11 replies to this topic

[BarefootBrews]

I currently have an immersion chiller w/ pre-chiller that I've had for years. Both are 25' copper coils 3/8" diameter. This works fine with my 5 gallon batches. I'm considering bigger batches and will probably need a bigger chiller. If I go with a 50' coil 1/2" diameter chiller, will I still be able able to use my current pre-chiller? Will I be able to push a large enough volume of water through the smaller pre-chiller? Or should I just go with a 50' coil 3/8" diameter chiller to keep the chiller and pre-chiller the same size?

[DubbelEntendre]

I currently have an immersion chiller w/ pre-chiller that I've had for years. Both are 25' copper coils 3/8" diameter. This works fine with my 5 gallon batches. I'm considering bigger batches and will probably need a bigger chiller. If I go with a 50' coil 1/2" diameter chiller, will I still be able able to use my current pre-chiller? Will I be able to push a large enough volume of water through the smaller pre-chiller? Or should I just go with a 50' coil 3/8" diameter chiller to keep the chiller and pre-chiller the same size?

I can't speak on the topic of the pre-chiller. But I would highly recommend a submersible pump (Harbor Freight and Northern Tool have relatively cheap ones) and recirculating ice water. I have a 50' coil that that I use for my 5 gallon batches that I over engineered for when I eventually switch to 10 gallon batches. As for my chiller it is 50' of 3/8" and that gets the job done perfectly around here. In the winter between the ground water and the ice water I can chill in around 10 minutes.edit: spelling.

Edited by DubbelEntendre, 20 May 2009 - 02:14 PM.

[djinkc]

I tried the prechiller route and wasn't happy with it. Ended up with a 50' coil of 3/8" and use the sump pump/ice when the ground water gets hot. I tried about everything that was posted on the GB and here and this works best at my place. Nice thing is the prechiller coil turned into a EHERMS.The best thing I've done lately is to add a motorized stirrer to help the IC. Really works well.More that a few have nice results with a post chiller coil. Never tried it since my pump and hoses are cleaned and put away for the day at that point. They only handle preboil here.

Edited by dj in kc, 20 May 2009 - 05:00 PM.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I tried the prechiller method at a friends house last year when brewing. It worked pretty well not sure it was significant but it did get it cooled down. I use a 25 ft chiller on a regular basis now. I have considered a 50 ft one but I primarily brew 5 gallon batches. Maybe once every two months I brew a 10 gallon with my friend. I am curious too (not trying to hijack) Is a 50 ft immersion a worthwhile investment if you primary do 5 gallon batches?

[Slainte]

I did the pre-chiller thing for a little while...it worked ok.The best way is by far is to pump ice water through one immersion chiller with a submersible pump. It'll probably be cheaper than buying an extra 50 ft of .5 in copper too.

[Kansan]

Here in Kansas, by June the ground\tap water needs a little help. I use the Jamil method of an immersion and recirculating pump. I'll knock an 11 gallon batch down to under 140 in three minutes, and to 90 in about ten minutes. Then the tap water has a hard time taking it down at a quick rate after that. I have a ten gallon Gott cooler that I fill to the brim with ice, then top with water till flush with the top. Then I use a closed loop with a pump recirculating that ice water through the IC. It'll take about 10-15 minutes to knock the wort down to 60 to 65 degrees and ready for the fermenter.

[dapittboss]

I too use an IC with a submersible pump, first in the pool, then in ice water. I'm interested in building a mechanical stirrer rather than doing Jamils whirlpool method. Could you describe how you made the mechanical stirrer?

[BarefootBrews]

Thanks for all the quick responses thus far. I will just have to weigh the options and hopefully have a workable solution in place before the heat of summer sets in.

I have a ten gallon Gott cooler that I fill to the brim with ice, then top with water till flush with the top. Then I use a closed loop with a pump recirculating that ice water through the IC.

Just curious how much ice is needed to fill a 10 gallon cooler to the brim? Do you make your own ice? It just doesn't seem cost effective to buy that much ice for every single brewsession.

[DubbelEntendre]

Thanks for all the quick responses thus far. I will just have to weigh the options and hopefully have a workable solution in place before the heat of summer sets in.Just curious how much ice is needed to fill a 10 gallon cooler to the brim? Do you make your own ice? It just doesn't seem cost effective to buy that much ice for every single brewsession.

I use a 5 Gallon "Ale Pale" that holds 16 lbs of ice that I get for $1.99. I don't have the capacity to make my own ice, and its worth it to me. When I need to, I throw that ice water into a bucket that the fermenting vessel sits in to keep the temps down in the summer.

[stangbat]

Not that you need another testimonial, but guess what I used to do. Yep, use a prechiller. I stopped and now recirc ice water with a submersible pump once it becomes obvious that I'm just wasting tapwater. I also whirlpool with my pump. Those two things drastically cut my chilling time.I put the pump and ice in a 5 gallon bucket. I make my own ice, I have icemakers in a couple of fridges. I just stock up for a few days before a session. I don't know how much ice I use by weight, but it isn't a crazy amount.

[djinkc]

I too use an IC with a submersible pump, first in the pool, then in ice water. I'm interested in building a mechanical stirrer rather than doing Jamils whirlpool method. Could you describe how you made the mechanical stirrer?

It was a cheap gearmotor I had laying around. Bought it fromhttps://www.sciplus.com/to use for the EHLT. It would overheat running a couple hours and shut down so I bought a better one for that. It's mounted on a 1"X 2" to sit on my kettle. Used copper pipe and a tee to make the stirrer, JB welded it to the shaft. I put it in the kettle along with the IC at about 20 min to go in order to sanitize it. It still gets really hot, picked it up by the motor once and promptly dropped it into the cooled wort. Didn't hurt the beer though, 10 gal and almost gone. I did take the gearbox apart and removed most of the grease so it wouldn't be dripping into the wort.

Edited by dj in kc, 21 May 2009 - 01:39 PM.