Crash Cooling with Maxi 310 Cooler

[thefirstleachy]

A couple of questions.

I want to use my Maxi 310 cooler wired to an Atc800 + to crash cool after boiling. Is this possible or will the returning hot water melt the ice bank? I tried it without an Atc800+ by just letting the cooler run to build up the ice bank before connecting to an immersion chiller to cool the wort. It worked well for a bit but the recirc pump then stopped being able to pump the water up a foot or so into the immersion chiller. So I had to go back to using tap water to cool.

It crossed my mind that it is the pump that is the issue, how can I check this out or who can I get to check the whole thing out to make sure everything is in working order? I'm useless when it comes to stuff like this.

I also want to use the Maxi cooler and Atc800+ to control fermentation temps with an immersion chiller and immersion heater. What is the best way to wire it all up?

Cheers

[aerostef]

I was thinking of doing the same thing... just didn't get round to it.

What's the length of tubing do you have attached to the recirc. pump? They are pretty powerful usually, so it shouldn't be an issue, unless maybe the hot return water is too well, too hot and it affects the pump maybe?

[Blackaddler]

A couple of questions.

I want to use my Maxi 310 cooler wired to an Atc800 + to crash cool after boiling. Is this possible or will the returning hot water melt the ice bank?

Do not do this! You'll wreck your chiller. They're not designed to chill hot liquids.

From the maxi range manual [see below]...

"Under no circumstances should boiling water or steam be used with this unit as it may result in permanent damage to the thermostat and plastic product tubing. The maximum water temperature permissible is 40C."

During the summer, I use my Maxi 310 to help chill tap water [or rain water from a 200L water butt]. If using rain water, I use a pump to push the water through the product coil of the Maxi 310, and then through the immersion chiller, and back to an empty water butt [or down the drain]. The recirculation coil is looped together

See this post for the Maxi manuals.

[thefirstleachy]

Thanks for your responses. Point taken about no liquids above 40 c. I'll just have to stick to using it for controlling fermentation temps when I get it set up with an ATC800+ and for cooling down to pitching temp when the liquid is cold enough to use it on.

Thanks again

[Talisman]

Yeah Defo not use your maxi. Build a Cfc instead to cool your wort quick after the boil.

I use my maxi after fermenting to chill n help drop all the sediment down to the bottom.

[Blackaddler]

There's nothing to stop you from running mains water through the product coil before it goes to the immersion chiller in your boiler. Once you've built up the ice bank, it'll help chill down the tepid mains water in the summer.

I find that when my wort gets to under 40C, the last 10-15C take the longest to cool. You may find that that's the best time to hook up the Maxi.