First Distill

ginzo · Post by **ginzo** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:11 pm

Okay, I am getting to distill whatever it is I have in my fermenting bucket. I have a sinle power electric still from stillspirits, the super reflux. Should I set the thing going and let it heay up to boiling,l collecting headsm tails metc (seperating them, of course) Or is it better to get it to a temp like 172.5 and keep it there, possibly with a thermostat? Or should I get a control so I can heat it slowly? Soeey for the stupid questions.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 5:49 pm

I am not familiar with your still, but you say it has a single element therefore you have one and one only choice. Turn it on and let the universe dictate what temp it opperates at. You have no other choice !

You must understand you do not choose the temp the wash boils at, the universe does depending on the constituants of your wash.

Your only input can be the RATE of boiling and hence the velocity of vapour up your column, but with your still you don't even have that facility because you have no variable control over the wattage of your element.

Grumpy old man.
Aust VLM, all Cu volt/cntl sugar/turbo.

Sorry guys I've been try to register for days but it just wont proceed.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:32 pm

Anonymous wrote:I am not familiar with your still, but you say it has a single element therefore you have one and one only choice. Turn it on and let the universe dictate what temp it opperates at. You have no other choice !

You must understand you do not choose the temp the wash boils at, the universe does depending on the constituants of your wash.

Your only input can be the RATE of boiling and hence the velocity of vapour up your column, but with your still you don't even have that facility because you have no variable control over the wattage of your element.

Grumpy old man.
Aust VLM, all Cu volt/cntl sugar/turbo.

Sorry guys I've been try to register for days but it just wont proceed.

But I do have a choice. I can

a: Turn it on an let the :universe: set the temp for me
bL I can look at the thermometer and when it gets to s specific temperature unplug it and plug it back in when it drops below that temp that I want.
c: I can attacj a device that automatically reads the temp and shuts off at a specofied yemp aka a thermostat.

Which of these three options is best for me?

ginzo · Post by **ginzo** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:36 pm

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am not familiar with your still, but you say it has a single element therefore you have one and one only choice. Turn it on and let the universe dictate what temp it opperates at. You have no other choice !

You must understand you do not choose the temp the wash boils at, the universe does depending on the constituants of your wash.

Your only input can be the RATE of boiling and hence the velocity of vapour up your column, but with your still you don't even have that facility because you have no variable control over the wattage of your element.

Grumpy old man.
Aust VLM, all Cu volt/cntl sugar/turbo.

Sorry guys I've been try to register for days but it just wont proceed.
But I do have a choice. I can

a: Turn it on an let the :universe: set the temp for me
bL I can look at the thermometer and when it gets to s specific temperature unplug it and plug it back in when it drops below that temp that I want.
c: I can attacj a device that automatically reads the temp and shuts off at a specofied yemp aka a thermostat.

Which of these three options is best for me?

Another choice is to go to home depot and get a device that plugs in between the wall and the still that varies the power on the heating element.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:44 pm

If you guys want to waste your time OK, but I'm not going to.

Very grumpy old man

linw · Post by **linw** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:54 pm

It would be a good idea to learn more about distilling because your questions indicate a lack of basic knowledge. The homedistiller site has heaps of good info.

On the SS still, its element is designed for the still and doesn't need controlling in the way you are indicating. You certainly can't turn the power on and off. And if you did, all that would happen is that the wash would stop boiling and you would have nothing to condense. In addition, like Guest says, you can't control the temp like this. (See para 1).

You control the still by varying the reflux. On this still this is done by varying the flow of water through the column cooling jacket. 400 ml/minute is about right.

If you have a decent amount of alcohol in the wash the temp will stabilise at 84 deg C but will slowly climb after a period.

ginzo · Post by **ginzo** » Fri Jun 10, 2005 8:58 pm

linw wrote:It would be a good idea to learn more about distilling because your questions indicate a lack of basic knowledge. The homedistiller site has heaps of good info.

On the SS still, its element is designed for the still and doesn't need controlling in the way you are indicating. You certainly can't turn the power on and off. And if you did, all that would happen is that the wash would stop boiling and you would have nothing to condense. In addition, like Guest says, you can't control the temp like this. (See para 1).

You control the still by varying the reflux. On this still this is done by varying the flow of water through the column cooling jacket. 400 ml/minute is about right.

If you have a decent amount of alcohol in the wash the temp will stabilise at 84 deg C but will slowly climb after a period.

.

Forgive my ignorance. I will set the still and let er rip and see what happens. Will report back tommorrow.