valved reflux running too hot?

[Andyfink]

Hey everyone I was running my still tonight and I couldn't get the temperature below 179. Am I doing something wrong cause everything I have read says you want 172. I had a charge of 5 gallon of 40% in there plus one gallon of water.
My setup is a 15 gallon keg.
1500 watt heating element no controller yet
Thanks for any help
Here's a pic

[ipee7ABV]

temp varies based on pressure and elevation. dont try to control the temp control the drip rate by either opening the valve all the way and +-the heat or blast the heat and control drips by the valve. i like controling the heat the best on that kind of still. i feel if i blast the heat and use the valve it smears.

[ipee7ABV]

all most forgot
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19630
http://homedistiller.org/theory/theory/strong" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
your 172 is for 100% alcohol

[RumBrewer]

Looks like your thermometer might be in the wrong place?

temp varies based on pressure and elevation.

Yeah... but unless you're operating in a sub, beneath sea level, you're not going to run HOTTER.
Is the red deal your thermometer?
You had Cold water running to the offset head right?
First run? First Spirit Run?

all most forgot
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19630
http://homedistiller.org/theory/theory/strong" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
your 172 is for 100% alcohol

Excellent point!~

[johnhopper1957]

What ipee said, it does'nt matter what your temp reads, you are looking for it to stabalise then when you are in the hearts you are watching to see when the temp starts to creep up, you know your coming into the tails.

Very rarely will you get an accurate thermometer unless it has been calibrated, comes with calibration certificate etc = expensive and it's not needed.

[Braz]

I have a calibrated thermometer on my Boka and mine ALWAYS reads 183-184 during a run. Doesn't concern me because all I am looking for is temp change, not an actual temp.

[rad14701]

You need a power controller... Your rig was running as best as it could with the excess power being pumped into it... I'm surprised you has as good a luck as you had...

[Coaster]

@ Andyfink,

You have your thermometer located in the wrong place.

You want to be monitoring the vapor temperature at the top of the column not when the vapor is coming immediately out of the boiler entering the column.

Regards,
Coaster

[Andyfink]

OK thanks everyone. Don't know what I would do without this site. I will finish building my controller. Yea it was steady at 179 so that's fine. And my thermometer is at the top of my column were it should be.
thanks!

[fullhouse]

ahh yeah i see the thermo is hanging from the wire

[RumRaider]

+1 on what Braz said

[ipee7ABV]

i have 2 temp gauges on my offset head, one by the pot and one by the condenser. the one by the pot is just so i can see the temp change. the other is in my condenser so i can keep the temp between 130-170. i maybe wrong but those are temps i like to keep track of.

[johnhopper1957]

I know a fella who has a thermometer in the boiler, another one half way up the column and another one near the off take. I think it's a bit crazy but he is one of those OCD type of people lol. Keeps him happy which is all that matters.

[myles]

I know a fella who has a thermometer in the boiler, another one half way up the column and another one near the off take. I think it's a bit crazy but he is one of those OCD type of people lol. Keeps him happy which is all that matters.

1/2 way up the column is a reasonable idea as it gives you a bit of advanced warning of what is going on, at the top is neccesary, but the one in the boiler is the awkward one. I never bother with one in the boiler charge and have only used one in the headspace during a stripping run - to decide when to turn off the power.

I can understand using more if you were going to automate, which could explain the one in the boiler. A lot of folks will start to warm up on low power untill the wash starts to circulate, before increasing the power. It is to protect an internal element if one is being used.

I always use one to monitor the glycol temperature in the double boiler (sorry slightly off topic )