? about boiler charge

[EricTheRed]

The suggestion: After pulling foreshots slowly, set the power level for the collection rate you want and I leave the power alone for the remainder of the run.

The advantage of a consistent power level is that your jar collection will be a consistent progression of smells/tastes from jar 1 to the last jar, making the identification of various smells/tastes and the selection of your cut points easier to identify.

Otis

+1

[sadie33]

I’m in the same camp as NZ Chris on this, believing that the boiler charge size makes no difference in my ability to make proper cuts. I always calculate the expected total collection volume in advance of the spirit run and use individual jar collection volumn of 5% or less of what I expect to collect in total. (Caveat. Once I did a lot of runs with 20+ jars, I started using large jars for collecting heads and hearts, and I only used the 5% jars for the transition zones between heads/hearts and hearts/tales)

I think an important factor when changing your boiler volume on a pot still from run to run is the adjustment of power. I feel the power level should also be adjusted proportional to the volume size so your total run time is similar, regardless of total volume. In practice both my 12 gallon and my 2 gallon spirit runs take 6 to 8 hours in total. I experienced more smearing on smaller runs where the power was not reduced accordingly. Not reducing power for the smaller run will definitely makes cuts more difficult.

Otis

that is interesting about the power level changing with volume size. I never really thought about that. The smallest I have done is 2 gal and the largest 4 gal. But I didn't notice a difference in using the power level. I start off on low and gradually click it higher until I hear noises (usually takes 45-60 minutes). Once I hear noises I turn it down to low again and it drips out in about 5-8 min. As I progress, I have to turn the power up a bit at a time so by the end of the run I'm almost at high again. The only difference I see is the smaller batches go a bit quicker.

Hi Sadie. I have a suggestion for you, but it’s just a suggestion for you because you are learning to make cuts and it is not necessary. This is something I found very useful when learning how to make cuts.

The suggestion: After pulling foreshots slowly, set the power level for the collection rate you want and I leave the power alone for the remainder of the run.

The advantage of a consistent power level is that your jar collection will be a consistent progression of smells/tastes from jar 1 to the last jar, making the identification of various smells/tastes and the selection of your cut points easier to identify.

I found this out by taking meticulous notes on dozens of runs and cut sessions. I learned that every time the power was changed, the jars collected on either side of that power change were extremely different in smell/taste and not a slight progression from jar to jar.

I have since played around with power progression on spirit runs, but most runs I still just set the power and leave it alone for the entire run just because it’s easier. The only exception is when I’m sure that I’m past the tails cut point, and then will I crank the heat if I plan to collect tails.

I no longer take detailed notes. On occasion I find a jar during cuts that seems very out of place. I’ve always been able to tie the “off” jar to a power change or pause in the run.

Otis

I'm not sure I would be able to do that. I use a glass stove top that is 1 year old. My old glass top stove had consistent power. If you set it to 3 it would maintain that power consistently. My new stove tries to "save energy" so it has a surge of heat to get you to a 3 then cools down, then surges back up to a 3 etc. It is far from consistent. I have to keep turning up my stove or nothing comes out.

I also wondered if you guys stopped taking detailed notes after so many runs.

thanks for the suggestion though. I am starting to rethink what I want in a new still. I was thinking of getting/making one with an internal element, but I know nothing about them or their controllers. But might start learning...

[higgins]

... I learned that every time the power was changed, the jars collected on either side of that power change were extremely different in smell/taste and not a slight progression from jar to jar.

... I’ve always been able to tie the “off” jar to a power change or pause in the run.

Otis

This is enlightening to me.
What magnitude of change occurred when you noticed it?
My power controller allows a 1% change, or 35 watts. Do you think this is enough to cause it?

[OtisT]

I don’t think I can write or describe verbally what the magnitude of difference is. What I am referring to is noticing a change in smell/taste from jar to jar that is noticeable as out of place if you are using you senses and comparing the incremental change from jar to jar. If you want to know yourself you will need to compare jar progression of a run with consistent power to a run with some consistent stretches and a few power level changes during that run. Record what jar you are on during each change then during cuts compare the differences yourself.

Can’t say if 1% power change is enough of a change to notice. You would need to try that to know.