has one, I think it was like $100 extra or something.

 

[RollE2k]

Ask if it is possible to get the basket mesh at 600 micron instead of 400. Best change i have made on my system.

 

[wyowolf]

Brewed the Ragin Irish Red Ale 10 gal batch this weekend. HORRIBLE efficiency again . 51% Beersmith said should have been 1.053 i got 1.034.

I am wondering if the wort is simply going through the manifold and around the basket instead of through it? I really wish they had designed the basket to be taller instead of having to suspend it with a pulley.

I normally run it for an hour, then lift the basket mostly out to let it drain, then pour about 1-2 gal of hot water through the grains via a colander to wash them out... i dont crush the grains, but I get similar results from either local or online orders...

sigh

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Brewed the Ragin Irish Red Ale 10 gal batch this weekend. HORRIBLE efficiency again . 51% Beersmith said should have been 1.053 i got 1.034.

I am wondering if the wort is simply going through the manifold and around the basket instead of through it? I really wish they had designed the basket to be taller instead of having to suspend it with a pulley.

I normally run it for an hour, then lift the basket mostly out to let it drain, then pour about 1-2 gal of hot water through the grains via a colander to wash them out... i dont crush the grains, but I get similar results from either local or online orders...

sigh

Do you have the solid side basket? If so, the water would have to pass through the grain bed. I thought the basket set on the crossbar while mashing?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[wyowolf]

No the solid mesh basket, I cant recall the micron size. I am wondering if i need to put the manifold INTO the mash instead of on top of it. Either that or stir up the mash occasionally....

It would really help if the basket was sized properly to start, as it is you cant do 10 gal batches without raising it else the mash will over flow the basket...

not the best pic but maybe this will help...

Do you have the solid side basket? If so, the water would have to pass through the grain bed. I thought the basket set on the crossbar while mashing?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Is that the CO brewing basket? I thought they came with a cross bar that sat on the kettle. I know that people have tried various placement of the manifold (bottom, middle, top) but always ended up putting it on back top.

 

[wyowolf]

Is that the CO brewing basket? I thought they came with a cross bar that sat on the kettle. I know that people have tried various placement of the manifold (bottom, middle, top) but always ended up putting it on back top.

yes, i think its an early version, i want to say 3? years ago....the basket is fine, its just not tall enough for large batches unless you suspend it near the top of the kettle... sits maybe 2 in or so from the top.

I think I am going to suspend the manifold in the middle of the mash and or stir it a few times...

i would have thought that pouring hot water through it after i had suspended it out of the mash would have gotten those sugars but maybe not...

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Does anyone have a diagram of how they plumbed the lower whirlpool fitting? Are you guys using one or two pumps?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[jabba11]

Does anyone have a diagram of how they plumbed the lower whirlpool fitting? Are you guys using one or two pumps?

Thanks,

Scott

I use one pump and a Tee fitting with a separate valve for the whirlpool fitting and the manifold.

 

[jabba11]

Tell them you don't want their pump and order a chugger or chugger max. You can have him add a Whirlpool port when you order, my original system has one, I think it was like $100 extra or something.

Ive had good luck with the pump and like its inline feature. I admit I was livid when they shipped me the thing instead of the chugger that was supposed to come with it but I told them Id give it a try and I have and am well into year 2 using it probably at least every three weeks min and haven't had any issue. I have a chugger as a backup and I use it to do other things like clean lines etc but I NEVER have to prime mine like I do my chugger. If I needed more flow though ya youd have to step up for sure.

 

[Horseflesh]

I like the pump too with one exception: no matter how carefully I clean it, a tiny bit of wort remains trapped where the shaft protrudes from the housing. If I wash, dry, and reassemble, over the next few days a drop or wort oozes out of the crack, dries, and freezes up the impeller. If I rinse and reassemble after the wort droplet appears, no such problems.

Because there is a droplet-sized un-washable void I would maybe not use this pump in a situation where it was not sanitized by heat first.

I have seen no one else complain about this particular issue in this thread so I am probably just unlucky to have a manufacturing defect.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Any pics of your setups?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[jabba11]

I like the pump too with one exception: no matter how carefully I clean it, a tiny bit of wort remains trapped where the shaft protrudes from the housing. If I wash, dry, and reassemble, over the next few days a drop or wort oozes out of the crack, dries, and freezes up the impeller. If I rinse and reassemble after the wort droplet appears, no such problems.

Because there is a droplet-sized un-washable void I would maybe not use this pump in a situation where it was not sanitized by heat first.

I have seen no one else complain about this particular issue in this thread so I am probably just unlucky to have a manufacturing defect.

Ya I do not have this issue. Not sure internally what would cause that. I will say I clean in place though and so cleaner/water is always flushed through mine end of the rpocess

 

[jabba11]

Any pics of your setups?

Thanks,

Scott

here ya go

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Any pics of your setups?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Jabba, I was looking at you sparging video and noticed what looked like a custom vent hood? Care to elaborate?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[jready]

View attachment IMG_2163.jpgView attachment IMG_2725.jpg

 

[02RedWS6TA]

The official first brew day was a disaster but it's over and there's finished wort. 74lbs of dry grain

 

[pretzelb]

What are the two cylinders in front of the panel?

 

[02RedWS6TA]

What are the two cylinders in front of the panel?

Big filters

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

I just pulled the trigger on the Nano 20 with whirlpool option minus the stand. Found a great table to place it on with a lower shelf to mount the plate chiller ( https://www.webstaurantstore.com/re...uipment-stand-with-undershelf/600ES2424S.html ) The pulley can hook to the ceiling joist. Working on setting up the brew room. Will post progress.

I appreciate the all the great info in this thread.

Here is my slate to work with....

https://www.icloud.com/sharedalbum/#B0Y5qXGF1IVMIi


Thanks,


Scott

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Big filters

And why was it a disaster? Or do we have to wait for the video?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[02RedWS6TA]

And why was it a disaster? Or do we have to wait for the video?

Thanks,

Scott

Haha no, the video is probably a disaster too. Long day spent plumbing and finished wiring everything up to brew, started brewing already tired at 5:30pm.

When it came time for hops I found out I didn't have any hops... Needed centennial and the only thing close I had was whole leaf Cascade. They plugged everything, even the pumps. It was a nightmare by the time I was done. Ended up transferring at like 170* and barely got everything out before they pumps were totally clogged.

 

[andrewmaixner]

When it came time for hops I found out I didn't have any hops... Needed centennial and the only thing close I had was whole leaf Cascade. They plugged everything, even the pumps. It was a nightmare by the time I was done. Ended up transferring at like 170* and barely got everything out before they pumps were totally clogged.

Yes, you definitely can not run whole hops through a pump. if you want to use whole, you'll need to have some kind of bag or filter.

Also, when adding pellet, make sure that the pumps are off, or the pickup is oriented so as not to intake them, for a minute while they soften.

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Yes, you definitely can not run whole hops through a pump. if you want to use whole, you'll need to have some kind of bag or filter.

Also, when adding pellet, make sure that the pumps are off, or the pickup is oriented so as not to intake them, for a minute while they soften.

We had to roll with what I had on hand or throw the towel in on 40 gallons of wort. I need a better way of tracking my bulk hops. But the chugger max pumps did ok, they definitely weren't having fun but they never shut off and still look new inside.

 

[Dockside_Brewing]

Are those the brewers hardware filters? How did they work? I was eyeing one up for the Nano 20.

Thanks,

Scott

 

[02RedWS6TA]

Yeah, I honestly can't give them a fair review yet. Everything was such a disaster that I really didn't get to see if they worked or not.

 

[jabba11]

Jabba, I was looking at you sparging video and noticed what looked like a custom vent hood? Care to elaborate?

Thanks,
Scott

its a stainless steel bowl. I cut a hole in it and attached it to the fan with by using a hose clamp as a "stop" so to speak. I think I got the idea here on home brewtalk somewhere. it works but condensation does collect inside the fan and leak out. I need a bigger fan I believe. (a 6 inch) Also I used a TV armature to move it around. That didn't work great, it works in that it holds it up but not enough. I use the pulley to help support it when its operating (I don't use it at all during the mash process so using the pulley isn't an issue)