Why can't I run a pot still by temperature ?

[Pikey]

On another thread [Edit - This thread about Urea http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 33&t=12896 ]

Oh dear, a couple of points here -

a) you cannot pot still a wash by temperature - it doesn't work like that.

huh? I just spent a day making 2.5 litres of ethanol , works fine what are you talking about?
.

You say your purity was guessed at 70-80 % and you say you distilled 2.5 litres of ethanol at a head temp between 78 and 82 ?

You were using turbo yeast and how much sugar in what size of wash ?

I presume you know you had got all the alcohol out because no more "stuff was coming out of the condenser - right ?

Yes I said that, unless someone knows a way test purity without the washes original specific gravity I cannot say for sure. Its jet fuel man seriously. I cannot keep the temps any tighter with the mantle I own, need one with digital temp probe.

immaterial, but if you must know 16kg in a roughly 60 litre tote, 20%abv turbo and about a cup of nutrient ( I figure it came out around 15% and I am distilling off about 10%)

No I did not get all the alcohol out, ran 1.5-2 litre batches and distilled about 200ml (+/- 20ml) off then cooled, siphoned, discard and reloaded. My mantle and boiling flask are only 2 litres so it takes some time and effort but am able to run it steady. Thermometer goes in one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/24-40-Glass-The ... 1519704116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
at the top of this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300mm-24-40-Vig ... 1028407221" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
stuck to one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2000ml-24-40-Si ... 1277748409" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
the condenser is one of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/410mm-24-40-Joi ... 2466721088" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Does that help you explain to me why I "cannot" have achieved what I am standing here staring at? And why am I even having this conversation... it has zero to do with the my questions.

der wo has suggested we take this to another thread and the discussion may be of use to some other newbies too -

This thread is meant to be educational and is meant as an explanation thread, not a vehicle for belittling anyone.

Just finishing a run, back soon.