Best way to build an IC w/ 50' of copper tubing?

[Wolfbrau]

If one has 50 feet of 3/8" soft copper tubing, and strictly does 5 gallon batches, is it better to build a 25' prechiller for an icewater bath or to build a "coil within a coil" straight up chiller and just use that?

I don't do many lagers and would rather not mess with march pumps.

Thanks yall!

[Billy Klubb]

I coiled mine inside my brewpot, then tightened the coils so there's about 2" on either side. chills fast.

[Mylo]

If one has 50 feet of 3/8" soft copper tubing, and strictly does 5 gallon batches, is it better to build a 25' prechiller for an icewater bath or to build a "coil within a coil" straight up chiller and just use that?

I don't do many lagers and would rather not mess with march pumps.

Thanks yall!

Well the simple answer is that any coils sticking out of the wort aren't helping you. Therefore, you might as well make a prechiller. However, if you do go up to bigger batches, your screwed - but you can probably get some money for it from another homebrewer. You could fuss with the "coil within the coil" to get some more coils down in the wort, but it might be more trouble than it's worth. The "achilles heel" of the immersion chiller is that you need constant motion around the coils in order for them to be the most efficient. That is why the JZ chiller is the so efficient, and the easy choice for me.


Mylo

[captain carrot]

I made an inner coil using an automotive type tubing bender in a previous wort chiller. I guess in theory it should create currents to circulate the wort. For you I would use whatever coil sticks out of the wort and make a prechiller. I freeze my original wort chiller (25ft x 3/8) in enough water to cover the coils to supply my 50ft x 5/8 immersion chiller. And yes, I blow out the prechiller with compressed air before freezing.

[BigNastyBrew]

I made this one just as demonstrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1n7-RjEJEM

[Mylo]

I made this one just as demonstrated.... by me.

http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Mylo ... -O-Chiller



Mylo

[BigNastyBrew]

I made this one just as demonstrated.... by me.

http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Mylo ... -O-Chiller



Mylo

That's a badass chiller, Mylo.

However, per the OP:

I ... would rather not mess with march pumps.

[Mylo]

However, per the OP:

I ... would rather not mess with march pumps.

That's his affliction. Not mine. I chill my beer down in 15 min. Just sayin'.


Mylo