Keg king pump direction?

[woodwormm]

Dumb question? On a keg king $70 klaixin pump which is inlet and outlet and what's best mounting orientation?

 

[zeggie]

If the base is flat. Ie flat piece with screw holes is flat the outlet is up/horizontal and inlet is vertical...points towards you

I mount mine flat on a piece of wood.

 

[mofox1]

Centre = in
Top = out

Not sure there's many (any?) alternate mounting orientations other than flat (out up), as it's not self priming and the air needs to be able escape completely for it to work.

Or not, try it and see

 

[Camo6]

The inlet is central and centrifugal force throws the fluid outwards. I mount mine horizontally so the weight of the armature is on the bearing races.


edit: beaten by Mofox!

 

[TheWiggman]

I have the outlet rotated around one set of screw holes so it doesn't point up, it points diagonally to the left when facing the front of the pump. Theoretically this should remove an air pocket that might otherwise form at the top of the pump, but in reality this hasn't played out.

 

[Mr B]

I have the outlet rotated around one set of screw holes so it doesn't point up, it points diagonally to the left when facing the front of the pump. Theoretically this should remove an air pocket that might otherwise form at the top of the pump, but in reality this hasn't played out.

So you mare saying you get cavitation like this?

Edit - Not mare..... Bloody beer on the keyboard - not so good. Washed once, due for another - especially the darned N.....

 

[bjbear77]

I spoke to keg king prior to mounting mine on it's side, and I was assured that these pumps will function well like this:

 

[bjbear77]

Forgot to mention, I've had no trouble at all with my pump mounted in this orientation.

 

[sp0rk]

I spoke to keg king prior to mounting mine on it's side, and I was assured that these pumps will function well like this:

2 questions, is that keg king silicon hose (I've got worries that it won't stand up to pumping)
And where did you get the wire cored hose?

 

[Camo6]

Forgot to mention, I've had no trouble at all with my pump mounted in this orientation.

It's still mounted horizontally so the bearings are carrying radial load not axial, as designed. The mounting holes are uniform so you could rotate just the head if you wanted to but it looks pretty neat the way you've got it.
My water pump will self prime but the wort pump doesn't due to the plumbing so, as demonstrated by another forum member, I tee'd a tap off the inlet to the pump. I open this to prime the pump, also helps remove initial grain that gets passed the FB and drain the last runnings.

 

[TheWiggman]

So you mare saying you get cavitation like this?

Neeeeeiiggh!!! Cavitation is a different concept you are very unlikely to see in the home brewing scene. Cavitation is the vaporisation of a liquid due to very high negative pressure, which can be seen under certain pump conditions or high flow past an obstruction (like an orifice or throttled valve). These pumps simply can't develop enough power to cavitate.
If you hear them 'whooshing' or making unusual noises it's because air is trapped in the volute and unable to escape. The arrangement I suggested should prevent this but doesn't. If I let the liquid sit in the pump for a few mins it eventually bubbles out, which it otherwise wouldn't if arranged differently. Likewise if I run the pump long enough eventually all the air becomes entrained and it's smooth pumping then on.

 

[Mr B]

Thank you for the technical rundown. Essentially, your rotation of the pump head doesn't alleviate the pump not initially pumping due to the presence of air, which is a low pressure situation due to the different density of liquid/air.....

Cheers, that was the info I was after

 

[bjbear77]

2 questions, is that keg king silicon hose (I've got worries that it won't stand up to pumping)
And where did you get the wire cored hose?

silicon hose: yes it's from Keg King and I've had now problems with it. Helical wire cored hose: an offcut from a mate.

 

[zeggie]

I've had no issues with keg king silicon hose. Half the price of most other places too...

 

[TheWiggman]

That helical wire cored hose would be much more suitable on the suction side of the pump. The main purpose of the wire is to resist collapse under suction (which may happen with a stuck mash on the KK hose).

 

[sp0rk]

Awesome, thanks gents
That will cut my costs down substantially
I might hit up my local pump and hydraulics shop to see if they can source me a couple of meters of the wire cored hose

I have a mate that's a plant mechanic at a Norco factory, might even see if he can get me some of their high temp beverage hose...