Blockages

[jayk34]

@HarryFlatters do you recall where you got yours from?

I got my helix spring from kegland official store on AliExpress. It says 10 days delivery but from memory it was around 8 days.

I can't seem to share the link from the app as it's just copying the item text but if you go to the kegland official store on AliExpress.

 

[chillipickle]

Do you use a whirlpool arm on your brewzilla?
Even with up to 200g of hop pellets and no spider, touch wood not had a blockage yet.

edit...link to whirlpool arm, this should help with any blockages.
https://www.angelhomebrew.co.uk/brewzilla-accessories/476-robobrew-brewzilla-whirlpool-arm.html

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

We have a whirlpool arm but with the plate chiller it always blocks. Got a plan now though!

Whirlpool arm doesn't stop blockages! Like TETB said, those hop pellet remnants get through anything! Need a double layered strategy!

 

[chillipickle]

Next brew day i will do a short clip when i pump the wort into the snub nose, i will put the wort through a fine mesh seive.Honestly there will be next to no hop debris in the sieve.
Below the false bottom is clean, and thats not using a hop spider.If you are using a hop spider how are hops managing to get in the wort?

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Please do! And then I can see where I'm going wrong! As far as I'm concerned I'm following all procedures but still blocking up. I don't blame the brewzilla. It's clearly the chiller that can't handle it

 

[chillipickle]

Have a look at a few of home brew network videos he never uses a hop spider, and nearly always cools with a plate chiller.He also just throws loose hop pellets in.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

will get a helix thingy and report back

 

[private4587]

The helix is a long coil of wire, there are small gaps along the length of the filter which allow wort through but keep larger particulates of hops, grain etc behind

Sorry to be a pain but does this fit under the false bottom of the brewzilla.

 

[HarryFlatters]

Sorry to be a pain but does this fit under the false bottom of the brewzilla.

I'm not entirely sure - I have a Hopcat which has a plate at the bottom of the malt pipe which I assume sits a bit higher up the kettle.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I have two more questions please as well.

Firstly is it definitely a 12mm barb we need because the picture has a 10mm one.

Also I wondered if the barb is difficult to get out of the hole when you want to clean it. Is it a pliers job?

Thanks in advance guys

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

I would've thought it would fit under the false bottom as it sits about 1-2inches off the base due to the feet. Can't be sure until I buy one though.

 

[HarryFlatters]

Firstly is it definitely a 12mm barb we need because the picture has a 10mm one.

Also I wondered if the barb is difficult to get out of the hole when you want to clean it. Is it a pliers job?

I measured mine with calipers, 10mm fits in easily, no pliers required. I must have linked to the wrong size.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Thanks Harry! ☺

 

[St00]

I use a hopspider for any hop bills over 100g in the kettle.
I always whirlpool for 15 minutes and then leave it to settle for 15 minutes afterwards. The hops settle in a cone in the centre and don't block the pump.
That said I have a RipTide and it's a pretty strong whirlpool.
I also have a HopRocket which circulates back into the kettle for a bit before I start chilling if I want extra hop goodness and this usually guarantees no blockages as it contains the bulk of the hops.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

So we've ordered a helix and a barb thing. Will report back on next brew day if it makes a difference. I want to do away with the hop spider if possible and just chuck the hops straight in for the best utilisation. We will see what happens!

 

[jeg3]

I have a GF not a BZ but they're similar enough on this regard. I tried pellets with a hop spider and got loads of debris going through the filter. So I whirlpooled and it reduced but still got a bit.

Then I used whole hops and haven't had a problem since with no hop spider and no need to whirlpool

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

So we've ordered a helix and a barb thing. Will report back on next brew day if it makes a difference. I want to do away with the hop spider if possible and just chuck the hops straight in for the best utilisation. We will see what happens!

Give the whole hops a go, too - they are really nice to use

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Deffo gonna try whole hops. Also gonna try turning the plate chiller on it's side as we've been putting ours flat to the floor. Maybe not right but worth trying a different way

 

[private4587]

So we've ordered a helix and a barb thing. Will report back on next brew day if it makes a difference. I want to do away with the hop spider if possible and just chuck the hops straight in for the best utilisation. We will see what happens!

will be very interested in your report on this upgrade Lisa has i am wanting to do away with spider and socks but scared of getting pump blockage

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

In my opinion it is harder than you think to block the pump. We've had a blockage every time and we blamed it on the brewzilla at first but then we realised it was the plate chiller's fault lol.