CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

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Single Malt Yinzer
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CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by Single Malt Yinzer »

CIP balls are used more in commercial applications. They are really awesome for cleaning hard to reach places like keg stills and carboys.

https://www.brewershardware.com/CIP-Spray-Balls/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

This: https://www.brewershardware.com/rotatin ... ory_id=312" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
With this: https://www.amazon.com/Fermentap-FMT_H6 ... B0064OJ8UY" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Would make a good cleaning system. It's what I bought. I'm hooking it up to my pump and a bucket of PBW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2TsddZTkPw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DykawHzsHKw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhbUwhsaQQU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Brewer's hardware has them 15% off for Feb 2019: https://www.brewershardware.com/february-promo/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
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Chauncey
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by Chauncey »

Yeah iirc some people put them in their flutes too
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by shadylane »

Just my limited opinion
The CIP spin balls should be called Rinse In Place
They sling a lot of water everywhere
But not with enough pressure, to clean off any crud :lol:
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by still_stirrin »

At the brewpub I worked at, we had CIP balls to clean the kettle. But, we used caustic cleaners pumped through the heads to clean the hop and protein crud off the walls. It worked great, owed in part to the chemicals that cut through the sticky junk. And then, we rinsed it thoroughly with cold water to get all the hot caustic out. After that, we simply ran the steam jacket and it dried the whole system out.

Commercially, CIP is more than just a good idea...it’s a necessity. Oh, the kettle was 15 barrels so cleaning by hand would have been quite labor intensive...possible, but a lot of work.
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by NZBoka701 »

I use a (unused and sterile) drain cleaning attachment on the pressure washer. Has one forward jet and then 4 reverse jets. Add 130 bar of water pressure and you get one hell of a cleaner!
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by shadylane »

I bet it did with 130 bar, I was using only 3 bar :lol:
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by OtisT »

Anyone know how small, restricted the ball needs to be for somewhat effective use with home water pressure? I don’t see any stats on overall opening space area/pressure per ball or even what kind of pressure any particular ball needs to be effective. I’m sure a smaller ball, with fewer and/or smaller holes would be more effective than one with more open area.

I could use a small ball on a solid wand for general rinse and clean.

I hear you shadylane, that home pressure will not work in many cases.

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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by NZBoka701 »

It all depends on the pressure of your home water system, they vary from between 1-3 bar. If you have pressurised hot water from either a combi-boiler or a unvented cylinder you could use 3 bar of hot water, that's sure to cut through a load of junk. If you get one of those drill bit sets that do 1-10mm in 0.5mm increments a little bit of experimentation could be in order. I find that the biggest issue in my still is the PTFE tri-clamp seals that seem to get a weird orange stain on them, it washes off but takes a lot of work.

The only reason I mention pressure washers is you can pick up a refurbished or even second hand one for almost the same cost as a rotary ball head washer. Saves a lot of time and you can even do the car and the patio, keeps the wife happy! :lol:
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Re: CIP Balls (Clean in place) - for cleaning kegs & carboys

Post by Single Malt Yinzer »

Rotating CIP Spray Ball 1/2" FPT Connection. Operates on 15-100PSI, 40-60PSI is recommended.


That's from their website. Our house's water pressure is regulated at 90 psi at the input from the main. Not sure what your setup is but I expect it can be set to something like that.
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