12 replies to this topic

[Glacies]

Last pump threads were a few years old, but I did search!

 

All of the brew pumps I'm coming across seem expensive. The Steelhead 2.0 is getting pushed by northern which is enough to get me interested, but other than the power convenience, it's not easily mountable and it's still $150 - there's nothing really special about it. What are you guys using? What are some interesting alternatives? The way I see it, steelhead and chugger are pretty much at the top of the homebrew circuit.

[positiveContact]

water pressure to get the water into the HLT.  gravity all the way down to the fermentor.

[djinkc]

I'm still using the March pump I bought 10+ years ago.

[Bklmt2000]

No pump here.  Mine is an Armstrong brewery; all wateris filtered at my basement utility sink and collected into buckets, which i haul up the to the garage on brewday.

 

And when the boil is done, I carry the kettle (carefully; it's hot!) down to the basement to chill.

 

Not sure i'll be able to do this when I'm older, but for now, it works.

[MyaCullen]

No pump here.  Mine is an Armstrong brewery; all wateris filtered at my basement utility sink and collected into buckets, which i haul up the to the garage on brewday.

 

And when the boil is done, I carry the kettle (carefully; it's hot!) down to the basement to chill.

 

Not sure i'll be able to do this when I'm older, but for now, it works.

I also use the Armstrong Gravity System™ 

[HVB]

I have an iwaki and a March, not an 809 but a higher model, that are usually used and a little giant that is backup if one fails. I like center inlet pumps the best.

[matt6150]

I have two SS chugger pumps in my system. Both have worked flawlessly for over two years now with no issues. I recommend.

[djinkc]

I haven't brewed a 5 gal batch in a long, long time.  Only 10 now.  I want a pump with that volume.  The March has been a proven workhorse.  I oil it a few times a year and have done nothing else for maintenance.  Easily over 400  ten gallon batches run through it.  My 2 cents

[shaggaroo]

considering the Hydra chiller from Jaded Brewing no pump needed

[Bklmt2000]

considering the Hydra chiller from Jaded Brewing no pump needed

 

I think i just found my next wort chiller.  That looks sweet!

[realbeerguy]

Chugger & March.  Bought 10+ years ago.  (buy once, cry once)

Edited by realbeerguy, 21 July 2017 - 05:46 PM.

[gnef]

I started with a March 809, not the high RPM version that came out later. I got tired of the inline setup, and I also wanted to move to stainless with a reasonable cost (Stainless march pumps are really pricey).

 

I went with the chugger stainless center inlet, essentially the same as the march pump with a different volute/head.

 

I just recently bought the next step up from chugger, the mini max center inlet. It uses the same stainless center inlet head, but has a beefier TEFC motor, so I don't have to worry about splashes (it isn't wash down rated though) or oiling regularly. So far, I've been very happy with it, and I plan on replacing my original chugger with another mini max.

 

If you are looking for cheaper alternatives though, there are some low voltage DC pumps that some have had good experiences with. There are some length threads over on HBT about people's experience with them. They are much smaller pumps physically, and many seem to be happy with them.

[shaggaroo]

I think i just found my next wort chiller.  That looks sweet!

It really does...