Solar pump question.

[Kyle_T]

Hello all,

I am about to make a proper newbie of myself here but my knowledge on this particular subject is nil. So here goes, I've been looking at buying one of those 12v 6w Solar Pumps on eBay to use as a wort transfer pump but, I am completely rubbish with electronics and the pretty colours confuse me on a diagram, is there anyway of making a simple on/off switch with as little work as possible.

I was thinking along the lines of pump - toggle/lamp switch - 9v battery connector terminal. It doesn't have to be limited in its flow rate, just purely on/off with a power source.

And advice is most certainly welcome.

Cheers

Kyle

[joe1002]

It's real easy Kyle, you only have +ive & -ive.

Rocker switches can be found on ebay for peanuts. Alternatively you can use an old hornby train controller (again, ebay).

I can put a few pics of mine up if you wish.

[Kyle_T]

Joe you are a bloody genius, I've got 2 sitting in my garage at home! My old train set won't mind if they go missing.

[joe1002]

Excellent, there you go.

For what it's worth I bought mine from the solar pump project. It's more expensive but I have heard their customer service is excellent should you have any problems with it.

http://shop.solarproject.co.uk/sp2020-1 ... -p-10.html

[Kyle_T]

I did have a look around eBay but I don't trust them hah, what would you say is a good W to settle for?

[joe1002]

I went for the highest one, just coz I have to get the most powerful of everything

I have a twin coil CFC and on full pelt it gets the wort around the 8mm (I think) pipe but not with any power.

For moving liquid through Vossy's hose it is more than adequate. What will you be using it for?

[Kyle_T]

It will be for transferring the run off from the mash tun into the boiler, going to use a 5 or 10l bucket with some tap fittings and tubing. Just takes the labour out of doing it one litre at a time, going for a complete 50l system.

[micmacmoc]

Get your train set working again too...real ale and trains are my life! I build o gauge locos.....my solar pump is still sitting in a drawer unused.

[Fil]

fyi ive used an ebay bargain tattoo gun psu for a simple solar pump controller,

id suggest u get 2, they can throw a wobbly needing slight attention( head pulled and impeller nudged) on rare occasions, tho on brewday its a faf to sort out while a simple backup pump lets u do it at your leisure..

be careful if attaching metal (SS or brass) fittings to the plastic threads, the plastic material can fail and snap off if too mych tension is applied, PTFE tape helps make a seal without too much torque..

to clean run submerged in a clean warm oxy solution for at least 5 mins before a good rinse.

However if i read right i would consider using a couple of 10l or bigger buckets and just pour the drained tun runnings into the boiler

[Kyle_T]

I never went above OO gauge myself, not enough space in the garden haha, as for using buckets, I have been doing that but wanting to brew twice in the same day I'm feeling lazy and want a pump to do that part for me lol it was a thing I picked up from the local microbrewery.

[Dave S]

I would go for the 11W solar pump. Much better throughput and only £3 dearer. Santa brought me one but like Micmacmoc, it's still in the drawer.

[Kyle_T]

The flow isn't all that important as long as it can match the run off speed from the mash tun but a fair few people agree to buy more than one so I'll look into that.

[Brighteyebeer]

The flow isn't all that important as long as it can match the run off speed from the mash tun but a fair few people agree to buy more than one so I'll look into that.

I got a Solar type pump for just that job. (I blamed repeated emptying of the run-off bucket for giving me a case of tennis elbow!). If I put-up a pic in which the pump is just hidden, I'm sure you'll recognise the process:



I understand the view that you should go for the best spec, and have reserve power. My own view is along the lines of 'I'm skint, and expenditure on over-specified kit is dead money'. The pump that's filling my boiler is 500ma. It matched an existing power supply I had with switchable voltage. Point is, I have to reduce the voltage down to 7.5, and partly close the boiler's ball valve to match the pump's output to the rate at which I'm sparging (about 1 litre per min).

I preferred to invest in surplus capacity, and got a second pump to go from CFC to FV. When a pump breaks or fails, it will be mid-brew. Having the second pump provides a fall-back, with minimal panic (I hope!) So, IMHO, I'd conclude that a Solar pump from half an amp upwards will do the job you want, and that additional funds are best spent on surplus capacity, rather than reserve power. Of course, if funds aren't too tight, you could always go for both!

Cheers,
Chris

[Kyle_T]

Very nice picture there Chris, that is pretty much the way I want it to work just on a smaller bucket. I did think of converting my cooler mash tun into an ice water container to pump through the chiller, will give me an excuse to buy 2 pumps.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

[Brighteyebeer]

Hi Kyle
Like your idea of using a coolbox as an ice water reservoir for your chiller. Some thoughts ocurred:
A submersible, garden pond type pump would be a cheaper option
A coolbox mashtun is not being used by the time you reach the cooling process - it could do double duty?
I would keep at couple of bags of ice on hand to maintain the ice water reservoir temp

Cheers,
Chris