Plate Chiller in an Ice Water Bath?

[Tapout]

Have any of you with plate chillers immersed them in ice water? If so, was it helpful in bringing the wort temp down quicker?

 

[NateLTB]

I haven't tried this but I think I may with my next batch.

 

[motobrewer]

if you're making an ice bath then i'd coil your cooling supply hose thru it instead of immersing the whole thing.

and yes, i do this often (esp with lagers) and can get to pitching temps. but my ground water is like 58F to begin with.

i did this on an ale last weekend and i had to throttle my cooling supply to almost nothing otherwise it would drop below 60F. this is with the kettle output wide open.

 

[Natdavis777]

Ive tried this once last summer when my ground temps were elevated. I recirc the whole batch while chilling, and it chills pretty quickly, so I dont recall it giving me much of an advantage. Still had to let me beer cool about 10 degrees in the ferm chamber before pitching.