SSBrewtech 1BBL Unitank Cooling - NO SUPPORT

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by FlBrewGuy, Mar 15, 2024.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. FlBrewGuy

    FlBrewGuy Initiate (35) Mar 15, 2024 Florida

    So I have tried on multiple forums to get any answer that would corroborate SS Brewtech's engineer. NOTHING.

    Here's the setup.
    SS Brewtech 1BBL UNJACKETED Unitank with neoprene cover
    BrewBuilt™ IceMaster Max 2 Glycol Chiller 1700btu 4.5 Gal. Tank - 30% glycol solution
    1/2" Silicon lines running from Chiller to Unitank coils (10')

    I put 30 gallons of water in the unitank.
    I set the glycol chiller to -2C (coils NEVER freeze over)
    I set the glycol pump to 33F (lines that run to/from unitank coil)

    With this setup, I cannot get the liquid in the tank to drop below 41-42F. I have tried this when the ambient temperature was 79F and 65F. No difference. Still sweats like crazy.

    Here are the pump times for 1 GALLON:

    1) The volume as listed, is at 1 minute 18 seconds.
    2) Taking the coil out and connecting it directly to the chiller put it at 1 minute 8 seconds.
    3) Disconnecting everything and putting a lineout from the chiller into my gallon pitcher, put the time at 24 seconds.

    Now I have everything the SS Brewtech support has asked me to but nothing is chilling this thing down below 41. Now, ***because the entire process of "solving the problem" has taken so long, I am stuck with this thing.***

    MY THEORY is that living here in Florida REQUIRES at jacketed Unitank. SS Brewtech disagrees, but cannot manage to solve this little dilemma, nor can they prove me wrong. I believe that I am fighting physics and that unless I have a larger coil, there cannot be enough glycol passing through to cool the liquid fast enough before it draws heat from the environment and wicks away.

    FAIR WARNING: If you buy from SS Brewtech, and you have problems, GOOD LUCK getting any real support. I have seen other people posting warnings about this company but, like an idiot, I ignored them until I started needing support.

    BAD COMPANY, DO NOT BUY. There are too many other good brewing companies out there to deal with a company that couldn't give a rats rear about you once they have your money.
     
    #1 FlBrewGuy, Mar 15, 2024
  2. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    I believe you are correct. I am also a Florida brewer and suffer through high temps year round. But if it ain't working at a 65F ambient temp then it's not going to work anywhere (except maybe in an igloo).
    When this company first went to market they were easy to talk to/deal with . . . I bought a few kettle accessories and they went out of their way to be helpful. I even had one of their designers help me with some problems. But as they got bigger that all went away. When I was in the market for a conical I needed some tech info and there was no one to talk to. Only an online automated questionnaire that pertained to existing orders. After several attempts I bought elsewhere.

    FWIW, my experience with an internal coil chiller is also poor. I'm using 40F cooling water but impossible to drop a 5 gal batch more than about 2° per 24 hours. So forget about cold-crashing in the primary. This is with a Brew Built conical (MoreBeer). Surprisingly their customer service is decent, but their initial production of conicals had some problems that they knew about but were marketed anyway. I've bastardized their product to make it work . . . but that shouldn't have been necessary.

    It's as if manufacturers rely on the buying public to have incomplete tech knowledge and if anything is not favorable just gloss it over instead of correcting. Maybe we should start an advocacy group for "Truth About Conicals".
     
    #2 PortLargo, Mar 16, 2024
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.