Hi all. I just became the proud owner of my first plate chiller, small one. I brew 2.5 gallon stove top batches on a 5 gallon brew pot. Im trying to figure out the best way to incorporate the chiller without spending alot. I’ve thought of getting a pimp but theyre not cheap, I’d prefer to make it gravity fed but not sure how to transfer hot wort to the chiller. My brew kettle does not have a valve. Not sure how easy it is to add one. Any suggestions from all you crafty people would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
You’ll need a valve minimum. http://bargainfittings.com for the fitting s and Harbor freight for the step bit + some wd-40 for the hole. From there gravity will work.
+1
That, and there are other “complications” involved with pimps. 
Pimps definitely have their place!
Pimps are handy at getting that be-otch to chill. Not to mention whirlpool
Does this mean in pimping my system?
Why not just buy one of the cheap 12v pumps. They work great.
Where can I get one and are they OK for hot wort?
eBay and yes. 230 deg F if I’m not mistaken. The tan Chinese ones are the ones to get IIRC.
You can use a plate chiller with just gravity. Saves involving pimps. Here’s the plumbing:
I think it is good to have a reasonable drop from the chiller into your FV, as this helps to suck the wort through the chiller. Also having a valve on the outlet of the chiller helps to throttle back the wort flow to regulate cooling. I have found that the lowest I can get the temp with an acceptable flowrate is ~27C, so I tend to do the final cooling to pitch temp in a small chest freezer.
It’s important to ensure the chiller is sanitary before use. I autoclave mine (and the tube \ fittings), but you could boil it or recirc hot wort \ water through it (pump needed). I also flush with hot water immediately after use.
When you say it’s “small” - how many plates \ Kw rating?
cheers
steve
Good call on the valve post chiller. A valve on the kettle should do well enough, but post chiller would make it way easier.
Cool. One of of he things that concerned me about a pump was the rate it moved the wort. The valve fixes that. Not sure about the chiller. My brother bought got it for my from dudadiesel.com. my best guess is 10 plates. I’m planning on putting my immersion chiller in an ice bath and prechilling the circulation water before it hits the plate chiller.
I want to see someone build a chiller system out of an old truck radiator. It would need air moving over it, so they could mount it to the front of an old Buick with the boil kettle up high and the fermentor down low. Then just drive around till the wort is chilled.
I do enjoy your posts Jim.
Just an observer of human nature. I’d call it a Wapato Whirlpooler
I’ve actually got an old oil cooler sitting around somewhere. It should even fit in a brew pot or bucket of ice water. The question is whether an ultra-sonic parts cleaner would get it “clean enough.”
Key word is “enough”. I think so. Plus you can finally prove that “solventy” is not just a fermentation issue.
After checking out the chiller my brother bought me, I think it’s a better one than I thought. It’s a 12" 20 plate chiller. Can’t wait to try it! I think I’ve decided to go with drilling my kettle. I think it’s the path of least resistance. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
On a side note with a plate chiller, does it matter tremendously how much trub goes into the fermenter or am I better off through the chiller into a vessel then racking the wort off the trub?
You can do that, but I think most brewers would tell you not to worry too much about the trub in the fermenter. At least, that’s what I would tell you.