Considering Manifolds

[FlippinMental]

have managed to spend a little time tinkering with a new manifold set-up. Having had a couple of disasterous stuck mashes with the single 15mm ss braid i've come up with this. The braids are from 22mm tap connects (less than £1.80 ea).



Not an original design I know - If this doesn't work then its out with the shiny and in with the not so shiny copper slit manifold.

[Andy]

Good luck FM but ss braid didn't work out for me....

[FlippinMental]

I read your your post on the subject, andy. Its funny that some seem to have no problems at all whilst others (like us ) find them a right pain. That said, with the connectors being so cheap, i'd thought i'd give it one more go - who knows...

[Bigster]

Never want to see another SS braid ever again.

Hope it works out for you though FM

[FlippinMental]

[quote="Bigster"]Never want to see another SS braid ever again.

quote]

Oh dear, I'm not getting a warm feeling about this, but what the heck, just hope the goddess of compassion is ready to comfort me.

And THANKS for the advice Daab, and your normally such a caring sharing fella

[bod]

its a funny old issue this one, as i for one have never had an issue with my SS braid. apart from that time i put a whole kilo of oats into a mash to see what the result was like.... that was a fun brew day. horses for courses and and all that, to coin a phrase.


from what i under stand though, it makes no difference as to how the braid is connected. mine is just connected tot he back of the tap via a 3/4" pipe connector and crimped at the other end.

[Frothy]

if it does go tits up you've got the makings of a neat Copper manifold there.

Matt

[FlippinMental]

It’s a strange one for sure. Doesn't Palmer mentioned that 15mm braid was no good? guess what I used first time out Also, when emptying the spent grain after sparging I found the braid in all kids of positions, once standing as vertical as proud can get... must have been an hard mash

There in lays the reason for the elaborate design, my attempt to keep it from getting too aroused, can't be doing much good filtering (or not) at different levels through the grain bed. Also by doubling up the braid I hoping I'm doubling the chance of getting a good run-off.

Besides, as mentioned by Frothy, I’m more than halfway towards a full copper manifold.

Good idea about contingency to recover from a stuck mash, Daab. just so happens I still have the original grain bag from the bruheat boiler. If only I had the savvy to use it last time the mash stuck

[bod]

Bod, what do you use as your lauter tun? Was it a fermenter, if so what size? Maybe this has a bearing?

You mention it doesnt matter how the manifold is connected but my feeling is that for best results a manifold should have good connections, possibly water tight above the manifold itself so that the liquid is draining though the slots in the copper or the braid (where its intended) rather than taking the easiest path and weeping through any gaps in the connecting pieces.

my tun is an old 25 litre fermentor bucket. grain bed is normally about a third of the depth of the bucket.

when i say it doesnt matter hows its connected, i meant the actual layout, not how tightly it is held on. i use a cable tie on mine to keep it attached to the tap connector.
what i mean is that the above configuration may not help anymore than having it set up like mine, which is a straight length and crimped at the end.
i've spoken to the braided hose master(denny conn) at great legths about this, he's tried loads of different formations, and none have produced any significantly better results that what i use. so apart from looking the business, its function and effectiveness may well be the same as my shit looking version.


it does look sweet though!

[bod]

i aim to please.

[FlippinMental]

it does look sweet though!

will effect achieved SG

[bod]

the efficiency wouldnt be affected, the different configurations would only affect the run off, but it seems to be the same regardless, is the point i'm trying to make.

[FlippinMental]

mine was a play on words - sweet, as in sugar - added to sweet wort - increased gravity