DIY Immersion Chiller Fittings

[SteelPriest]

As someone who has relied upon places like this forum to start off learning to brew, but never contributed anything more than questions, I thought I should share one of the first things I just worked out by myself.

Having just moved to a flat with enough space to upgrade from my small maxi-BIAB setup, I just made myself a cheap and simple immersion chiller, as I assume lots of people do, from a coil of 10mm copper pipe. Fine. Easy. Except, none of the dozens of guides I read suggested any method of actually connecting the bloody thing. So, to save someone else having to do as much googling as I did, here's what you need. Sorry if this is obvious and I somehow missed it.

1. Connecting your kitchen tap to a bit of garden hose. The easy bit. Buy a Hozelock threaded tap connector from B&Q. ( http://www.diy.com/departments/hozelock ... 837_BQ.prd ) Connect a bit of hose, replace the aerator on your tap (temporarily).

2. Attach fittings to your chiller. Here's where people seem to just jubilee clip it. When I did this i got a small but persistent leak. Not good enough. Instead, buy a 10mm x 3/8 Inch BSP Compression Female Adaptor. I got mine from ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111510271633? ... EBIDX%3AIT . Connect to the chiller (spanner/pliers required).

3. Attach 3/8inch thread, 1/2inch ID barbs to the compression fittings. I had some of these lying around from an old PC watercooling setup. You can buy some at places like this http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/3-8 ... ilver.html . Plastic ones are cheaper.

4. Attach hose to barbs, wrapping a bit of plumber's tape round the thread and jubilee clip the hose to them. Hopefully, leak free.

That took me ages to work out, so hopefully it'll help some other brewing noob one day.

PS Hi!

[Hairybiker]

You can also get brass hoselock connectors to fit via adaptors to the chiller. Screwfix has them I think.

Before this I use a short piece of syphon hose between the chiller & the hose pipe, this makes the JC seal a LOT better.

[Brighteyebeer]

Hi

Another way would be a 10mm compression to 1/2" thread adaptor:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brass-Compres ... 5af9207d92 (or local plumbers merchant)

Attach a tap connector to the thread:

http://www.wilko.com/hose-pipes-sprinkl ... vt/0298809

Then use a hose connector on the hose:

http://www.wilko.com/hose-pipes-sprinkl ... vt/0298818

That's how I'd do it - it gives quick and simple connection and uncoupling. I use a similar arrangement on my CFC.

Cheers,
Chris

[mshergold]

I used washing machine tapes on mine, then attached plastic tap connectors.

[SteelPriest]

Ahh, why did i not think of compression to 1/2 inch thread!? Probably because I get confused by all these imperial measurements...