This probably sounds stupid but how do you use your pump between the mashtun and your brew kettle? Do you just valve it off enough to keep the pump from sucking faster than the run-off or what? ???
A lot of people use a grant…a vessel that the wort runs into and is then pumped from there.
How do you clean and sanitize it from that point before using it after the wort has boiled? I guess its not a big deal seeing as I’d have at least an hour during the boil anyway, just wondering. ???
I’ve read some folks like to pump near boiling water through it prior to doing a sanitary transfer. I just started using a pump for transfers… but I use a gravity feed for transferring my chilled wort into the fermentation vessel.
Maybe I’m making too much of it? The wort would be right around 212*F… :-\
Then you are Okay. 
I use the “belt AND suspenders” approach. I recirculate StarSan through my pump for about 5 minutes, then at the end of the boil I recirc boiling wort for 5-10 min.
+1
or you can also use some hot water from the HLT to run through the pump prior transfer as well. I also like to run hot water through the pump to do a final cleaning prior to storage.
So that pump’s working for ya Denny? I’m about to pull the trigger on at least one. Got the step drill and everything to adapt my kettles.:-\
Anything before the boil I’m not worrying about sanitation (as much)- presuming the equipment was cleaned when it was last used. It’ll get sterilized with boiling wort before the temps get dropped.
Is a gravity feed better for draining the kettle?
I could if I used a HLT!
I’m loving it , euge! I made 10 gal. of German pils yesterday and using the pump tp recirc took it from boiling to 45F in about 15-20 min. Not to mention that xferring 10 gal. was a breeze with it!
What kind of pumps are you all using? I’ve seen the March 809 recommended. Any good sources for a nice pump that you know of?
I just got a March 809-HS from “Santa.” One of his elves told me he got it here: http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/March-809HS-Beer-Pump.html
I don’t use a grant - I connect the pump to a QD fitting on my mash tun. I prime the pump with the 1/2" mash tun valve wide open and the valve on the pump outlet mostly closed, and leave it this way during vorlauf. Then, I gradually open the pump valve until wide open for running off into the boil kettle.
In reference to the posted link, why does it say “This is the real deal” when comparing the side inlet vs the center inlet? Does it make a difference other than aesthetics? I would think I could just install an elbow into the center inlet model and till get same effect.
And also, is $130 pretty much the going rate for the March pump?
$20 or so less than most places. I just ordered one today, actually.
I don’t think the inlet orientation (center vs. side) makes any difference in the pump’s performance - it would just affect how you configure it for your system. The $130 price was the best I found at the time for the 809-HS with a plug and cord.