Has anyone used this pump? I saw someone post about it on a Facebook group saying they've used it with good results. The reviews in Amazon seem to say decent things. I'd really like to get it in a few month from now after I move. At $25, it wouldn't be a terrible mistake if it didn't work out I suppose.
Many of the reviewers are using it for homebrew, so that's a good sign. My biggest concern is that people often review items after first use and reviews don't always address durability. One of the reviews here has an add on comment that mentions a possible durability issue. It seems that those brass fittings screw on to the pump head, so you might be able to swap in stainless. Note that one of the reviewers claims the specs provided for the fittings are incorrect, or at least misleading.
The first thing that caught my eye was the anemic Max Flow Rate. It's less than 1/3 the published spec of the March pump, which is just barely adequate, IMO. Otherwise, it looks like a nice solution, immersability being a huge plus, given the wet environment of a brew house (my March pump squeals like a pig when I forget to oil the bearings - every damn time I use it!).
I have used them, they are made in China. Work good with a nice flow rate for clarifying.You must be careful to do not touch them after a while working, they are used to get extremely hot. Durabilty could be an issue but I think I have used them almost a hundred times before dying, so twenty four cents per using.
Immersible pumps are usually designed to exploit the enveloping liquid for cooling. I don't know if that's the case with this pump, but it's definitely something to consider. FYI, the motor on the March pump is fan cooled, as are most non-immersible pumps.
Ya, I usually take review with that grain of salt unless it beins with the statement of owning the product x years. Ya, if I get it I would probably use cam lock fittings I've been integrating into my set up. I saw the flow rate and considering that many people suggest a fly sparge flow rate to be about 0.25 gallon / minute. So I figured the 2 gallon / minute pump would be fine even if not as powerful as the nicer pumps. I've never heard of others having a problem with March pumps barely being able to keep up with them on a brew day. I've only seen them needing to use valves to slow down the flow rate to be honest. I'm just basing my knowledge off what I've seen on youtube videos of course.
