Maxi 210 Glycol conversion.

[LeeH]

Is there a guide for this? Is it just a case of replacing a temp controller and adding a glycol solution?
I have a few West controllers kicking about so I thought about fitting one into the side of the chiller.

The water bath is currently at 1.3 degC.

Cheers.

[Fil]

just from what ive read online a glycol solution will thicken sub zero and this can overtax the recirc/python pump, so look into replacing with a beefier agitator to keep the viscouse fluid moving over the product coils for maximum effect.

still bath water leads to the 'hot pocket' effect where the coils heat up the immediately surrounding coolant and wont chill as effectivly.

[LeeH]

Somebody on fleabay does the conversion for 70 pounds. I doubt the cost would cover a pump so I'm a bit dubious of that now.

I'll email him and see what info he will let slip.

[Fil]

what temps do you want to chill to?

[johnmac]

If the glycol leaks into the beer and you don't know about it, I guess you have to die?

[Kev888]

There are non-toxic versions, I believe - personally I wouldn't use a toxic type for exactly that reason.

Cheers
Kev

[LeeH]

Funny this, I google maxi glycol conversion and my own post came up!!

[Frothy]

Not sure how the proper ones are done but for my 10cents:

Ethylene glycol - most toxic CORRECTED
Propylene glycol - less toxic but poisoning is apparantly rare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_ ... plications)

CORRECTED
Ethylene glocol is common in car antifreeze but most common car antifreeze solutions are already diluted and have other additives as well, found it difficult to find out their actual concentration. Managed to get hold of some of the neat stuff from a mechanic.

~20% solution of either is good for -20oC
I modified a small cooler once by disabling the Ice bank stat and wiring in a digi controller i.e. STC-1000 with the probe in the ice bank (away from the agitator)
Of course the limits going to be when your beer starts freezing in your lines :S

[LeeH]

Maybe I could fill it up with cheap vodka!

[asd]

Not sure how the proper ones are done but for my 10cents:

Ethylene glycol - less toxic
Propylene glycol - more toxic but poisoning is apparantly rare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylene_ ... plications)

This is dangerously WRONG!!!!

Ethylene glycol = very toxic, will kill you and your pets.

Propylene glycol = used in foodstuffs, cosmetics, medicines.

[Frothy]

Good catch ASD - got them the wrong way round, that would be ethylene glycol (toxic) being used in car antifreeze then I guess. Will amend my post

[darkonnis]

Use cheap vodka, that's your best bet. There is plenty of info on the net about the w/w % you need for a given freezing point. That would be my first port of call.

If it doesn't go down far enough then at the worst, you have wasted half a bottle of vodka and have another half to drown your sorrows

[LeeH]

Use cheap vodka, that's your best bet. There is plenty of info on the net about the w/w % you need for a given freezing point. That would be my first port of call.

If it doesn't go down far enough then at the worst, you have wasted half a bottle of vodka and have another half to drown your sorrows

That's my plan.

I have another STC 1000 on its way so I'm going to have a crack at it this week.

I'll take some pics in case anybody else is interested.

[LeeH]

Ok, I've fitted a dumbed down PID controller as in the pics which is very simply power and the control circuit.

The only question I have is where to put the new probe as the original disappears down the stainless tube.

I guess it doesn't just want to be dropped in the water bath for whatever reason or it would have been to start with?

Any ideas Darkonnis? Frothy?

Cheers.

[LeeH]

I've placed the new probe in between the product coils and left it cooling on the mechanical stat. This will at least give me a datum from where that stat shuts off and what the reading is on the controller.