Problems with in line beer chiller

[Doobury]

I have brought a cheap chiller from e-bay. It’s an Alumasc Trimmer, model no. TRM006, brand new, but no operating instructions.
It’s a single line model and has standard John Guest fittings for beer in and out. It also has s/steel water in and water out connections about 12 to 15 mm dia. Are the SS connections for cooling water for python tubing or to chill a “posh” water condensing (wet drippy, shiny thing) beer tap like Carling extra cold (I will try to show some pictures if needed)
I need to know if I can run the chiller and not using the water in and out lines without damaging the unit (i.e. not cooling the python or beer tap, just leaving the fittings open to air) If I can use the unit, it will do me for the moment as I think I can switch between cornies into the unit using the out poppet on top of the casks. I don’t want to “burn out” a brand new unit by miss-use.
ANY help or advice would be greatly appreciated :hmm: :clap:

 

[Aleman]

If that is a python, and you leave the connections open to the air you will get very wet when you switch it on :lol:

Although I have separated my python pump from the main incoming supply (to allow me to use it as a fermentation chiller), when it was connected as normal all I did was connect the inlet and outlet with a short piece of hose of an appropriate diameter . . . . you will need to insulate this as you will get a lot of condensation on it.

 

[jamesb]

Alternatively, you can lift the lid and you should be able to disable the pump. Had to do this last night for my new Maxi 110 to stop SWMBO complaining about the noise.

 

[Doobury]

Firstly, thanks for the replies I have had so far, I am currently playing with my chiller and will have to post a few more questions.
The TRM006 is a very compact unit and does not contain a fan, so from the small amount of info I have obtained from the manufactures website it dose not require the airflow around it that other under bar coolers need; they can even be boxed in and the unit is almost silent when running.
The unit does not contain an internal pump for the python line so I connected recirculation water yesterday, just running to drain as a precaution. Then connected lager from a cornie to the product in and out. Fantastic :party: , cooled to “set” temp of 4 oC in less than ten mins. Unfortunately it did not stop there. Naturally when the beer got to minus 6.5 oC the beer froze in the line and I quickly switched the unit off. I intend to examine the unit today to investigate any damage this may have caused.
As the python line does not have a pump I will need to provide an external one if I want to use this facility for fermentation cooling as an example.
I still need to know if I can use the chiller for beer line cooling without the python connected (remember no internal pump) and without damage to the unit once I have the temperature control sorted out.
Any further suggestions please.

 

[jamesb]

Fantastic :party: , cooled to “set” temp of 4 oC in less than ten mins. Unfortunately it did not stop there. Naturally when the beer got to minus 6.5 oC

:shock:

I still need to know if I can use the chiller for beer line cooling without the python connected (remember no internal pump) and without damage to the unit once I have the temperature control sorted out.
Any further suggestions please.

Yes, you should be able to use it without the pyton connected.

Sounds like your thermostat is knackered.

 

[trunky]

Odd, it never sold the first half dozen times he listed it for £39.99 but it sells this last time for around a tenner more!!

Clearly it's a pup and it's refund time.

 

[Vossy1]

You could always fit a submersible pump into the water bath, and connect it to the water out from within the unit. Caravan pumps are ideal for this but you will have to use a transformer for them. here

 

[Doobury]

Thanks for the help, now I understand the operation of the controller a bit better I can switch on the unit and have temperature controlled chilled beer at say 4 degrees within 10 mins. (no freezing) stat seems OK. and it runs almost silently.
I still run water through the "python"/water circulation lines though, as when I am using the unit the water sometimes comes out quite Hot !!.
Perhaps this water is used for heat exchange in some way?

 

[Vossy1]

I still run water through the "python"/water circulation lines though, as when I am using the unit the water sometimes comes out quite Hot !!.
Perhaps this water is used for heat exchange in some way?

Unless the water recirc line (aka the water in and out) is being used for heat exchange externally, it should remain very cold. All the python loop does is pump cold water from the centre of the ice bath to an external source, and then back to the centre of the ice bath.
Hope that makes sense