The dosing pump on my DE filter had stopped working. The plunger is moving, and it sounds like it is working, but its noy dosing any DE. The level in the dosing tank is not going down, and I dont see any DE being pumped into the stream of beer. Any ideas on how I should proceed?
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DE Dosing pump problems
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First, ensure there is no blockage in the dosing line. It may be clogged with a clump of DE. Fill the dosing tank with cold water and try the dosing pump. With the dosing pump running, screw the micrometer knob all the way in (minimum dose), then all the way out (maximum dose). Does it work now? If not your dosing pump seals are probably shot.Cheers & I'm out!
David R. Pierce
NABC & Bank Street Brewhouse
POB 343
New Albany, IN 47151
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It would be helpful if the brand or model of the dosing pump is provided. Failure of the dosing pump is related to a bad seal somewhere, including the cylinder seals. Check any washers/seals in the intake and exit lines of the dosing pump. If there are check valves, make sure they are not stuck or clogged. Some cylinders for the pump will have a bleed-off valve for air in the cylinder. Make sure this is not clogged and that it is sealed well. Leaks will allow the dosing pump to suck air and not create pressure for the fluid.
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Thanks for the help guys. It is on a Della, the dosing pump itself says Lafert. I will get into it and see what I can find. In the mean time, hypothetically speaking, if I had to filter, can you do it without a dosing pump? The DE in the bell should still filter the beer to some degree....correct?Tim Butler
Empire Brewing Co.
Syracuse, NY
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Don't waste anymore time on crap Italian dosing pumps. The irritation value is way too high. I gave up on mine and threw a little piston Shurflo Beer Ace II beer pump on the wall (I had a bunch of them lying around), adapted the inlet from the tank and outlet to the beer line and I've had zero problems ever since. I caustic and acid clean it and it just keeps on working plus I have 10 more in reserve.
If you want to do it right check out the Verderflex Peristaltic pump site. It's what real beer filters use to get absolute control over dosing rates and don't fail. Little ones for a 2-5 sq. m. filters are dirt cheap. I would recommend this over my answer above but hey...it worked and continues to work and didn't cost me a cent. Email me and I can probably send you a pic because I sure don't know how to post one here. Cheers!
Rob Creighton
Brewer
Grand River Brewing
rob@grandriverbrewing.ca
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Tim-
My De filter unit uses a Lafert dosing pump. I don't think you can filter the beer without continuously dosing with DE. You will encounter a blinded filter bed due to the structure of DE. It sounds like you are able to get some DE to the filter screens. When does the dosing pump give you trouble?
Rob-
I agree that the Italian dosing pumps are crap, that the irritation value is way too high, and that the replacement parts are absurdly expensive. I would like to see how you rigged the beer pump to dose the De. I will PM you an e-mail.
Joe
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I'm not familiar with the Della filters, but we are able to dose without a dose pump on our Velo. The procedure is to sightly restrict the "dirty" beer supply while slightly opening the dose tank outlet valve. Assuming your filter is configured with the dose tank outlet before the product pump inlet, you can manipulate the valves to draw mainly dirty beer and slowly drain the dose tank. If the valves are not positioned right you will overflow the dose tank, but when it's right you get a nice venturi draw. You still want to fix the dose pump because running DE through your product pump will tear it up eventually. It makes more sense when you see it, but I hope that helps.
Steve Trese
Boulder Beer
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Dosing pump thread resurrection
We are having some issues with the dosing pump on our 4 sq m Alpha DE filter (criveller) failing to pump...mainly when pressures are higher in the bell. There was some good discussion in this old 2008 thread about other peristaltic pumps such as these:
I was curious if anyone has replaced their Italian manufactured dosing pump with this or something similar?
Thanks,
Christian
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Della Toffola
The Diaphragms can fail and they are easily replaced.Warren Turner
Industrial Engineering Technician
HVACR-Electrical Systems Specialist
Moab Brewery
The Thought Police are Attempting to Suppress Free Speech and Sugar coat everything. This is both Cowardice and Treason given to their own kind.
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I had a new Velo where the set screw was not tightened down to attach the diaphram to the piston/rod. So everything appeared to be working, pistons pumping, diaphram fine on inspection until I finally saw that set screw which was only visible for a short window as the piston went back and forth. Bad design and frustrating. If you have that type of setup be sure to use some loctite on the set screw.
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