sidepart
Well-Known Member
Was hoping to maybe get some advice, I'll have to post some pictures later.
I have a rectangular 52qt cooler (igloo), and recently made a manifold to replace the SS braid. Manifold is made of 4x 1/2" CPVC pipes spaced 2" apart, and about 1" from sides of the cooler. The pipes run the length of the cooler like in Palmer's example. The difference with mine is that the manifold outlet faces the opposite direction and I use plastic tubing to connect to the cooler outlet (I have to start a siphon to get it going, but not a big deal). I made a recirculating (sparge?) arm to go with it. It's also 1/2" CPVC pipe and is basically setup like an H. At the tips of the H, I have 90 degree bends facing up, and I will try to rest the arm just above the grain bed. The H is about half the length of the cooler so I'm not recirculating on the edges, and leaves about 2 or 3 inches on either side of the width of the cooler, and I center it in the cooler.
Now to my problem. I decided to test this system out with water last night. I was able to recirculate and dial in a water temp of 131F (a possible first temperature rest). Then I tried to jump it up to 152F. I'm measuring the temp of the liquid as it exits the recirculating arm, and I have managed to quickly get the temp of the recirculating arm to 152F easily. Problem is that after 15-20 minutes, the water in the cooler is stuck around 146F, and I didn't feel like waiting around to see if it ever went higher than that.
Am I doing something wrong? I've been reading people generally can cycle all of the water in their mashtun in about 5-10 minutes and reach their next mash temp.
Some things I'm concerned about:
Some things I'm not too concerned about:
I have a rectangular 52qt cooler (igloo), and recently made a manifold to replace the SS braid. Manifold is made of 4x 1/2" CPVC pipes spaced 2" apart, and about 1" from sides of the cooler. The pipes run the length of the cooler like in Palmer's example. The difference with mine is that the manifold outlet faces the opposite direction and I use plastic tubing to connect to the cooler outlet (I have to start a siphon to get it going, but not a big deal). I made a recirculating (sparge?) arm to go with it. It's also 1/2" CPVC pipe and is basically setup like an H. At the tips of the H, I have 90 degree bends facing up, and I will try to rest the arm just above the grain bed. The H is about half the length of the cooler so I'm not recirculating on the edges, and leaves about 2 or 3 inches on either side of the width of the cooler, and I center it in the cooler.
Now to my problem. I decided to test this system out with water last night. I was able to recirculate and dial in a water temp of 131F (a possible first temperature rest). Then I tried to jump it up to 152F. I'm measuring the temp of the liquid as it exits the recirculating arm, and I have managed to quickly get the temp of the recirculating arm to 152F easily. Problem is that after 15-20 minutes, the water in the cooler is stuck around 146F, and I didn't feel like waiting around to see if it ever went higher than that.
Am I doing something wrong? I've been reading people generally can cycle all of the water in their mashtun in about 5-10 minutes and reach their next mash temp.
Some things I'm concerned about:
- I don't have a lid on the cooler when recirculating.
- It's 55F in my basement, maybe the water is just getting cold fast?
- Maybe my equipment sucks? Maybe my recirculating arm isn't covering enough area?
- Maybe it's not an issue at all, and I should try it again with grain, because water loses heat faster than a thick mash?
- Maybe I'm not recirculating fast enough? (Valve was only ~1/4 open so I don't theoretically run off too quickly and suction the grain bed)
Some things I'm not too concerned about:
- The manifold. I tested with some food coloring, doesn't seem to be channeling.