What pump do I need?

[buffburgo]

I am working on plans for a sculpture and my leap into all-grain after 6 years of extract (and more recently, partial mashing). So far I've got a rectangular cooler for the MLT and a turkey fryer kettle. I'll be getting keggles over the next few months. I want to use a full gravity system if possible from HLT down to fermenter, but I'd like to limit the height the rig so that I don't need to use a ladder to look into the mash. Or, at least maybe just 1 or 2 steps up on small step stool. The best I've been able to plan out so far would have the top of my HLT at 7.5ft, and that is squeezing every spare inch of clearance I can get for drain/spigots.

Anyway, one way to limit the height is to use keep the HLT low pump water up from the HLT into the mash, gravity feed from mash to kettle, and kettle to fermenter. What kind of pump do i need for that? I thought maybe a pump from one of those champagne fountains might work, but not sure about temp limitations. I'd also like to keep it to less than $50 if possible.

[Bugeater]

You will be hard pressed to find a pump that will handle those temperatures for under $50. You may be able to find a March 809HS over on eBay for right around $100 though, by the time you pay shipping you may be better off buying one from Morebeer and getting a warranty to boot.

I avoid the pump problem by just using a measuring pitcher to add water to the mash tun. I also get extremely accurate measurements that way. Sometimes I lose count, but that's probably because I don't tally them in binary like Drew does.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[Brewby]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200154769111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

Will pumps like this work, or will they just melt?

ELECTRIC FLOJET BIB BEVERAGE PUMPS MODEL 2125 504-115.

[Bugeater]

Those are intended for cool liquids only. I don't know how they would hold up to boiling temperatures. They might hold up for a while, but their life would be greatly shortened, requiring the $$ to replace them. You would be better off with one of the right temperature rating like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=006

This also happens to be about the cheapest shipped price I have seen in the past year for that pump.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[hotrod38]

The price is really good...The only draw back is you need to wire it yourself. If you can wire it up, you would have a really good deal. If not, then Buy the same one from B3. It comes pre wired and has a mounting bracket And the shipping is free.