Burco 20L modification to tap

[Ashman]

I’ve not posted in years but re-visiting the hobby.

I’ve got a 20litre Burco exposed element for no cost. It has a tap that is threaded ¾" Bsp sealed on the inside with fibre washer. Hole measures I think about 26.5mm so for ¾" pipe thread. I did see a YouTube video of a few people putting ½" bsp taps in stainless in burcos. They did have to round out the tap hole but this one’s round. As I am messing about with hot water I didn’t want to run a 1/2 (21ish mm) thread in a 3/4 (26.4mm ish) hole with ptfe. Although I expect it would work.

I bought a few options but trying to balance out sealing and connections. The element is exposed too! All brass and will need silicone washers. and any unused I guess will go to the water butt!

Any views on brass? Or is it a no no

>B and q did a ¾" male threaded connection Internal ⅝" & ½" BSP reducing female connections. Bought that. Shame it’s not 1/2” female on both ends. I Doubt it will seal as there’s not a huge sealing area on short threads.

>special order from eBay a 3/4 bsp tank connector that’s threaded 1/2 bsp female all the way through. I’m not sure this will seal that well on the 1/2 as it will be sealing on the thread.

>3/4 male connector with a 15mm compression connection from Screwfix. This one has a short thread but I’m straight into 15mm pipework wit’s this one.

 

[MashBag]

Welcome back!

Exposed element:
Does it matter? Dunno?
Help me out, what are you doing in the burco?
Mashing or boiling?
If mashing, whats the grain in?

Taps...
Questions again sorry.. What's it connecting to next? Or is it just a tap?

 

[Ashman]

Welcome back!

Exposed element:
Does it matter? Dunno?
Help me out, what are you doing in the burco?
Mashing or boiling?
If mashing, whats the grain in?

Taps...
Questions again sorry.. What's it connecting to next? Or is it just a tap?

Thanks for the reply. No I wasn’t clear at all.

I was planning to mash. The Grain is likely going to go into a bag so a bit tight at 20L. I bought a cheap colander which has reduced the space even more . I assume that the element will cause bag scorching etc.

Yes a tap but I do have a pump with 1/2 male thread. Technically it will hang off the 1/2 port (weight and vibration might cause leaks or fracture) but I guess I will still need a tap. I did think I could run rigid copper pipe to the lid for recirculation. But I would have no way to get the wort out? Also it’s a low volume and tiny 12v 1amp pump.

 

[Its 6pm somewhere]

On my set up I installed a 1/2 inch ball valve and put a disconnect fitting on the end, female adapter internally so I can fit a bazoka filter. Found the quick disconnects to be a great investment, makes set up and cleaning a breeze. You can get 3/4 inch fittings or reducers instead on Ali Express cheap.

 

[MashBag]

What he said.

You can buy SS tap with the tank fitting end "Plug and play" ... Well I guess more "screw and hope" (stop it @Rodcx500z )

I also like chrome hozelock fittings which are cheap and available in 15mm (aka ½"bsp)

 

[jof]

An alternative false bottom would be to get a pizza oven tray from fleabay or similar.

They come in 1 inch diameter increments.

I was investigating getting one to put on the top during recirculation

 

[MashBag]

An alternative false bottom would be to get a pizza oven tray from fleabay or similar.

They come in 1 inch diameter increments.

I was investigating getting one to put on the top during recirculation

And they are non stick