help needed - completely manual operation

[praefect]

Hi Guys,

I bought a PDA-1 a couple years ago (I know, I know), used it a couple time with a water heater, it was ok but I never found the right spot at my place (no garage) so it's not doing much nowadays

I'm up there in Canada, automn is here already and I want to set up a manual operation up in the mountain, I bought a keg, I have wood, I even have a cold spring nearby...
I just need to figure out a way to push the required coolant in the head and I would be in heaven.

I know it can be done but I'm wondering if any of you have any experience with something like that, we would take turns working the pump obviously...

My understanding is that in the old days they were using pot stills obviously... but I'm set on doing this the hard way.

Let me know if any of you ever experimented with this..

glad to be back guys
praefect

[Tater]

12volt car battery and marine pump comes to mind or if ya got the spring above where ya set up still gravity will take care of it .Use larger hose then line to condenser.

[still crazy]

Please clarify PDA cause to me it means (Personal Digital Assistant)

Water works with this funny thing called gravity so if you fill a 55 gallon drum and raise it higher than your condenser, valve it, you can catch the outlet water in another drum and then bucket it back to the upper drum and so on....

[Tater]

Please clarify PDA cause to me it means (Personal Digital Assistant)

Water works with this funny thing called gravity so if you fill a 55 gallon drum and raise it higher than your condenser, valve it, you can catch the outlet water in another drum and then bucket it back to the upper drum and so on....

http://www.amphora-society.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[Dnderhead]

what about a hydro ram? if there is running water.

[praefect]

Hi guys,

I doubt that gravity would be enough, the first couple of runs I used an aquarium pump (more like a pond pump) and it was not pushing enough water to cool the still down enough (vapor coming out the top). Of course this was with a 1500W element, so I guess I could take more time, work the fire to where it's not hot enough to over heat it...

hmmm, thanks for that, I've never did a run with woodfire...

ok just gotta try it now..

[Austin Nichols]

I've had nothing but shit luck with pond pumps, what you need is a 12 volt pressure pump.

The ones they use in RV's (camper van) are perfect.

Cheers.

[still crazy]

I doubt that gravity would be enough,

For every 1foot elevation you get .434 psi
How high can you go
This is how municipal water tanks work
They pump the water to the top and let gravity feed do the work

[rad14701]

. . . it was not pushing enough water to cool the still down enough (vapor coming out the top). Of course this was with a 1500W element . . .

Are you using a controller along with that 1500W element or full mains current...???

[praefect]

Guys, thanks again


I'm just getting back to this whole thing after a quick stint a couple years ago so I may be slow but I just realized something..

to answer the question, no I was not using any type of control with the 1500w element, and this may well be why I needed so much pressure, with the 1500w full blast and the city water I was able to do really quick runs (I have the 3 feet extension to the column). What I'm trying to say is that if I go old school with a wood fire, I just have to control the fire, it will take more time but I should be able to do it with whatever water pressure I anage to get (I am going to find an RV-type 12v pressure pump, thans for the tip).

Anyway, I'm really happy to get back to it, I'm gonna do it well this time...

praefect

[still crazy]

Question:
You have enough power to run 1500w but not enough for a pump ?

[LWTCS]

12volt car battery and marine pump comes to mind or if ya got the spring above where ya set up still gravity will take care of it .Use larger hose then line to condenser.

...............Moonshiner.................