Power controller for Turbo 500

[furious_george]

Those that own the Turbo 500 boiler, are any of you using this power controller from mile hi distilling? If so, I am curious how your experience has been? I'd like to avoid building my own and this is the only one I've found that looks turnkey. Although it is definitely pricey.

https://milehidistilling.com/product/st ... 2000-watt/

From the looks of it you just plug in the T500 power cord into the controller.

[Avo]

Those that own the Turbo 500 boiler, are any of you using this power controller from mile hi distilling? If so, I am curious how your experience has been? I'd like to avoid building my own and this is the only one I've found that looks turnkey. Although it is definitely pricey.

https://milehidistilling.com/product/st ... 2000-watt/

From the looks of it you just plug in the T500 power cord into the controller.

I bought my dual purpose still from Mile Hi. I don't want to do them out of business but it is pricey. It depends on whether you have oodles of cash and want the best, or you want to start of simply. I've posted a link to U.S. Ebay for voltage regulators, the 4000w versions are able to handle the T500. I used to have the T500 but upgraded to a conventional modular still. Think about joining the T500 owners group on Facebook, I still belong to them. They have about 700+ members and growing quickly every day. Lots of tips on modyfying etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4000W-AC-220V- ... SwwBNar1J5

[furious_george]

I bought my dual purpose still from Mile Hi. I don't want to do them out of business but it is pricey. It depends on whether you have oodles of cash and want the best, or you want to start of simply. I've posted a link to U.S. Ebay for voltage regulators, the 4000w versions are able to handle the T500. I used to have the T500 but upgraded to a conventional modular still. Think about joining the T500 owners group on Facebook, I still belong to them. They have about 700+ members and growing quickly every day. Lots of tips on modyfying etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/4000W-AC-220V- ... SwwBNar1J5

Thanks for the reply, Avo.

Did you get one of the milk jug stills from mile hi? I'm tempted to just save up and get one of the 16 gallon ones.

[Avo]

Thanks for the reply, Avo.

Did you get one of the milk jug stills from mile hi? I'm tempted to just save up and get one of the 16 gallon ones.

Yes, I got the 8 gallon milk can dual purpose still. - I love it, I think the size is good, it produces as much as I want. With the bigger boiler it means you won't be running it as much, I would miss regular runs. I made a mistake with the dual purpose column, it's not modular. If you go for the 'Pro version' it would be better. I ended up going for 'Distillex' parts, for the column - Spool tube, Dephlegmator,' T ' piece connector to enable thermometer. Elbow, shotgun condenser & parrot. These really compliment my milk churn which is great quality. I use a 3Kw element with voltage regulator. I have seperate cooling for Dephlegm & shotgun condensers, each having it's own aquarium pump using needle valve & ball valve taps for flow control - set in a 200 litre rain butt. Works very well. The T500 was great as a starter, but if your keen you will want to upgrade. The modular stills will virtually last forever - not so the T500 still & boiler (boiler element is not replaceable) I also run a 'carter head' gin basket & a soxhlet with mine. Good luck with your choice.

[freebase]

I find a power controller essential.
Its like trying to get on a moving horse otherwise.

I have been using this model successfully :
United Autiomation : QVR-TB-RFI

You have to wire it up, but lets assume that is within our ken.

Even for a strip run, you then have options; full temp or slow & able to do smaller cuts to note the very small changes.
Sometimes only 0.1ºC makes a difference.
Without this fine control, you just foot to the floor drive right through the subtleties.

Normal position is 100% until head temp=60ºC.
Then 30% for 15 minutes to keep head temp= or <78ºC.
Then approx 35% to go through the temp range slowly.
IMO, the T500 is unusable without this.

For a spirit run, again essential.
Otherwise you're just boiling away, hoping for the best.
Less hope; more control.