Learning about Electric

[grgrlee]

Hello everyone,
I have a 2 inch pot still similar to Samohon's plans, on a 5 gal boiler on a kitchen stove. Currently it takes me about 3-3.5 hours to complete a 3-4 gallon charge. I've read that people generally say increasing still diameter and heat will increase take off speed. In regards to diameter, I think I have heard from several people that increasing diameter won't work, and I would like to get more comfortable with my pot still before I upgrade. In terms of increasing heat, I would most likely have to go with an electric element as I distill in my apartment. I have read several of the threads about going electric, but most of them have gone over my head due to me not being very mechanically or physically oriented and having no experience. In short, I am not really understanding circuit diagrams and different things most people here expect one to know. Is there anyone like me who had no idea how circuits worked prior to installing an element? If so what are the best resources for learning about circuits and grounding and voltage. My grandfather was an engineer and I am studying at a university so there are definitely resources around me I could utilize, but I was thinking more in terms of books or websites as I would prefer not to involve people. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[rad14701]

Turn up the heat...!!! It's a pot still so run it like one...

[grgrlee]

I have it as high as it can go. As I mentioned I am very ignorant about physical and mechanical stuff, but my guess is that my stovetop heating element is a little bit weak in terms of BTUs. I have never been able to achieve a broken stream even pushing it as fast as I can. Just more rapid drops...

[Prairiepiss]

Plus 1. Turn it up. Drips are for reflux stills. Not pot stills.

Posting while you were.

How big is your kitchen stove? It's gota be very small to not give you enough. Dint think I've ever seen a stove that wouldn't push enough for that still.

[T-Pee]

Sounds like an electric stove that cycles. That won't work properly. You need a constant heat source.

tp

[S-Cackalacky]

If you're pushing on the stovetop as high as it will go and still not getting enough heat, it would make sense that you need a different heat source. If you can afford it, you could buy a ready made, turn-key controller for a few hundred dollars. You can install a heating element in several different ways. If you are using something like a stock pot as a boiler and have open access to the inside, it's possible to do a weldless/solderless installation of a heating element - takes a few basic tools. That's how I did mine. I didn't have a lot of skills coming into this hobby, but by pure will and determination I somehow ended up with a good functioning 5 gallon pot still. The skills I learned in the process will carry me forward into the next build.

The main thing at this point is to not get discouraged. If you aren't getting good enough results with what you have to work with at this point, set it aside and dig in your heels and start with the research you need to do to get to where you want to be. There are a hundred different ways to do the same thing. It's up to you to find the one that works for you. It's all here.

[rad14701]

Are you over-cooling the liebig by running excessive coolant flow through it, causing shock cooling...???

Did you pack the pot column thinking it would increase purity only to have it impede performance rather than running an open pot column...???

[Bushman]

Are you over-cooling the liebig by running excessive coolant flow through it, causing shock cooling...???

This is a common error, feel the exit flow should tell you. If it is coming out cold cut the water flow to the liebig, on my still it comes out with with an average temp (not hot but not cold).

[grgrlee]

Thanks for the responses everyone.
PP, I'm no expert but my stove seems regular sized. I am living in apartments close to my university. A lot of other utilities are a little weaker, such as the AC. But for the most part, it looks regular sized just doesn't have the output it should. Basically, I am wanting to build your harbor freight controller but I don't really have the know how. This post is just to scratch people's heads and see how they became familiar with building electric. I know many people will tell me to just read the forum, but so far every post I've read presumes the reader knows about resistance, circuits and grounding and can read diagrams. I was thinking more in terms of a book or website that someone used to help them become familiar. I have no plans on upgrading immediately now, just a general idea in the next year or two, and I would like to use that time to find out what can build and how to build it.

Thanks S-C, sounds like something I could use. Did you build a controller? I would prefer to make one over buy one as I feel it might be cheaper and I would like to learn just for the sake of knowing how to do it.

I don't think i'm running the water too hard. Since we're paying for water and I want to minimize it, I run the water as low as it can go and still have the liebig cool to the touch. This point the output on my lines looks like what I should be getting from my stillhead in terms of flow rate.

[grgrlee]

Oh and Rad didn't see your second question. I haven't done any packing, I'm after flavor right now and I figured if I was after higher purity I could just double distill. Which I will be doing for the first time next week with my accumulated ujssm low wines if i get some time.

[biker geek]

If you have access to a 240v outlet, the Stilldragon.com kits are pretty easy to assemble and mine works really well. I have read several post about using a router speed controller, the but I remember the controllers need a bigger heatsink.

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

If you have access to a 240v outlet, the Stilldragon.com kits are pretty easy to assemble and mine works really well. I have read several post about using a router speed controller, the but I remember the controllers need a bigger heatsink.

You don't necessarily need 240. I built my kit for 120. Works great, it's just half supply, same instructions. And, you can buy a thick gauge extension wire, and just cut it in half (or 1/3 and 2/3...whatever works for the setup).

[grgrlee]

Thanks, if I decide I am too lazy to learn how to make a controller
Maybe I will just buy that one. Seems pretty cheap too.

[cranky]

I built a super simple and cheap SSR-40 controller from info I put together from here (I think) http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =85&t=3342 on 220 (same voltage as your stove and if you have an electric dryer) that is capable of getting 4 gallons of 50 Degree water to boiling in under 10 minutes with a 3500W element and 10 gallons to boiling in under 20 Minutes with a 5500W element and strip a 10 gallon wash as fast as 1Qt every 4.5 Minutes and is as bare bones simple as you can get.
I just took pictures of it and if you like I will try to get them labeled and diagrammed and posted either here or on that thread or maybe start my own thread when I find some time, I'll let you know when it happens, but if you remove gauges and lights and bells and whistles and think about what is the most bare bones basic controller you can build it really is very simple Just always believe you can do anything and even though there may be failures you will find you can. Electricity is actually quite simple for the most part, Just remember, Black to Black, White to white and copper to ground or copper. When you get into 220 Red or Blue are also Hot (they carry voltage). There are a few other things when you get into more complicated circuits but that's really the basics you absolutely need to know. Plus if you keep your eyes out for harbor freight coupons in magazines or give them your email address you can get multimeters and screwdrivers for free!

[cranky]

OK got my controller post done. It is the simplest controller you can build. Here it is.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 5#p7231415

[grgrlee]

Thanks so much cranky,
this was exactly what I was looking for!

[cranky]

Thanks so much cranky,
this was exactly what I was looking for!

your welcome, It was exactly what I wish I had been able to find when I was trying to sort it all out and I'm glad I could help.