Pump-how low should it go?

[zombywoof]

Looking to take advantage of my 15 gallon pot to make 10 gallon batches, however, I don't think I'll be able to use my gravity rig, since I have to lift the pot up a couple of steps to get it high enough

I'm looking to get a march pump to move the hot wort through the chiller, but my burner is only about 1 foot tall and I know you need to prime these pumps first. How much height do I need to get this happening?

thanks

[ziggy]

There are pumps that you don't have to prime. If you look on the B3 website under pumps it'll say if you don't have to prime it in the product description.

[BeerPal]

I think as long as you can get liquid flowing to the pump head, you should be able to get it primed. The main consideration with the March pump is how you have the pump head oriented. This configuration works for me:

[TastyMcD]

I use three March pumps two of which are hard piped to the kettles. That's basically a zero inch drop. As long as there's a clear, air tight, and unobstructed path through the kettle to the pump, I would think you'll be okay especially since you'll be slowing the wort down significantly so it doesn't go through the chiller too fast.

Tasty

[zombywoof]

Thanks for the feedback folks.

I think Tasty answered it for me, drop not needed I take it priming simply means you need to have liquid into the pump before you turn it on.

[BeerPal]

I take it priming simply means you need to have liquid into the pump before you turn it on.

True, as far as it goes. The biggest issue with priming March pumps is making sure you can eliminate air bubbles from the pump head. To this end the "out" side should face upwards and having a tee with a valve on either end to bleed the air out of the pump head is beneficial. See my photo above.

[zombywoof]

Thanks Beerpal!

Weird that the output has to face up. I would think it would be easier for the wort to flow down via gravity to get into the pump. I'll make sure to add a valve to the output and do a trial run first.

[BeerPal]

Weird that the output has to face up.

It doesn't have to, but any air bubbles are going to end up at the highest point in the pump head and block flow, so you want to be able to purge them out.