Really dumb newbie question - sparging

[gobuchul]

Hi

I recently picked up a bit of a bargain off Ebay.

I got a plastic kettle/HLT, insulated mash tub, a couple of FV's and various accessories including a sparging arm for £70. In good condition and I'm really pleased with it.

However, I'm a little confused.

I thought it would of been a case of heating the water in the HLT and then mixing the water and grain in the insulated mash tub, then sparging the mixture into the HLT to perform the boil?

However, the sparge arm does not fit the insulated mash tub, it's too big.

Am I missing something?

[lord groan]

Can you post a few pictures? The mash tun, and sparge arm from top and bottom would be good,

[gobuchul]

It's a "Brupaks" insulated mash tub. With the mesh filter thing on the tap.





This is the rotating sparging arm. As you can see it's too long to rotate within the mash tub.





This is the HLT and controller, it's a Peco Electrim. The sparging arm fits this fine.





I bought this as a job lot and got a great deal so I don't mind spending some more to sort it.

I think the sparging arm thing is for the HLT if you are using it as a mash tub.

If I get a different sparger that fits the mash tub can I use the HLT as a boiler? It's only marked as 400w on the controller.

[Dave S]

Yes, those sparge arms are meant for use with a square or circular mash tun. It would as you say work with the Peco but then you'd have no boiler. An alternative until you want to upgrade your mash tun would be to 'Batch Sparge' and leave the sparge arm out until the upgrade. Batch sparging involves topping the mash tun up with 85 ish C sparge liquor after the mash to bring the grains up to around 75C, stirring and leaving for 15 mins then running off into the boiler. Repeat with the rest of the sparge liquor. If you only have 2 vessels then the first running would have to be into say an FV, then after the 2nd lot of sparge liquor is added to the mash, it can be transferred into the boiler. I use this system and have had no problems. The idea is to collect half of the pre-boil wort with each of the 2 runnings.

[bert7cosby]

Let me know if you want to sell the sparge arm, looks like it will fit my mash tun a treat.

[Jonnyconga]

I think it says 2400W on the controller - just a gap between the 2 and 400?

[daddies-beer-factory]

As Dave S said, it works well with a square "Cube" cool box mash tun, or circular - I agree with his suggestion to batch sparge, I tried fly sparging and found it a pain. I quickly switched to batch sparging and find it is simple & gets good results.

[fego]

You could cut an inch off each end of the sparge arm and it'd fit and work fine.

[gibbiem]

Just batch sparge. Problem solved. Keep the arm in case you upgrade things

[fisherman]

+ 1 batch sparge. No tannins just sweet wort. Sell the spinner and buy more malt.

[gobuchul]

Thanks for all your help gents.

It looks like the heater is 2400w, mis read as 400w!

I'll hold on to the arm for now and try the batch sparge method.

The fog is starting to lift on this now, I have read a lot on AG and I am nearly ready to give it a go.

I have a Festival Landlord in the brewfridge that's nearly ready and a Raja's Revenge kit still to do.

I'm looking to upgrade the brewfridge to a tall larder fridge so I can have 2 FV's on the go. Just waiting for the right price on Ebay.

Then I'll have a go at AG.

This has escalated quickly!

[gibbiem]

Aye it escalates like! I'm now on to building an electric control panel and HERMS system! Ha ha. Its never ending

[fisherman]

Have a look at dennybrew.com regarding batch sparking or John Palmer on you tube video.

[fisherman]

the best £70 you will ever spend. that's a lot of equipment for that money.