I bought the Brewhaus pro series II

[Noob]

I didn't know anyone into distilling and hadn't read much on the subject and just kind of jumped in with both feet. From what I've read on this board it looks like that was a mistake, I should have made my own and had a superior still.

As it is, I can't put together the funds to do so at this point so I'm stuck with it for a while.

I'm doing 25L sugar washes with turbo yeast. I let the wash ferment for two weeks and when it's totally finished bubbling, siphon into the boiler, and set the boiler on a small one-burner propane camping stove in the kitchen.

Until now, I've been using a kitchen meat thermometer stuck through the rubber bung on the top to measure the temperature at the top of the column. It projects half an inch into the column. I recently got a digital thermometer that has a couple functions I want to use. I can set an alarm to go off when the temperature gets to whatever I set it to, which I think would be nice if I knew what the hell I was doing.

I run water through the condenser and then through the top of the column rather than having a splitter send fresh water through both places. Is that a mistake? Should I get a splitter? The volume of water is very high. I have an aquarium pump sending a lot of water through. I hear you just need a trickle... I have a flood going. I keep a large pot of water in the sink and just reuse that water while letting a trickle of cold water flow into the pot to keep it cool. I've never kept track of the temp of that water... should I?

I have a small propane burner that I set the boiler on. It uses small disposable cans of propane that burn for about an hour or so til they're out of juice, and then I have to pop in another can. It takes me about 15 seconds to swap it out so I doubt that's much of a big deal, but it's a pain in the ass to sit there and watch it or listen to it stop hissing. I have no idea what temperature it's burning at... I never thought to check.... I just had it going full blast.

I discard the first 150mL, and then let it run til it's just dripping out a trickle. Now I see that I should not have been collecting that much, that I'm picking up a huge amount of tails. How do I measure to see where the tails begin and what do I do with the alcohol that's left in the wash? Should I collect it in another container and recycle it in another batch?

My product is 160 proof. I'd rather it be closer to 190 if I can ratchet it up a notch.

I've been filtering it at 160 proof through a Britta pitcher, which now I see is not so hot. I should be diluting to 100 proof before filtering (unless I figure out how to dial in the distillation correctly and then I don't need to filter).

My purpose is to make neutral spirits as cheaply and quickly as possible and then flavor with essences I buy or make. So, tear me apart. What am I doing wrong, where can I improve on what I'm doing?