Water recirculation

sub · Post by **sub** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:46 am

I have read all the threads I could find, and it looks like everyone goes for pond pumps.

My questions:
Has anyone used a washing machine pump?
Is it safe to run one for 5-8 hours?

Post by **Tater** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:05 pm

What brand washing machine ya talking about

furball · Post by **furball** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:10 pm

I am using a small condensate pump and motor I scavaneged from work many years ago. I t was used on a ice making machine to collect ice melt and condensate. It had a level switch to turn it on when the level was high and off when the level was low, so it was for intermitant use. I modified the pump so that it would stay submerged in the 15 gal water bucket and the motor stayed above. I changed the level switch out for an on/off toggle switch. I have run that pump for 7-8 hrs per run, for about 10 runs maybe more, and the motor is doing fine.
I think the washing machine motor will handle it just fine, just look how long they run in a house full of girls/women

. Look at the name plate data on the motor, it should say if it is continueous run or not. Just make sure that you have suficient air flow around it for cooling(ie- don't put it inside an air tight enclosure).

Furball

sub · Post by **sub** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:37 pm

Brand, dunno yet?

I had to replace a pump a short while ago on our washing machine(see my gallery and you will see why), and it only cost $35. That was in a Simpson.

Seems to me like it would work ok, was just hoping to here someone else had already tried it.

Mickarus · Post by **Mickarus** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:47 am

I had to replace a pump a short while ago on our washing machine(see my gallery and you will see why)

Whow that pumps toasted!!

agl · Post by **agl** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 3:08 am

Hi,
In addition to furball's suggestions about keeping the pump cool, if you do choose to use one of those pumps, be careful not to run it dry. I have never used one for this application, but I have seen the inside of several, and some of them use a flexible rubber impeller. That part can be damaged easily if the pump has no liquid in it. I use a small circulator pump intended for hot water home heating systems. That type of pump costs about twice what the washing machine pump costs, but they are dead silent, heat resistant and continuous duty.

sub · Post by **sub** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 1:27 am

Well, I just went out and bought a pond pump.

I thought hard about the washing machine pump and decided it wasn't worth stuffing with. I would have had to wire it up to mains power and build an enclosure for it to make it safe. Not that I couldn't have done that, but I just couldn't be bothered. Too much effort for something that may or may not have worked.

I now have a 60 litre reservoir with the pump installed with quick disconnects for the hoses on my still. It's all ready to go and I'll be doing a run on Sunday.

I will post pics of the setup under this thread: http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2035

grant · Post by **grant** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:22 am

hey mate,

where do you get those connectors from like in this pic
http://photobucket.com/albums/e222/subm ... 05642n.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

is that 2" pipe??

are they a compression fitting and need to be brazed on??

thanks, i need to extend my column so that will be easiest

sub · Post by **sub** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:49 am

Grant,

I bought them from Tradelink.

1 1/2"

They are not compression fittings, just standard BSP brazed onto the pipe.

There is also a double ended nipple between the two fittings. So where the join is, there are actually three pieces.

They only cost around $5 per piece. Dunno what 2" would cost, but I'm sure it wouldn't be more than double.

grant · Post by **grant** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:24 pm

cheers

TRANSPLANTED HILLBILLY · Fri Mar 24, 2006 4:29 pm

Sub, that is a fine looking rig you got there. Just one question. Is that foam rubber around the lid of your boiler. If so that should go. Nice clamp up system though. Not tryin to start nothin, just askin.

That pump is so toasted it couldn't be softened up in a butter bath. Was it in a fire. Can't beleive the motor fan made it.

sub · Post by **sub** » Fri Mar 24, 2006 5:06 pm

I actually did have a gasket I made out of rubber for the lid. I found it at work a couple of weeks before I found this site. I never used it though, once I started reading here.

I used the flour and water method for sealing the lid and it worked very well. Can be seen in this photo: http://photobucket.com/albums/e222/subm ... 05654b.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Regarding the pump:

I just finished mowing the lawn, was washing off the mower when my wife came running out screaming "Help, help!!".

I ran inside, the smoke alarm was going off and there was acrid smoke rolling accross the ceiling. I took a deep breath, ran into the laundry, yanked the washing machine plug from the socket.

I then took our parrots outside, then went back in and opened all the doors and windows up. I kept an eye on the washer from the outside laundry door, and had a hose close by, but it did not catch fire.

I'm glad we are not in the habit of leaving appliances in operation while we are not home. In this case the house might not have burned down, but our parrots would have surely died from the smoke.

nanosleep · Post by **nanosleep** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 9:46 pm

I would imagine a pond pump or washing machine pump would provide much more flow that you need for cooling. Have you considered pumps for fish tanks? I don't know that they would be any cheaper, but they are rated for continuous duty. Most are submergable. The magnetic coupled types are tolerant to being jammed with trash (could be good depending on your water source).

Rocky_Creek · Post by **Rocky_Creek** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:07 am

The pump needs to be rated for continious use, or you are in for a nasty suprise mid run.

crackher · Post by **crackher** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:27 am

I said forget it to the pump...I could not keep the water cool enough!!

So I drilled a hole, laid some pipe, and now I use the city water from the tap (garage distiller) and dump it into the drain... much smoother, and it only really costs me a couple of dollars (3$) to run the still (water charges)

stil_chillin · Post by **stil_chillin** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:10 pm

I use a bilge pump for a boat for my cooling water you can buy them at walmart for like 10 bucks. Only problem is they are 12 volt so you need a battery or an adapter

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:52 pm

yeah... straight into the garden hey?

TEC · Post by **TEC** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 9:24 pm

Be carful using a bilge pump as most are not rated for continuous duty.