Self Chilling SS Fermenter

[pirateagenda]

Has anyone had any experience with these yet?

If so how is the quality? Any issues?

I'm thinking of grabbing a bigger one that the supplier can supply

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/705-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=162873623872

 

[Belgrave Brewer]

Has anyone had any experience with these yet?

If so how is the quality? Any issues?

I'm thinking of grabbing a bigger one that the supplier can supply

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Self-Ch...hash=item25ec064540:m:mDY85Ht5rmZ3RCsnIeNO4RA

They have a demo model on the floor at the Brewers Choice homebrew shop in Woori Yallock, VIC if you want to see it before purchasing. I have seen it and it appears to be Chinese made.

 

[pirateagenda]

They have a demo model on the floor at the Brewers Den homebrew shop in Woori Yallock, VIC if you want to see it before purchasing. I have seen it and it appears to be Chinese made.

Cheers - i'm up in Wollongong though so a bit far to check out.

Yes, they are definitely chinese - but do they look like complete POS's or of reasonable quality?

 

[Belgrave Brewer]

Cheers - i'm up in Wollongong though so a bit far to check out.

Yes, they are definitely chinese - but do they look like complete POS's or of reasonable quality?

Reasonable quality, yes. It's been a while since I've seen it. You might have to switch out some bits but the conical itself should do the job just fine.

I went with the 70L (50L plus headspace) Brew-Tek fermentors as they are much better quality. They have different sizes and come in both jacketed and unjacketed. I've plumbed mine into a glycol system from Keg King.

 

[pirateagenda]

Reasonable quality, yes. It's been a while since I've seen it. You might have to switch out some bits but the conical itself should do the job just fine.

I went with the 70L (50L plus headspace) Brew-Tek fermentors as they are much better quality. They have different sizes and come in both jacketed and unjacketed. I've plumbed mine into a glycol system from Keg King.

Thanks, I'll have a look into them... am needing something 1BBL sized or bigger though.

the ebay ones with their own chillers are cheaper than most other jacketed uni's of the same size!

 

[Lionman]

One issue would be support. If something goes wrong with it you may be on your own.

It would always be repairable I would say but could get expensive.

Look pretty sweet though. I would love something like that.

 

[Belgrave Brewer]

Thanks, I'll have a look into them... am needing something 1BBL sized or bigger though.

the ebay ones with their own chillers are cheaper than most other jacketed uni's of the same size!

Brew Tek aren't cheap, but the quality is there and they have support here in AUS.

Here's my build: https://aussiehomebrewer.com/threads/glycol-chilling-and-multiple-jacketed-fermentors.97625/

 

[pirateagenda]

One issue would be support. If something goes wrong with it you may be on your own.

It would always be repairable I would say but could get expensive.

Look pretty sweet though. I would love something like that.

i'm thinking if the chilling system s**ts itself, you could replace it with a $750 G-40 (could run 2 small ones off each G-40) and still come out in front.

the quotes i have for the self chilling ones are:
120L - $2400
200L - $2800
300L - $3800
400L - $3800 (wierd i know)

for jacketed uni's best landed prices from various suppliers:
120L - $2899 (ss brewtech 1 BBL)
200L - $4500
400L - $5500
plus glycol for any of the above

Tintai in china is about half the price of the landed prices above, but by the time you add in shipping, customs and the pirates ripping you off when your stuff is sitting on a dock, the saving isn't worth the headache for what i'm wanting.

 

[Greg Donohue]

Has anyone had any experience with these yet?

If so how is the quality? Any issues?

I'm thinking of grabbing a bigger one that the supplier can supply

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/705-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=162873623872

Did you end up getting one ?
I'm looking at them now and wondering on the quality and ease of cleaning using ECT.
Cheers.

 

[///]

Mr Pirate Agenda, this is your IBU conscious here. Seeing I kinda sell a lot of kit I have connections ...

 

[S.E]

Are you’re talking bulk buy Scotty? I may be interested, my brew fridge seems to have died today.

 

[S.E]

Oops sorry, just realised this isn’t an IBU thread. Fridge is working ok though. Turned out it was a dodgy extension lead.

 

[pirateagenda]

Mr Pirate Agenda, this is your IBU conscious here. Seeing I kinda sell a lot of kit I have connections ...

Haha wish i had have seen this a couple months back!

 

[pirateagenda]

Yeah i did end up getting the 120L one.

Its decent but not awesome.
-Few welds arent great.
-The heating method is a bit dodgy, but the chiller works really well.
-Its advertised as 120L plus headspace but im not sure it holds 120 plus headspace. Probably more like 105-10 tops.
-The fittings on the bottom are way undersized and block up with hop matter easily so im going to order some bigger fittings

 

[Liquidmalisha]

Yeah i did end up getting the 120L one.

Its decent but not awesome.
-Few welds arent great.
-The heating method is a bit dodgy, but the chiller works really well.
-Its advertised as 120L plus headspace but im not sure it holds 120 plus headspace. Probably more like 105-10 tops.
-The fittings on the bottom are way undersized and block up with hop matter easily so im going to order some bigger fittings

Hi Pirateagenda, curious of how the 120L fermenter Is now it’s over a year old, any issues as I’m considering getting one.
Cheers

 

[pirateagenda]

Hi Pirateagenda, curious of how the 120L fermenter Is now it’s over a year old, any issues as I’m considering getting one.
Cheers

yeah its still doing the job fine. I have added larger butterfly valves, and a different controller, and thermowell.

chilling system working well, a mate has a smaller one and the chiller shat itself and it was hard for him to get it replaced. I think they sent him a complete 30L version, instead of fixing his 60L version.

 

[Liquidmalisha]

yeah its still doing the job fine. I have added larger butterfly valves, and a different controller, and thermowell.

chilling system working well, a mate has a smaller one and the chiller shat itself and it was hard for him to get it replaced. I think they sent him a complete 30L version, instead of fixing his 60L version.

Hey Pirateagenda,
I ended up purchasing the same fermenter as yours that had a faulty compressor so I got it fairly cheap, I’m going to run it on glycol as it’s cheaper to obtain than fix the old one. A few questions.... Where did you fit the thermowell and what one did you buy? Could you send a photo.
id the pressure relief valve accurate and do you use a pressure gauge?
I tried the heater and I got red hot in that tube, bit worried to leave it on as it had no circuit protection, is yours the red cabled type?
Cheers