Wort Chiller Size?

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cwlodyka

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What is the necessary size of an immersion wort chiller to properly cool a full 5 gallon boil? Is a 25' copper chiller sufficient? Or will I need at least a 50' to cool a full boil?
 
25' of 3/8" is fine for 5 gallons. The temp and flow rate of coolant and turbulence of the wort is just as important as the surface area of the heat exchanger.
 
I'm using 25' of 3/8s but since my tap water is ~75 degrees coming from the outside hose spicket I'm thinking of getting a 2nd 25' of 3/8s and sitting that one as a pre-chiller in an ice bath.
 
I have a 50' 3/8" copper chiller, and it'll take boiling wort down to 65 in less than 5 minutes (with super cold well water). I would imagine if it took twice that long, it would still be pretty good.
 
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