Sinking feeling....

[raven_r_one]

So after quite a few runs, today I charged the still, plugged everything, temps start rising, then I look over and the ammeter is reading zero....

It feels like the boiler is still getting hot, but - help - how can I test if things are ok? I'm curious with a multi-meter, shouldn't I be able to connect to the heating element's screws and see if there's still power coming it?

[raven_r_one]

I took my multi meter and can see that the element is getting 100+ volts, is it possible the ammeter died?

[Prairiepiss]

Yes its possible.

But just because you have 100v at the element. Doesn't mean the element is working. If its getting hot. I would say its working. Having volts to the element does say the controller is putting something out.

What kind of ammeter is it?

[raven_r_one]

A really crappy one - but it's been good to me so far.

You can see it from my posting elsewhere on the forums here:

http://homedistiller.org/forum/download ... &mode=view

I'm using an infrared thermometer on the outside of the boiler and keeping track, and things are dropping. Also, the thermometers in the column are also registering lower and lower temps.

So could be one of several things (IIUC):

1 - Heating element is done
2 - Ammeter is busted (not likely)
3 - Cheapo fotec SSR is kaput

My multimeter doesn't have an "amp" option, just ohms, so I'm not entirely sure how to test that one or more of these things are dead.

Any suggestions?

[raven_r_one]

Also - just a thought - I hooked back up a lamp, and I can see it's working just fine (I can dim/undim the bulb).

Think it's just the heating element?

I mean, if the SSR was fried, wouldn't the light not work at all?

[Prairiepiss]

Disconnect the element. And ohm it out. Check the resistance with your VOM. If its bad it will be open.

[raven_r_one]

Wow - thanks!

But you're speaking a different language.

VOM? Ohm it out? Help?

[raven_r_one]

With my multimeter set to Rx1 even, there is no reading.

Touching the leads together, I can see it bounce around.

I should be seeing _something_ with the heating element attached, right?

[Brutal]

VOM = Volt Ohm Meter. And it sounds like you blew an element. You will have to look at it but it likely ruined the batch as well.

[raven_r_one]

Cool - tested on another element that's too hard to swap into my still.

That showed it had resistance.

Brutal - how does the element ruin the batch?

(damm I'll be a sad puppy)

[T-Pee]

Sometimes an element literally blows out and craps pieces into the liquid. Personally I wouldn't consider the batch ruined with chunks in it. There's nothing hazardous in them.
It certainly sounds like the element went south though. Empty the boiler, install a new element (available at Home Depot) and get back to it.

tp

[raven_r_one]

I drained the boiler (back into the fermenters). Ran everything through a fine strainer (fine enough that whatever yeast was left in the fluid cloggs it).

I saw one or two black flecks that for sure didn't from from the wash.

Rinsing the boiler down, about to pull the element...

[raven_r_one]

Ok, pulled the element:

Volt meter still reading 0 resistance.

I cleaned it off, there are NO signs of visible damage.

It just blew?

[raven_r_one]

All my local home depot has are these:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Camco-5500-W ... olZ1z0u2k3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Is that ok? I'm used to the SUPER ULTRA LOW density ones (for my mash process).

[The KYChemist]

I have the exact same element in my set-up. It has worked flawlessly for all my runs. I even got it from home depot as well. You can see it in action, in my build thread... http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 50&t=44011

[raven_r_one]

Well shucks - I've already ordered the twisty camco one :-/

Maybe good to have an extra on hand?

Wish I knew why this one blew so fast. The twisty 5500 watt one (run at 110) in my cook pot has been used for nearly every still charge this puny 1500 watt element has distilled.

Thoughts?

[Brutal]

That element is a great choice. I have one as a back up in case my wavy one blows out.

If the surface of the element is not melted or anything then the wash should be fine. I don't know that anything inside the element is poisonous but I know when the element in my oven melted it stunk up the kitchen for a long time. I'd be hard pressed to drink that smell.

Holy shit what is all that crap on your element? yeast or what?? That is ridiculous. When you cleaned it was it mushy or crusty? Did it smell like anything?

[raven_r_one]

Ha - yep - yeast/wash burnt on.

Generally its never that bad. I'm guessing when the element went south, the temp ramped up. Also drank/"inspected" a glen carin glass. Seems fine.

I've never seen it so bad before either.

I'm guessing the wavey (or even the other one mentioned in this thread) would be less concentrated.

[rad14701]

That crust most likely served as external insulation which caused the element to overheat and fail internally... That's a lot of yeast...

[raven_r_one]

Rad - my thoughts exactly. As I drained back into the fermenters, the yeast clogged the screen on my filter.

With the new element, I'm gonna strain one more time and be more careful.

Also - much more current flowing through that stubbe little bastard than the super low density one that is coming (even if it'll be less powerful).

[T-Pee]

With the new element, I'm gonna strain one more time and be more careful.

Why not just let it clear? You in a hurry?

tp

[raven_r_one]

Between work/two kids and enough sleepless nights, I only have moving windows of time.

Now it should clear some overnight (and it was clear before I started squeezing the grains).

I won't have another window until tomorrow night then nothing for 2 weeks :-/

[rad14701]

Why not do it properly by letting it clear adequately and then rack the wash into the boiler...??? Or even double clearing and racking... Pouring stirs up the trub no matter how careful you think you are... And very few filters will stop yeast from making their way into the boiler... You're using electric so start adjusting your practices accordingly... You either have time for this hobby or you don't...

[Brutal]

I have limited time too. Here's a trick I found that helps clear a wash a little quicker. When you rack from your fermenter use a clear hose so you can see if you are drawing out white cloudy mess. Start racking with the hose held just an inch or so under the surface of the liquid in your fermenter. If you let the bubbling stop for a couple days without disturbing it you should be getting a mostly clear yellow/brownish liquid depending on what you're making. Rack into a few separate containers and get all the clear out that you can and separate it. When its down to where you are pulling white yeasty mix try to isolate all the yeasty mess in one bucket separate from the others. Leave some head space in this bucket, and here's the trick: pour a few jars of feints in with the mess bucket. This will lower the specific gravity of the liquid mess and murder any remaining live yest causing it all to fall out of suspension quickly. In 1 day it will compress all that mess into about an inch at the bottom. You can leave this bucket up on a table or something so you don't have to move it after its clear. Moving it will start the crap mixing back in. Now rack from this bucket starting at the top and stop as soon as you draw out any white crap. You will be throwing away a very small amount of wash this was and that's perfectly fine.

Hope this helps.

[The KYChemist]

+1, on what Rad said. I don't get to run, as much as I'd like, but I make sure I don't cut corners. I would rather have to wait a couple of weeks, than hope my wash clears in two days. Because of this, my element still looks like it did, when I took it out of the package.

[raven_r_one]

Ok - 24 hours later and I racked through a super fine strainer.

MUCH of it was clear and I cut it short when the yeast cake was visible.

Smells fine, tastes fine (maybe a bit like toast, but not burnt).

Running 7 gallons now.

Thanks all for the advice.

Next time, I'll ferment and then rack over to a secondary and let it sit (1 day? 2 days?) then rack into another fermenter and fill the still a few gallons at a time to make sure I'm as clear as I can be.

All - thanks again for all the patience!

[The KYChemist]

I have heard two days can be adequate, but I let mine go for 3-5, just to be on the safe side. Had one go for two weeks, with no I'll effects

[Brutal]

If you use the technique I posted 1 day is more than enough. Many times overnight will be enough.