Blichmann Engineering AutoSparge

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Summary

Assembly & Installation

Important Safety Guidance

Defines cautions for equipment damage and warnings for injury or death.

Installing the Float Ball Assembly

Visual guide for attaching and securing the float ball assembly to the unit.

Installation in a Brew Pot

Procedure for drilling and mounting the AutoSparge in a metal brew pot.

Installation into a Cooler

Steps for drilling and fitting the AutoSparge into a plastic cooler.

Operation

Setting and Adjusting the Float

How to adjust the float arm to set the desired liquid level control point.

Operational Safety and Tips

Important safety notes and practical advice for smooth operation.

Automatic Level Maintenance

Describes how the AutoSparge automatically maintains liquid level during wort draining.

Maintenance and Warranty

Cleaning Procedures

Instructions for cleaning the AutoSparge unit after use.

Product Warranty Details

Outlines the limited warranty, limitations, and legal disclaimers for the product.

The Blichmann Engineering AutoSparge™ is a lauter tun level control device designed to automate the sparging process in brewing. It ensures a consistent liquid level over the grain bed, which helps to reduce channeling and improve sparging efficiency. The device is suitable for installation in most brew pots or coolers with a minimum of 12 inches of inside clearance for the float.

Function Description:

The AutoSparge™ operates on a simple float valve mechanism. A stainless steel ball floats on top of the liquid in the lauter tun. As the liquid level rises, the float closes a valve inside the brass body, reducing the flow of hot liquor into the tun. Conversely, if the liquid level lowers, the float opens the valve, allowing more hot liquor to enter at a faster rate. This automatic level monitoring system gently distributes hot liquor over the grain bed, maintaining a consistent 1-2 inches of liquid over the grains. This prevents aeration of the hot liquor, which can be detrimental to the brewing process, and eliminates the need for constant manual monitoring to prevent overflowing or running dry.

Important Technical Specifications:

Installation Requirements: Requires a 13/16-inch mounting hole (7/8-inch also works but is slightly large) in the pot or cooler. Minimum 12 inches of inside clearance for the float.
Hot Liquor Inlet: 1/2-inch NPT connection.
Pressure Limit: Designed for gravity feed or pump systems; maximum pressure should not exceed 10 PSI to prevent leaking past the float valve. It is not intended for use with city/well water pressure as an automated pot filler.
Materials: Uses food-grade materials where the product touches the beverage. The float ball is stainless steel, and the body is brass.

Usage Features:

Automated Level Control: Automatically maintains a consistent liquid level (1-2 inches) over the grain bed during sparging, reducing channeling and improving efficiency.
Easy Installation: Can be installed in brew pots by drilling a 3/16-inch pilot hole and enlarging it to 13/16 inches with a step drill or using a knockout punch. For coolers, the process involves drilling a 1½-inch pilot hole, cutting a 2 to 2-1/4-inch hole in the outer wall (in reverse to prevent grabbing plastic), removing foam, and then enlarging the inner pilot hole to 13/16 inches.
Adjustable Float Position: The float arm's position can be adjusted using a thumb screw and a series of teeth on the arm faces. This allows for precise setting of the liquid level control point. The arm can be flipped over for additional adjustment increments (7.5-degree increments).
Pre-Dough-in Positioning: Before doughing in, the float can be moved to a fully upward position and the hose hung outside the pot to keep them out of the way.
Grain Particle Clearing: In the rare event that grain particles get stuck in the valve, pressing down on the float ball momentarily with a spoon will fully open the valve and eject the particles.
Lauter Process Integration: Once mashing is complete, the hot liquor tank valve and/or pump can be fully opened, and the mash/lauter tun valve opened to the desired wort drain rate. The AutoSparge™ will automatically adjust hot liquor flow to match the drain rate, maintaining a constant liquid level over the grain bed.
Raking Recommendation: Periodically raking the top 1/3 of the mash every 15 minutes during lauter is recommended to maintain a smooth and efficient process, without disturbing the lower grain bed or clarity of the wort.

Maintenance Features:

Cleaning: The AutoSparge™ should be cleaned with any brass/stainless compatible cleaner and allowed to dry thoroughly. It is not necessary to remove the unit from the pot for cleaning, but removing the ball/arm assembly (by removing the thumb screw) can facilitate easier cleaning of the mash/lauter tun interior.
Durability: Constructed with robust materials for long-term service.

Safety Information:

Caution (Equipment Damage/Performance): Sections labeled "Caution" highlight practices that can lead to equipment damage or unsatisfactory performance. For example, ensuring the valve on the tank or pump is OFF before connecting the hot liquor, and not exceeding 10 PSI to prevent leaks. Also, ensuring the float ball does not hit the lid of the mash tun to prevent overflow.
Warning (Serious Injury/Death): Sections labeled "Warning" indicate practices that, if not followed, can lead to serious injury or death. Users are advised to read and understand these sections completely.
California Proposition 65 Warning: The product contains or may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.