What's the best way to connect thermometer to your column?
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- Swill Maker
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What's the best way to connect thermometer to your column?
Currently I have a setup that's not too optimal, but basic and does the job. The top of my 2" pot still head is capped with a cork with a meat thermometer going through it. I want to replace this with a 2" cap and a drilled hole and use the same thermometer but using something with a much tighter seal. Any of y'all have some suggestions?
I was thinking of drilling a hole slightly bigger than the thermometer and using teflon tape, but I'm not sure if there's a better idea that I'm overlooking.
I was thinking of drilling a hole slightly bigger than the thermometer and using teflon tape, but I'm not sure if there's a better idea that I'm overlooking.
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15 gallon keg pot still
15 gallon Brew King boiler
2 35 gallon fermenters
15 gallon keg pot still
15 gallon Brew King boiler
2 35 gallon fermenters
- still_stirrin
- Master of Distillation
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
Hey steve (I don't know why I always want to call you "Jullian"),
Here's what I did: drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the riser (below the 90* elbow) and stuck a short length of 1/4" OD refrigeration tubing in and soldered it in place (sorta' like the liquid ouput on a Boka still head). You should give it a little angle downward towards the riser so it drains any condensate that might occur. Then, wrap a few twists of teflon tape around the thermometer/thermocouple and insert it into the 1/4" tubing. It seals very good (for me at least).
Good luck with it.
ss
Here's what I did: drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the riser (below the 90* elbow) and stuck a short length of 1/4" OD refrigeration tubing in and soldered it in place (sorta' like the liquid ouput on a Boka still head). You should give it a little angle downward towards the riser so it drains any condensate that might occur. Then, wrap a few twists of teflon tape around the thermometer/thermocouple and insert it into the 1/4" tubing. It seals very good (for me at least).
Good luck with it.
ss
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
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- Bootlegger
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
1/8 compression with Teflon tape
- Saltbush Bill
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
+1 .....like thisTater Patch Kid wrote:1/8 compression with Teflon tape
https://www.the-gas-safety.co/COMPRESSI ... mm-OD.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
Agreed, this works well. that's how I did it when I was using a type K thermocouple probe on my CCVM.Tater Patch Kid wrote:1/8 compression with Teflon tape
Last edited by RedwoodHillBilly on Tue Mar 21, 2017 7:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
+2, another thing to think about is the placement. When I built mine I put two thermostats, one on the boiler and one just above the dephlagmater (the norm at the time). Later there was a big debate where to put the one near the RC (above or below the RC). Both work but give different information. I believe the debate dealt with having it below the RC and one close to the boiler on the column allows you to tell when you have reached equalibrium. Again the debate was some 4-5 years ago and I believe it was debated for some time.Tater Patch Kid wrote:1/8 compression with Teflon tape
Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
This is one of the threads I was thinking about. Not exactly on topic but important when making your decision.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... r#p6959283
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... r#p6959283
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- Swill Maker
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
That looks like a great solution. I think that's what I'll be going with.Tater Patch Kid wrote:1/8 compression with Teflon tape
_______________________________
15 gallon keg pot still
15 gallon Brew King boiler
2 35 gallon fermenters
15 gallon keg pot still
15 gallon Brew King boiler
2 35 gallon fermenters
- der wo
- Master of Distillation
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
Same like me. It sounds a bit too easy, but it never leaked at all my four different still heads, where I had this thermometer connection.still_stirrin wrote:Here's what I did: drilled a 1/4" hole in the side of the riser (below the 90* elbow) and stuck a short length of 1/4" OD refrigeration tubing in and soldered it in place (sorta' like the liquid ouput on a Boka still head). You should give it a little angle downward towards the riser so it drains any condensate that might occur. Then, wrap a few twists of teflon tape around the thermometer/thermocouple and insert it into the 1/4" tubing. It seals very good (for me at least).
In this way, imperialism brings catastrophe as a mode of existence back from the periphery of capitalist development to its point of departure. - Rosa Luxemburg
- Yummyrum
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
I liked the compression Idea but went with the simple teflon wrapped shaft in a bit of flarred out 3/8"as I wanted to ensure the shaft only contacted the vapour and not the column wall.
On my Pot still , found this was the best way to connect it
On my Pot still , found this was the best way to connect it
My recommended goto .
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.ph ... ion_Theory
- der wo
- Master of Distillation
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
You can see, I wrap a small strip of ptfe tape around the connection. Just for sure.
In this way, imperialism brings catastrophe as a mode of existence back from the periphery of capitalist development to its point of departure. - Rosa Luxemburg
Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
put in a thermowell. never have an issue after that
I'm just the bank and the mule
post your still pics here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&t=66917
post your still pics here
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 16&t=66917
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- Master of Distillation
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Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
You can get thermometers that just wrap around the pipe.
Geoff
Geoff
The Baker
Re: What's the best way to connect thermometer to your colum
The Baker wrote:You can get thermometers that just wrap around the pipe.
Geoff
The down side to this Geoff is that you are not getting a true or accurate reading. The temp on the outside of the pipe and the temp of the vapor on the inside are not going to be the same. So if you are running reflux and and trying to hold azeo or even just hold solid equilibriem then the temp reading outside the pipe will squew it completely.
Yak
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.