March Pump Alternative

[rossp]

Right now I heat my HLT inside (elec urn) and mash inside; I then carry my full kettle outside and hoist it up onto a burner before gravity chilling into my fermenter. This means that the house smells like malt (suits me, but not the mrs so much), it always rains when I'm trying to chill my wort, and I can't brew when I'm home alone because it'd result in a broken back.

I'm moving house shortly and will now be able to brew in the garage instead of having to do the inside/outside dance. A mate has just bought a welder so wants some projects... I figured I'd get him to weld up a 3-tier downside.

Yesterday I came across a pump on eBay that can deal with boiling wort for only $130 delivered. This would mean I can build a single-level brewstand which I'd prefer.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...em=170527450514

Has anybody used one of these for home brewing? Is the fact that it's made of brass an issue?

Ross

 

[mxd]

I think the general comments will be about food grade, I looked at these as well, there not for pumping hotwater for "houshold" use (i.e shower, taps etc..).


But if you can pickle the brass, it could be worth a look ?

 

[NickB]

This has been argued again and again, and the general consensus is that if you want a guaranteed food-safe product, go with the March Pump. Yes it costs more initially, but thin about this - if you go a cheaper option and it doesn't work out, you'll be buying a March Pump anyhow, so just get it right in the first place (Kinda like the NBN proposal, but I'll keep politics out of it )

Cheers

 

[Banshee]

March pump is also magnetic drive so you can turn off the inline tap and have the pump still running. Shaft driven pumps you can not do this as you will burn out the motor.

 

[alowen474]

These are perfect for moving your water around, but don't put your wort through it.
They don't clean up well.
You could do a 2 tier with you HLT below the mash and gravity from the mash to the kettle.
Otherwise buy a march pump.

 

[Paul H]

This has been argued again and again, and the general consensus is that if you want a guaranteed food-safe product, go with the March Pump. Yes it costs more initially, but thin about this - if you go a cheaper option and it doesn't work out, you'll be buying a March Pump anyhow, so just get it right in the first place (Kinda like the NBN proposal, but I'll keep politics out of it )

Cheers

So Nick you want him to buy a March Pump so that the "hill folk" can get porn faster? <_<


Cheers

Paul

 

[shmick]

March pump is also magnetic drive so you can turn off the inline tap and have the pump still running. Shaft driven pumps you can not do this as you will burn out the motor.

This unit is magnetically coupled too but it doesn't state what the impeller is made of.

 

[praxis178]

This unit is magnetically coupled too but it doesn't state what the impeller is made of.

I have the Danfoss version and the impeller is a blue plastic thing (disc with raise cross configured vanes), I assume the magnet is embedded in the plastic. That said "different maker different materials" is a very real possibility....

 

[Banshee]

This unit is magnetically coupled too but it doesn't state what the impeller is made of.

Does it matter? They can handle hot liquor which is the important issue.

 

[Supra-Jim]

Does it matter what the material is made of? I don't know, would it matter to you if it was lead or maybe cadmium? The issue is more about whether it is food-safe, rather than the temperature handling. After all you and possibly others are going to be consuming (a lot) of beer that has passed through this pump. Know it isn't going to leech nasties is comforting!

Cheers SJ

 

[Banshee]

Does it matter? They can handle hot liquor which is the important issue.

Sorry I should have mention the name March pump in there. That was the unit I was refering to. They are food grade and hot liquor safe.

 

[Supra-Jim]

All good, apologies if my response seemed a touch harsh.

Cheers SJ

 

[BAguzzler]

Right now I heat my HLT inside (elec urn) and mash inside; I then carry my full kettle outside and hoist it up onto a burner before gravity chilling into my fermenter. This means that the house smells like malt (suits me, but not the mrs so much), it always rains when I'm trying to chill my wort, and I can't brew when I'm home alone because it'd result in a broken back.

I'm moving house shortly and will now be able to brew in the garage instead of having to do the inside/outside dance. A mate has just bought a welder so wants some projects... I figured I'd get him to weld up a 3-tier downside.

Yesterday I came across a pump on eBay that can deal with boiling wort for only $130 delivered. This would mean I can build a single-level brewstand which I'd prefer.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...em=170527450514

Has anybody used one of these for home brewing? Is the fact that it's made of brass an issue?

Ross

No, I haven't used one but I'm sure it's fine.

I use a food grade, pressure pump which cost $49 on ebay (Pro-pump 4lts/min) and it's been going hard for 2 years. At that cost, if it breaks I'll buy a new one.
I'll have an stc-1000 temp contoller also from ebay, which controls the heating element in my 'ghetto rigged' HERMS system.
Don't spend all your money on top quality gear, be innovative and have a go! Make good beer first and then upgrade the equipment.
You need a HERMS set-up for mashing, no external heating required.

 

[unrealeous]

No, I haven't used one but I'm sure it's fine.

I use a food grade, pressure pump which cost $49 on ebay (Pro-pump 4lts/min) and it's been going hard for 2 years. At that cost, if it breaks I'll buy a new one.
I'll have an stc-1000 temp contoller also from ebay, which controls the heating element in my 'ghetto rigged' HERMS system.
Don't spend all your money on top quality gear, be innovative and have a go! Make good beer first and then upgrade the equipment.
You need a HERMS set-up for mashing, no external heating required.

Hi BAguzzler and welcome to the forum

Are you talking about these types of pumps? Ebay Pump
Only issue with this type is they say they are only rated to 60 degrees - not quite hot enough for beer making.

If not - can you find one and paste it? Thanks.

 

[BAguzzler]

Hi Mash Maestro,

I know they are rated to 60 degrees, and I bought the unit anyway to give it a try. The unit itself has a silicon based diaphragm - silicon has good temp resistance. It is often easier to rate things lower side and be safe, most things have a considerable safety margin built into the rating.
Like I said, I've had one for 2 years and I pump near boiling water through it regularly. Although, it's mainly used for my HERMS system, and has just the vol I require. I recirculate the mash for up to 2 hours then drain the mash into the boiler, switch of the heating element and pump water out of my hot liquor tank into my sparge manifold (fly sparging) until get my desired wort volume. It's too easy!
I could spend a fortune on these things if I wanted to, but I get more satisfaction out of being thrifty.
My pumping system may not be as quiet as some - but my beer is good!

Regards,
BA

 

[hirns]

These pumps are used in house-hold split system solar systems to circulate water from the collector on the roof to the tank on the ground. The hot tap water in the shower and kitchens of such home (mine inclued) circulates through these pumps (open system?). As many people poor hot water from the tap into kettles and drink water in the shower, I would find it very hard to believe that they were not of food grade quality.

Hirns