First CCVM run

[ckdistills]

Been saving up AG spent-grain sugar wash feints for a neutral run. 5.25 gallons @ 38% into my 7.75 gallon boiler. CCVM 40" packed section with an unpacked sight glass below the Tee. Insulated column. Dimroth CSST RC and PC. RC water exiting at about 82 F.

Following kimbodious's guidance here: viewtopic.php?p=7575954#p7575954

Jar 1. Pulled off 100ml of fores at 1.15kw and about 1 drip/second. 178 proof but there was a small amount leftover from a "is this thing on" test the night before. Discounting proof.
Jar 2. 300 ml at 1.15 kw & 1 drip/second. 185 proof.
Jar 3. Increased to 1.25 kw & slightly raised RC. Just barely shy of a faltering stream. 300 ml, 185 proof.
Jar 4. 300 ml, 184 proof. 20 min to fill, so running at 900 ml/hr.
Jar 5. 300 ml, 184 proof. Think I'm into hearts.
Jar 6. Increased to 1.4 kw. 300 ml. 184.
Jars 7 - 11. 12-14 min/300 ml. All 184 proof.
Switched to large container - collected 1200 ml. 185 proof.

Back to smaller jars - will keep collecting until tails and then shut done.

Feeling good about this as a first run so far but would love to keep bumping up that proof. Or more accurately, I'd love to understand how to drive it to get the product I'm looking for, whether that's 190 proof neutral, 170-180 proof nearly-neutral, etc. I conceptually understand the relationship between power in, RC coil position, and reflux ratio but need more actual experience to truly understand.

A couple of observations and I'd love feedback on any improvements I could make.

The column is as close to vertical as I can make it but reflux is coming down the sides of the side glass in addition to dripping off-center. The bottom coil of the RC is off-center. Should all the reflux be dripping down the center instead of on the sides? Not sure how much more control I have over this but wondering if reflux isn't interacting enough with the vapor.

Column is packed with copper mesh (not scrubbies). I stuffed the mesh into the column before reading about folks rolling it. So there's one roll in the sight glass between the stainless column and the boiler - the rest of it is stuffed. It's pretty tight but I can breathe through it.

RC exiting water is lower than the 100-120 recommendations I've seen. I'm playing with water flow rate to increase this.