Blockages

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I think something pushed in is probably going to be more convenient than a screw-in fitting here, because of the slightly awkward location - I wouldn’t fancy trying to screw in a tee piece with a helix coming off it, at the bottom of a boiler…

 

[Rodcx500z]

Quick ? does fitting a helix effect the amount of water in the dead space

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Quick ? does fitting a helix effect the amount of water in the dead space

I shouldn’t think by much… you might have an inch or so of wort left in the bottom but that’ll mostly be hop debris anyway :-)

 

[HarryFlatters]

Maybe @HarryFlatters can help here?

I've never bothered with a bit of hose or a gasket - I just drop the barb straight into the pump inlet and *touches wood* I've never had a problem.

The "filter" that came with the Hopcat (about 3cm long) just dropped in and would clog up about ten seconds into whirlpooling, it really was a rubbish thing. No such issues with the Helix.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Does the wire coil ever clog up with debris to an extent that liquid can't get through? That's my only worry. Ordered it now though anyway lol

 

[RoomWithABrew]

Quick ? does fitting a helix effect the amount of water in the dead space

I'd think the height that the drain nut is above the kettle bottom creates a difference of dead space in comparison to the flush drain opening of the guten and hopcat.

Very little dead space with the guten and a trubtrapper / kettle loss. Loss only related to the liquid in hops and trub.

 

[private4587]

Does the wire coil ever clog up with debris to an extent that liquid can't get through? That's my only worry. Ordered it now though anyway lol

Hi Lisa any update on this, i 'm waiting on your trials before i proceed in buying the parts

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Hello ☺
.
All parts arrived but not putting the next brew on until early next month. No room in the fridge. Sorry about that. I'll be sure to let you know though as soon as I have info, unless someone else can help sooner.

 

[private4587]

Hello ☺
.
All parts arrived but not putting the next brew on until early next month. No room in the fridge. Sorry about that. I'll be sure to let you know though as soon as I have info, unless someone else can help sooner.

Thanks Lisa

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

What I can do though is check to see if the 8mm barb fits.... I'll go do it now.

If you do end up buying a helix I can recommend the one from the kegland store on ali express. Looks to be good quality and it comes with the t-piece. You will need to buy the barb as well though. I got mine on ebay or amazon I think. I'll have to check.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

@private4587

What I can tell you is - the 10mm barb doesn't fit. The 8mm barb fits but it jiggles about inside. Something in between would be ideal but I don't think they sell that size. I do think it'll help a little with the remnants of the hops but I wouldn't have said it will eliminate the whole problem as the barb is not a tight fit.

The false bottom does sit on top of it but it's rickety, because the tee piece sticks up a little bit too far. I will manage though I think. The malt pipe will sit flat on top of it, so as long as you don't knock it, it should be ok. Having said that, there's the weight of the grain and water to consider.

Will have to wait and see. I'd deffo go with whole hops for the boil and pellets for the dry hopping if required.

 

[DocAnna]

I'm rather looking forward to a solution here. I purchased a helix a while ago in a bit of excess Aliexpress shopping... and then couldn't work out how to fit it without lots of other bits to connect it to the tap. I never thought of connecting it to the pump drain.

 

[private4587]

@private4587

What I can tell you is - the 10mm barb doesn't fit. The 8mm barb fits but it jiggles about inside. Something in between would be ideal but I don't think they sell that size. I do think it'll help a little with the remnants of the hops but I wouldn't have said it will eliminate the whole problem as the barb is not a tight fit.

The false bottom does sit on top of it but it's rickety, because the tee piece sticks up a little bit too far. I will manage though I think. The malt pipe will sit flat on top of it, so as long as you don't knock it, it should be ok. Having said that, there's the weight of the grain and water to consider.

Will have to wait and see. I'd deffo go with whole hops for the boil and pellets for the dry hopping if required.

Just thinking Lisa you make some jack stands off the feet by drilling them and adding say 6mm bolts and nuts and creating a stand off just enough to cover the T piece

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Sounds like a plan - I however am not handy in that way so haven't a clue how to do that lol

 

[dcbrookes]

@private4587

The false bottom does sit on top of it but it's rickety, because the tee piece sticks up a little bit too far. I will manage though I think. The malt pipe will sit flat on top of it, so as long as you don't knock it, it should be ok. Having said that, there's the weight of the grain and water to consider.

I have a right-angled barb and using that would enable the T piece to sit on its side and therefore lower. I have a coil coming with AliExpress and when it arrives I will report further.

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

Cheers!

 

[Michael Burnley]

I'm starting to get tempted with the brewzilla. What sort of efficiency should I expect and how do you do the sparge ?

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

The efficiency will be quite low until you’ve learned how much water to use and stuff. We’re getting early 60’s but it’s not the brewzillas fault. We’re still learning about dead space and losses to chiller and what not.

We like to do the sparge by hand with a jug. I personally think slower is better.

 

[Michael Burnley]

Many thanks @LisaMC also can this machine do a whirlpool ?

Sorry for all the questions !

 

[Tess Tickle's Brewery]

No problem! Yes you can buy a whirlpool arm, I have one. I think they’re about £20 ish x