Overflow siphon: varieties and tips for choosing

Overflow siphon belongs to the category of products widely used in home winemaking and brewing. With its help, the raw material is transferred to separate containers from the container in which the fermentation was carried out. A large assortment of such devices of industrial and handicraft production is on sale. But how do you know which characteristics of electric, automatic and manual overflow models are most important? How to choose a siphon with filter and pump and avoid common mistakes made by inexperienced brewers?

The product, called an overflow siphon, is a tubular structure along which the brewed beer or aged wine is moved into a prepared container. Its main purpose is to prevent the contact of raw materials with oxygen, which can provoke the active growth of pathogenic microflora. In addition, this device helps to carry out various manipulations with fermentation products without risking moving the yeast sediment into a clean container.

The use of overflow siphons is carried out at the stage of yeast sediment formation, and it is not worth delaying the procedure. For large beverage production, it is recommended to use models with an electric or manual pump. The simplest options use the principle of communicating vessels and require some effort on the part of the winemaker himself. The design, regardless of the modification, contains tubular elements through which the content is transported.

All existing types of overflow siphons can be divided into the following categories.

• Manual- for overflow by gravity with a filter to prevent sediment from entering new containers.
• Purge - automatic, which allows for both sediment removal and liquid overflow. The kit should include a cone-shaped nozzle for fixing in the neck. Such siphons are completed with a telescopic tube, which allows for top filling from tanks and barrels of large volumes, which cannot be turned over.

• Electrical - equipped with built-in pumping equipment. This equipment, connected to a battery-powered electric motor, is submerged in a container as part of a siphon and is used to move liquid media. After start-up, the equipment begins to work, distilling beer or wine into containers prepared for it.
• Connected to the pump. The performance of such systems varies in the range from 420 to 5 thousand l / h. Supported nozzle diameters are 10–30 mm, which makes it possible to provide a convenient selection of equipment for professional or private winemaking.

Choosing a convenient version of the siphon for use, it is worth considering not only the characteristics of the environment, but also the volume of product production. A powerful pump is rarely required for a home distillery. But if the beverage production process is put on stream, it is still worth taking care of automation. Options for lightweight and compact overflow siphons with a pump allow you to remove mash or wine material from the sediment without additional effort and cost.

The presence of a built-in filter also helps to mechanize manual labor. It guarantees thorough cleaning of raw materials from coarse fractions, makes it possible to immediately exclude possible clogging of pipes and other elements during the overflow process. Compact systems for home use look like a bottle attachment. When buying, make sure that the siphon has a collapsible design. This makes it much easier to flush the system after use. Materials must be safe, made from ingredients approved for use in the food industry.

In the process of transferring the management of the winemaking process to the in-line production of homemade alcoholic beverages, the problem of high-quality transfer of raw materials into bottles and other types of containers is becoming more and more acute. And here high-quality overflow equipment - compact or mobile - makes it possible to significantly simplify the life of the owner of the distillation apparatus. When choosing a suitable siphon option, you should give preference to automatic or electric models. The presence of batteries and an electric motor allows you to ensure the optimal ratio of speed and quality of moving media.

In the next video, you will find an overview of the Easy Start Medium automatic overflow siphon.