Testing of the INCREDIBLE Brewzilla Steam Condenser

[@BrewabitRick]

Looks like a great bit of kit. I’d have never of thought about negative pressure until it was too late 🥹 cheers 👍🍻

[@audleybrewco]

Yeah not sure if have thought of it if I hadn't seen the picture 🤣

[@FloppyJedi]

I thought if you left condenser hose submerged in water it might build up pressure inside the system?

[@audleybrewco]

I'm not sure I follow what you mean? The cold water comes in the top, cooling the steam back to water, and drains out the bottom. The hose can be submerged because of gravity, similar to the way a syphon works. If the waste bucket was sealed it might cause a problem but in the open system it doesn't. The other issue is negative pressure, you have to remember to take the lid off before you start to cool. (There are videos of people who haven't done this and their brew kettle has crumpled 😳) If I remember, when I do my next video I'll try to explain this a bit better. Thanks for the comment and I hope you enjoy the channel

[@FloppyJedi]

@@audleybrewco thought the small hose for water coming out would build up pressure inside the kettle and since it kinda sorta is a closed system, if left submerged in water

[@jauld360]

I don't have one yet, but I found the details helpful. One tip from me, the condenser hose should be above the water in the bucket for two reasons. 1) It will reduce the efficiency and 2) you can get suck back and negative pressure in the Brewzilla when the boil is stopped. That's probably why you noticed the hiss when you removed the cap (14:25 in the video).

[@audleybrewco]

Yeah negative pressure is a worry, I've seen a video of someone who left the Condenser on, while everything cooled down and his graingather crushed like a Coke can under my foot. So I make sure to take mine off before there's even a 2⁰ drop lol. Yeah keeping the hose above water level seems to be the way forward. Thanks for watching.

[@donmac5926]

Worthwhile experiment that mate. I'd be interested to see what the steam situation is when the winter weather draws in though, especially if there's a noticeable, uneven weight distribution of the lid, that you pointed out. Looking forward to a full on demonstration on a brew day. I really would like to brew indoors especially in the winter, but just putting a feckin kettle on in winter in my house n the windows are covered in steam, so a fully operable, functional, steam condenser would be a god send for me 👍. Great tip about the negative pressure btw, I'd never have known that 😳👍 Keep up the good work mate YNWA

[@audleybrewco]

Glad you enjoyed it. Hopefully gonna use it in anger in the next week or so, I'll be putting another video up then.

[@audleybrewco]

Will be brewing this week, it's bitter cold here in Ireland and my kitchen has no heat so will be a tough test for it!

[@Pazey1]

I would say you had same boil off as with this system you get a more vigorous boil you should be able to knock a fair amount of power out of the boil which would would then reduce wort volume less malt less power and quicker times to get to the boil win win

[@Caprifool]

Never let the outlet hose go under the water level in the bucket. You loose a lot of the condenser's efficiency that way.

[@audleybrewco]

Thanks for the tip, didn't think it would affect it, but it clearly does, and a build up of pressure might explain the frequent trub left up round the top. Always learning! Thanks for watching.

[@BigBananaBrewing]

Are you moving to a flat or something? Say it aint so. Looks like a good bit of kit though if you sort the excess steam but even then its way better than before. You could definitely knock out some spirits with that kit too which is a bonus. Raid poundstretcher for sugar 😉😂

[@audleybrewco]

I could become The Apartment brewers long lost irish cousin 🤣🤣

[@Pazey1]

This isnt for distilling since the water would mix with the steam but wouldnt be difficult swapping the spray nozzle for a china special chiller :)