Maxi 210 Connections

[markopaulo]

Morning everyone.

I recently acquired (from separate sources) a 200L fermentation vessel with cooling coils in the insulation and a Maxi 210. I can't for the life of me figure out how to connect them and don't want multiple trips to the plumbers shop.

The FV has John Guest elbows which accept my beer line (3/8 external diameter), so that bit seems easy. The Maxi 210 has 3 pairs of pipes sticking out labelled 1L, 2L (IN and OUT) and RETURN and FLOW (which curve up).

So how do I connect it all up? Which pipes do I join together (I have seen pictures of JG 3/8 fittings on different pipes so not sure which pipes do what). Do I need to buy a pump or does the Maxi 210 pump itself?

I also have a probe in the FV linked to a Inkbird that I'd like to use to set the temperature. But that might have to wait for another day.

Any jargon-free advice would be very gratefully received.

Mark

[Dave S]

Morning everyone.

I recently acquired (from separate sources) a 200L fermentation vessel with cooling coils in the insulation and a Maxi 210. I can't for the life of me figure out how to connect them and don't want multiple trips to the plumbers shop.

The FV has John Guest elbows which accept my beer line (3/8 external diameter), so that bit seems easy. The Maxi 210 has 3 pairs of pipes sticking out labelled 1L, 2L (IN and OUT) and RETURN and FLOW (which curve up).

So how do I connect it all up? Which pipes do I join together (I have seen pictures of JG 3/8 fittings on different pipes so not sure which pipes do what). Do I need to buy a pump or does the Maxi 210 pump itself?

I also have a probe in the FV linked to a Inkbird that I'd like to use to set the temperature. But that might have to wait for another day.

Any jargon-free advice would be very gratefully received.

Mark

You need to connect your cooling coil to the Python on the 210, which is the pair of connectors pointing up. No pump required. The other two pairs are in/out for 2 beer lines.

[markopaulo]

Fantastic! I have heard mention of a "python" but had no idea what it was.

Thanks a lot.

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Maxi connected to the inkbird cooling circuit.

Python line out connected to the higher end of the exterior cooling coil,python line return connected to the lower end of the cooling coil.

Ensure everything is well insulated. Especially the beerlines. Armaflex is best.

The setup above struggles to maintain 6C. If I really insulate it properly I could definitely get it lower, maybe down to 2C.

6C is fine for my needs, and it's a beaut for maintaining ferm temps.

Inkbird is a cinch to setup: you set your middle temp, and then your high set and your low set.
Cooling engages at middle + high, stops when it reaches middle.
Heating engages at middle - low, stops when it reaches middle.

[markopaulo]

Brilliant! I just need to get the JG pushfits. I assume 3/8 is the size?

[Dave S]

That's it.

[markopaulo]

All connected and running (10mm push fit from Screwfix and 3/8" pipe, if anyone's reading in the future). These things seem to work a treat, touch wood. I also bought 10mm tee connectors to connect two fermentors in the future - obviously the Inkbird is only driven by one though.

Thanks both of you. It's all so simple when you know how but I'd have struggled without your help.

[Jambo]

Nice setup. Does the inkbird switch the entire Maxi on and off, or did you open it up and just connect to the circulating pump?

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Brilliant! I just need to get the JG pushfits. I assume 3/8 is the size?

3/8 connect to your maxi cooler and 3/8 beer lines obviously, but buy them from HBS shops not screwfix etc. As they are 10mm and will leak.

If you are having issues with JG fittings, get some plastic tubing with an interior diameter of 10mm and some small hoseclips (screwfix smallest will do).

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Nice setup. Does the inkbird switch the entire Maxi on and off, or did you open it up and just connect to the circulating pump?

It cycles the entire maxi cooler.

The cooler will maintain the ice bath on its own, independently of the python circuit. You don't need to put in your own pump, unless you are running multiple FVs.

The inkbird has compressor protection.

[Jambo]

Nice setup. Does the inkbird switch the entire Maxi on and off, or did you open it up and just connect to the circulating pump?

It cycles the entire maxi cooler.

The cooler will maintain the ice bath on its own, independently of the python circuit. You don't need to put in your own pump, unless you are running multiple FVs.

The inkbird has compressor protection.

Thanks. Yes I wasn't meaning adding a pump, but I think the Maxis have a separate pump inside for the python circuit which in theory could be connected to the inkbird in this setup. The cooler could then be on all the time keeping the ice bath cold. This would use more energy though so the extra hassle is of questionable benefit, was just thinking aloud.

[Fil]

I too echo the warning above, SWAP THE 10mm jg fittings out for correctly sized 9.6mm or 3/8" fittings asap.

the 10mm fittings probably hold due to the low pressure atm, but its a leak waiting to happen, and a 2nd use maxi recirc pump is gonna cost £40+ ;( is it worth risking for the sake of £2 or £3s worth of fittings????

ideally you want 2 x 3/8" Superseal to 3/8" speedfit, the superseal fittings are intended for Hard tubes such as SS while the superseal fittings work well with soft tubes like copper or ldpe..

meanwhile Now i would go pull the fittings and wrap the tubes with ptfe before refitting the 10mm tubes fingers crossed you have applied 0.4mm or therabouts tape

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

You don't need to independently control the ice bath and its python pump, unless you have some really funky setup. Inkbird on the maxi itself is perfectly fine for temp control.

If you are trying to maintain temps far off the ambient, you might have to do very clever stuff. But keeping my FV under 6.5C doesn't involve the unit running continuously.