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if you can keep a constant 77.6 c when distilling is that ok...thanks

That would be ok while your still is in total reflux, before you have collected any distillate.

sub what do you mean...i am collecting distillate at 77.6 ...i am getting about 2 drips per second....is this ok...and if not what will the problem be with the distillate

From my understanding, and little experience, you should be stable and collecting at 78 deg C.

I have just built a VM still. Used it twice so far and both times it was rock solid stable at around 76 deg C while it was in full reflux.

Once I opened the output valve, at 1 drip/sec, the temp eventually settled at 78.3 deg C. I increased the take off rate to 2-3 drips/sec. It remained at 78.3 deg C for about 6-7 hours( gotta start keeping a log). When it got up to 82 deg C on the first run I stopped collection. On the second run I ran out of time and stopped at 78.8 deg C.

You might want to calibrate your thermometer. I had to. Mine had a .8 of a deg error. Good thing is my thermometer has a feature where I can program in an offset. So I was able to correct it's readout.

Boil some water and cause a concentration of steam output. Use that to check the accuracy of your thermometer. Should read 100.00 deg C.

77.6 or 78°C... I don't see where is the problem...
T° you read at your thermometer may depend of the place where it is in the column...
As I wrote before, T° isn't the only factor to be considered... Also taste, proof, smell... are to be considered.

If your distillate smells good, tastes good and has the proof you're waitin' for, isn't it all right?

Finally, as Sub said, try to calibrate your thermometer, or change the deepth in the column...

guys, remember: altitude has alot to say!

for example, water boils at 100*C AT SEALEVEL, here it boils at about 90-95 i think...

Thorin wrote:guys, remember: altitude has alot to say!

for example, water boils at 100*C AT SEALEVEL, here it boils at about 90-95 i think...

rgr,

Forgot about that fact. So it would also effect the boiling point of ethanol as well?

I am at sea level. So for me it is 100 deg C.

boiling point of a liquid at different levels has everyting to do with Po, which is lower for the higher places ( less air 'pressing' )
so also the boiling point of ethanol and other liquids

Look in the alcohol as fuel section, thread=vaccume stills, I posted a chart from the main site that addresses this.
Hope that helps answer this issue for you guys.
For myself, I'm only 600-700 feet above sea level, but for rocky mountians or alps, this could be signifigant.
Belgium is pretty low altitude, right Stoker ?

I'm living at exactly 320 m (abaut 1000 feet) above sea level.
But I think Stoker lives at 50 to 100 m (150 to 300 feet).
Highest point in Belgium is 694 m (about 2100 feet)... It's a pitty for those (like me) who enjoy skiing!

possum wrote:Belgium is pretty low altitude, right Stoker ?

right

<bit of geography>

• one of the lowest in the world (the north of the country). I live 5m above sea level
  the netherlands (above Belgium) are even more extreme, a large part of this country has an altitude below sea level.

<bit of geography>

you say that you stop when the temp gets high.. but i was constantly adjusting the cooling water maintaining the 78deg

What is common practice?

I often ask me the same question...
What I can say is that I collect at 78°C a high proof alcohol (between 90 and 80 %ABV), then temperature increases and proof decreases. I collect until about 90°C and 40%ABV, after that come the tails and T° may increase to 95°C.
I don't know if it is normal, but so works my still (without reflux coolin' and packin').
When distillin' sugar washes, I use packing and maximum reflux and I collect more high proof stuff with a near constant temperature (78°C).
I hope this would answer your question.

I just posted a time table on another topic :
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 8&start=15

i guess what i am trying to say is that i collected the alcohol at 78deg and then as the temp started to increase i also increased the cooling water flow to maintain this 78deg. i ended up stopping the distil when the cooling water flow was at max and the temp continued to increase.

This was for a sugar only wash. using a super reflux still with saddles.

I guess i am asking if i should just be supplying the cooling water flow at X and then stop collecting at the 90deg mark? i guess you would collect in different containers as the temp changes to ensure the good stuff is not contaminated with lesser stuff

I understand what you mean...
"To play" with coolin' flow to stay at 78°C seems normal.
Collectin' under 90%ABV or not is a personnal choice, I think.
In the time table posted last monday, you can read 4500 ml cumulated final product. What I didn't say is that I collected separately different proof stuffs, but finaly, I mixed all together so I get 4500 ml of 88%ABV stuff... Not so bad, and very enough for the use I intended. (makin' liquors)

hey cheers guys..

been a big help.. appreciated

Stangas wrote: i guess what i am trying to say is that i collected the alcohol at 78deg and then as the temp started to increase i also increased the cooling water flow to maintain this 78deg. i ended up stopping the distil when the cooling water flow was at max and the temp continued to increase.

This was for a sugar only wash. using a super reflux still with saddles.

You are doing everything fine. Nice job. It would still be a good idea to collect in several bottles.