4
Connect the hot liquor to the inlet of the AutoSparge
tm
(the ½” NPT end)
via gravity feed or with a pump. Do not exceed 10 PSI to prevent leaking
past the float valve. Fig 3 shows a typical gravity connection.
Caution:
Make sure the valve on your tank or the pump is in the OFF
position or the hot liquor will flow into your
mash/lauter tun!
Prior to doughing in, loosen the adjustment knob thumb screw (see Fig 4) and move the float to the fully upward position
and hang the hose on the outside of the pot so they aren’t in your way while you add your grains. After filling your mash
tun and doughing in your grains, use the adjustment knob to set the float position. Simply loosen the thumb screw and
rotate the float arm to the desired position and tighten the screw finger tight. Lift up on the stainless float until it stops –
this will be the liquid level control point will be where the float shuts off the flow (about the middle of the ball). If it is too
high or would hit the lid of your pot, move it to a lower position.
Caution:
If the stainless float ball hits the lid of your mash tun it will prevent the float from shutting off the flow and will
overflow your pot!
Level adjustment: adjust the desired position of the liquid by loosening the thumbscrew and repositioning it using the
teeth on the arm faces. It is not necessary to completely remove the screw and risk dropping it into the mash. If you
cannot find an acceptable position you may remove the thumb screw completely and flip the float arm over using the set
of teeth on the opposite side. They are rotated ½ tooth on each side to allow for adjustments in 7.5 deg increments.
Fig 4 shows the float during a mash. Note that in this pic the unit is being used in a RIMS system so wort may be flowing.
Also note that the outlet hose with the foam float is simply laid on top of the grain bed where it will float and maintain a
gently flow over the top of the mash. Fig 5 shows the flow during lauter. Note the gentle distribution or hot liquor over
the grain bed.
Tip: while it is not very common due to the large passages in the valve, grain particles may, on occasion, get stuck. To clear
them, simply press down on the ball momentarily with a spoon to fully open the valve and the flow will eject the grain
particles.
Operation:
The AutoSparge
tm
is elegantly simple to operate. It does not rely on complicated sprinkling systems that aerate the hot
liquor and require constant monitoring to keep from overflowing or running dry.
The AutoSparge
tm
, on the other hand, does the level monitoring for you automatically. It gently distributes the hot liquor
over the grain bed while maintaining 1-2” of hot liquor over the grain bed at all times to reduce channeling (shunting) in
the grain bed. The stainless ball simply floats on top of the liquid in your tun and as the level raises it closes a valve internal
to the brass body and reduces the flow of water entering the tun. Conversely, if the level is
lowering, it opens the valve letting it enter the tun at a faster rate.
Fig. 3
