pumps

Snug the connectors once and leave them there. Little danger of stripping anything. FWIW, mine has a brass (bronze?) head. Look for one of those.

 

the chugger pumps are a good replacement for march pumps. When they first came out the guy who started chugger was basically giving them away (product testing) and there were several issues that they addressed, so some of the reviews out there from a while a go might be so-so, but now that the design has been updated they are great pumps, SS chugger for the same price as a march polysulfone

 

Yes, aside from name they are essentially the same thing as a march pump

http://www.chuggerpumps.com/

 

I cross threaded my march 809 with a QD by accident. So far, it's working just fine, a couple of drips here and there. I'm eventually going to replace the pump head with the chugger stainless head (it fits a march as I understand it). I probably would have bought a chugger pump if I'd known about them because it looks like its the same price for a pump with a stainless head as I paid for the march with a poly head.

 

Chugger has a center inlet pump out now. I've got 2 of the opposing inlet/outlet ones that I'm happy with, but I'd buy the the center inlet one for $5 more.

 

What's the benefit of center inlet? Does it prime more easily?

 

Yeah, I think that is the theory, but I like the fact that it's a little easier to hook up in front.

 

The Chugger's handle head pressure better. But I worry that this might be bad with heavy throttling, like when mashing/sparging. Am I worrying too much?

 

The 3/4" inlet is probably the key...a lot of people end up reducing the size of their inlet when they connect a fitting to it that makes it effectively 3/8" I/D.

 

Do you need a pump in your brewing system? I bought a March pump over the summer, and would consider myself less than impressed. Just something to consider.

 

"By reading online they seem to drain easier also if you aim the center inlet down."

How is that any different than aiming your regular inlet down?

 

Ya know...good question...I recently switched over to a horizontal system with pumps and my back hurts worse than when I was brewing 5 gal batches on my gas stove indoors.

 

Hmmm... My pump was one of the more notable upgrades to my system. It does a number of things beyond simply moving liquid from one vessel to another. Perhaps you simply haven't yet exploited some of its other uses? I was never patient enough to do a proper vorlauf, for example. I now run the pump for ten minutes and get a crystal clear runoff with virtually zero effort. I also built a version of Jamil's whirlpool chiller which chills ten gallons from boil to pitching temp in about 10 minutes - again, with very little effort (stirring, for example).

 

I only need it for chilling/whirlpool hop standing. I just find it isn't a panacea. Constantly losing prime and cavitation issues. It's mounted properly and gets primed properly, I just find that it's sort of a pain in the ass.

ETA: It's great when it works properly, don't get me wrong. It's the near constant problems that really detract, in my eyes.

 

I agree. A pump was prob my best investment. With my pump I was able to convert my system to a HERMS and now I pretty much have hands off brewing, which makes time for more beers and cigars. I also use my pump to move hot wort through my counterflow chiller to my carboy.

 

I know Im going to screw myself with this comment, but I have never had a priming or cavitation issue with my pump. Mounting it below everything and adding a draw off valve at the inlet has made everything flawless.