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Wort Chiller

Started by robcoombs, May 25, 2014, 01:43:33 PM

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robcoombs

I bought a coil of flexible copper pipe at HD, the longest length they had was 20 feet, same at Kent. I coiled the pipe around a paint can as I had seen in a YT video. Looking at the coiled pipe in the 15ga brewpot and it doesn't look like nearly enough pipe. My question is, is this enough pipe to cool the beer sufficiently? I know it would be ideal to have 50 feet coiled but since I can't find that much, will this get me by?

Chris Craig

I'd say no.  50 is what you want. Talk to Fhilo. He'll hook you up.

robcoombs

I was thinking about getting a small pump to circulate ice water to help cool wort faster and to a lower temp. Would something like this work well enough?

http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/178gph-fountain-pump/6000088767832


ECH

I bought one similar from Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/PP12005-Submersible-Hydroponics-Fountain-Statuary/dp/B006M6MSL0/ref=pd_sim_lg_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=08XGEW18DABRVVAX1DWV

When I read down through the comments, one of them was from a guy that bought it to pump water through his wort chiller. Pretty much what sold it (other than the pittance of a price) for me.

Two Wheeler

Hey rob, I made an IC out of 1/4" copper from kent, it was 20 or 25 feet. It worked, but took forever. Like 40 mins for 5 gallons. Definitely worth it to go big.
Jordan Harris
BIAB'er

robcoombs

Quote from: Two Wheeler on May 27, 2014, 11:38:47 PM
Hey rob, I made an IC out of 1/4" copper from kent, it was 20 or 25 feet. It worked, but took forever. Like 40 mins for 5 gallons. Definitely worth it to go big.

Thanks @Two Wheeler, I had a feeling I had made the wrong choice initially when I put the 20' chiller in the 15ga kettle. HD actually allowed me to return the pipe  ;D @Fhilo hooked me up with 50' of 1/2" so hopefully I'll get to test it out this weekend.

carmstrong

I also bought the 50' pipe for my IC.  Five gallons now takes me about 7-8 minutes, which is pretty awesome :)
In kegs: Nothing :(
Primary: Belgian Blond, Dry Irish Stout
Planned: SNPA clone, Dunkle

robcoombs

Nice @carmstrong, do you just run tap water, or recirculate ice water with a pump?

carmstrong

I just run from the tap.  I've used to have a smaller chiller, but the 50' made quite a difference.
In kegs: Nothing :(
Primary: Belgian Blond, Dry Irish Stout
Planned: SNPA clone, Dunkle