Wort Chiller

[Vincent]

I'm using a 30L kettle, what size (length/diameter) should I be looking for? 

Plan A. Is there somewhere in New Zealand that I could buy one?

Plan B. Do I source some copper pipe and have a go at making one myself ?

Plan C. Ebay, can anyone recommend a seller?

Any help/info appreciated. 

Cheers, 

Vincent

[Vincent]

All good info cheers.  

[Sam]

Don't know what stores are available in your area but I ordered mine through the electrical wholesaler (Stewart's) because I go there for work. These springs (and the pipe) are used for air-con and refrigeration so those kind of (trade) stores are worth a try, or since electricians often do heat pumps you could try a electrical wholesaler, just make sure it slides on the outside to a tight fit, and it should have a belled end to help with sliding on.  Maybe even the likes of mitre 10 might have one.

[Sam]

A few immersion chiller designs on here to have a look at, depends on your set-up and volume height-wise but some people use corny kegs as a convenient former. In a set up like mine I find even with my wider coil some of it is above the water level so a corny keg was too narrow for me for 15m, but have a look at what's available to you as a former in the right size to suit your set-up. Also +1 on Liam's comment about the connection to the cooler, I was very careful when doing mine on the incoming connection as that's the most likely to contaminate the kettle, as the other side goes away, and since the pipe should bend over the side, if the outgoing ever dripped it would be away from the kettle

[Vincent]

I received my copper from brassman, 15m x 12.7mm coil. I've had no problem coiling the pipe, however, the internal bending spring I bought (12mm) is still too large and it was the smallest that I could find.  

Does anyone have an external/internal bending spring suitable for 12.7mm pipe in the Rangitikei/Manawatu region that I could borrow? Plan b. will be to pay the local plumber a visit. 

Cheers. 

[Vincent]

Update: Well I finally tracked down a 1/2" external bending spring, heres my first attempt at making a immersion chiller (for a 30L kettle). 

Cheers for the advice. 

[David Malpas]

Looks good to me - very tidy.

However, I would suggest you angle the ends downwards - as I struggle to get a watertight seal with mine and it invariably leaks.

On mine I angled them down so it drips away from the kettle - not back down the chiller into the wort.

[Vincent]

Cheers David. 

Thats the plan, turn the inlet/outlet down and shorten slightly.  I'll give it a test run this weekend.  I'll be using screw-band clamps to attach the hoses.

Just waiting on a ball valve for the kettle and I should be all set to go.  

[Scott]

My ugly mess of a chiller sticks too far above the wort and is probably a nice place for bugs to gather and drop into my precious. I have a wide and shallow pot.  Maybe test with just water in your pot to see if yours is the same? It looks very tall.

 

If you're finished with the spring, I'd be glad to buy/borrow it off you, if it is yours to start with. I'd like to cut my coil in half and make a rib-cage style one.

 

[Vincent]

Cheers for bringing that to my attention, I may have to shorten it by a couple of rings.  

No worries, where are you based? your welcome to borrow it after I've made some modifications.