New Brunswick Craft Brewers Association

Brewing => Technique => Topic started by: Kyle on February 24, 2012, 04:52:33 PM

Title: Using March Pumps
Post by: Kyle on February 24, 2012, 04:52:33 PM

I recently got a March Pump and have the following suggestions for people using them:

1. put it on a GFCI circuit and make a housing that protects it from possible errant water spray
2. orient it so that is inlet faces up, this minimizes air pockets
3. use a Tee to conect a dump valve to the inlet for priming
4. use a ball valve on the outlet for controlling flow
5. use male quick-disconnects on all the brewing hardware, with female QDs on the hoses.

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: brew on February 24, 2012, 04:58:28 PM

This is on my fathers day list...

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: chrismccull on February 25, 2012, 08:06:23 AM

Quote from: "Kyle"

4. use a ball valve on the outlet for controlling flow

I think you meant globe valve, ball valves are poor flow control valves.

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: JohnQ on February 25, 2012, 08:32:45 AM

Quote from: "chrismccull"

Quote from: "Kyle"

4. use a ball valve on the outlet for controlling flow

I think you meant globe valve, ball valves are poor flow control valves.

No, pretty sure Kyle means a ball valve.
Most everyone uses ball valves, even though they are not as good at controlling flow as other options like gate valves and globe valves (never heard of globe valves before reading this, had to wiki them).
Every setup I've seen with a March pump has had a ball valve on the output side(NEVER on the In side!!).

JQ

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: chrismccull on February 25, 2012, 09:25:25 AM

Quote from: "JohnQ"

...even though they are not as good at controlling flow as other options like gate valves..

Gate valves go on the suction, not discharge.  The friction losses across it if you try to use it to throttle flow on the discharge would be huge.  If you want to control the output of the pump, vary the rotational speed or throttle the discharge, preferably with a globe valve.

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: brew on February 25, 2012, 11:08:28 AM

Yeah very cool - wonder if Pinnacle has globe valves?

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: Tony L on February 25, 2012, 11:54:51 AM

Quote from: "Kyle"

I recently got a March Pump and have the following suggestions for people using them:


2. orient it so that is inlet faces up, this minimizes air pockets

I thought you had to orient the inlet of the pump pointing down so that the outlet would point up.
Every one I have seen posting on this on the various forums said this.

Title: Re: Using March Pumps
Post by: Kyle on February 26, 2012, 02:42:26 PM

Tony - you are correct - oops.