Pump Reviews

[Vossy1]

Time for some pump reviews, I'l kick this one off

I bought this pump from Morebeer in the US a couple of week ago and thought I'd post my initial review, having used it for the first time today

Here's the pump, it cost me about £79

http://morebeer.com/view_product/17330/102345

This is a purpose designed pump for boiling liquids, there aren't many out there readily available to the home brewer

It primed 1st time and was very quite compared to my March May MMP-3, my other pump
I ran the pump using a ball valve to restrict the flow on the outlet and even with the ball valve fully shut the pump was no noisier than if free flowing.
It takes standard 1/2" female to 15mm compression fittings.
The casing doesn't get hot even when pumping 100 deg c liquids.

All in all very happy with this pump on its first outing

Very nicely surprised by it's quietness

Some pictures of this pump

LHS



Front



RHS



Size comparison



Technical details



For pump test see below

[Vossy1]

The Totton NPD 10/2

http://www.totton-pumps.co.uk/c2/uploads/ndp10_2.pdf

I've used this pump regularly for the last 10 months and all in all it's performed very well.
It doesn't like restrictions to flow and high temps. I use this pump to pump my sparge liquor, and also my collected wort, from my collection vessel, to the copper/hlt.
When the temp nears 80 deg c I have found that the pump is o.k for the first minute or so, then slowly the flow rate falls to nothing.
For cold pumping and upto 80 deg c this pump is cheap and does the job. If you intend to pump nearer the extremes, ie, 80 deg c+, do not get this pump

Front



Back



LHS



RHS



For pump test see below

[Vossy1]

The March May MMP-3 pump

http://www.marchmay.co.uk/files/webupda ... eBroch.pdf

I have used this pump for the last 10 months, with no problems at all.
At the moment it's used as my HERMS pump, restricted on its outlet to 2-3ltr per min.
It's quite happy pumping liquids to 90 deg c in my experience.
It isn't as quiet as my morebeer pump, but it has been very reliable to date

The only downside to this pump are the number of segments in the impeller housing. If you have to strip down, this can make the process a bit of a faff. Once you get used to it this isn't a problem though

My MMP 3 came with built in push fit 15mm connectors which for ease of use is hard to beat

All in all a very reliable pump which is quite forgiving and tolerant

Rear View



RHS



Front

By undoing the screws shown you can gain access to the various segments of the impellar head, for cleaning or general maintainance, though neither are needed in regular use



LHS



For pump test see below

[steve_flack]

Does the MoreBeer pump come with a plate on it so you can screw it down. Also did you figure out the wiring colours in the end?

[Vossy1]

Does the MoreBeer pump come with a plate on it so you can screw it down. Also did you figure out the wiring colours in the end?

Hi Steve, I bought a fixing plate for it, as in the Morebeer link it's described as being supplied without a one.
The pump DOES however have a fixing plate, welded onto it, which is exactly the same as the MMP-3's only slightly smaller
So if you get one dont bother buying the plate. The fixing plate that I bought is screwed into place with 2 screws, then the pump slides into it...

Prodigal 2 sorted the wiring colours for me, Black is Live and White is neutral, cheers P2

[deadlydes]

Here's the pump, it cost me about £79

http://morebeer.com/view_product/17330/102345

is that a magnetic drive pump?

[steve_flack]

Yes it is. You can get it with a polysulfone head (OK for boiling) or a Stainless replacement (still OK, more durable, more shiny, much more expensive).

[Vossy1]

Just had a good look at the literature that came with my Morebeer pump.

It's strange that a pump designed for Morebeer, specifically for homebrew applications should only be warranteed for use with water

Oh well

[steve_flack]

I think they were originally designed for hot water/solar heating systems.

[Vossy1]

I think they were originally designed for hot water/solar heating systems.

Hmm interesting

They should get March May to re-word their warranty then or Morebeer should change this quote

After selling thousands of pumps we had the ideal brewing pump custom built for Beer, Beer & More Beer by March Manufacturing. The main factors we were looking for was a pump that was constructed of food-grade material, would handle wort at boiling temperature, take back pressure (flow restriction), and cost under $150. We chose to have the pump housing made from polysulfone because it is a tough, food-grade plastic rated to temperatures as hot as 250F. It offers many of the benefits of the ideal material, stainless steel, without the prohibitive cost.

That would imply it's been tested with wort at boiling temps

As long as it works, who cares hey

[Vossy1]

PUMP TESTING

Today I tested the pumps above and the RG550 below. All pumps were tested using the same set up, which incorperated a cfc. The pump was placed in line after the water source but before the cfc, so the pump was pumping water through the cfc. The pumps were run at full power unrestricted in anty way, see picture below



Picture shows a water reservoir (large fv), pump in line, cfc and collecting reservoir (small fv)....sorry the pic's so dark

And the results

March May MMP-3 7 ltr/min
Morebeer (March May) 3 ltr/min
Stuart Turner RG550 9.5 ltr/min
Totton NPD 10/2 1.5 ltr/min

As I had my pc handy I also tested my Morebeer pump with it, and the flow rate was 9 ltr/min !

I was quite surprised that the March May MMP-3 managed a fairly high output compared to the RG550. I was expecting the RG550 to have a massively superior flow rate

[Vossy1]

Stuart Turner RG550

Front



Lhs



Rhs



Back



I haven't used this pump, apart from testing, but perhaps one of our forum members who has, might be able to review it's operational qualities for us.

What I do know of this pump. It's very powerful, mine has a high pithched whine on operation, though it's quite quiet for such a large pump.
It's very heavy, size is no bigger than the MMP-3.
It's really easy to prime due to the priming valve on the front.
It has a thermo trip which has been known to work when pumping hot liquids by some forum members.

Technical info can be found here

http://www.stuart-turner.co.uk/default.aspx?page=438

http://www.stuart-turner.co.uk/pdf/18046-3-00.pdf

[subsub]

Nice to see the reviews as I think I'm going to need one as the brewery increases in size

[dartgod]

Hey Vossy I have that same MoreBeer pump and it rocks......I brew outside so I bought the stainless mounting bracket and just set up the pump before brewing and tear down afterwards.....the stainless bracket is on my stainless brewstand which stays outside and doesn't rust I'm thinking of going to a plate chiller now that I have the pump and conical.....will really make transfers simple. Right now I use it for pumping water to my mash-tun and sparge tank so I don't have to lift anything....especially hot water

[edit1now]

Just resurrecting this for a question:

I want one of those Morebeer pumps, because they're a good price, I liked Vossy's review, and it looks smaller and more useful than my MachineMart monstrosity.

I went on the Morebeer site, started to buy one, and they seem to want $142 US for shipping. Did anyone else have to pay that much, before I click on "Continue" please?