Home Distiller

I currently have a thermometer in the top of my pot still. I'm im the process of building a new one and want to to add the thermometer to the keg "boiler". What would be the best and most professional looking way to do this?
Thanks

@ snuffy7,

Suggest visiting the New Distiller Reading Lounge and review the ‘Why you can't control a still with boiler temperature’ and ‘Do I need a thermometer on my pot still?’ threads.

Regards,
Coaster

http://jbbrewsupplies.com.au/index.php? ... uct_id=105" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

these look nice

craftbrewer beer shops have heaps of this sort of gear

@ Coaster

snuffy never said he was trying to control his still ?

he asked for ways to fit a thermometer ? did you read his question ?

thanks maheel
I can control my still just fine I was just wondering if anyone has a good way to install a thermometer in the (top) of the keg. I have one in my old rig but think one would be better on the boiler. I've tried the search.

This thermowell looks good...Do you have one? Is the keg thick enough to thread it into?

that one does not thread in

the link i posted to the thermowell all pulls apart
you drill the hole and pass the "well" through the hole from the inside with a silicone ring to seal.
place nut on outside and screw up tight.
then stick you thermo into the "well" from the outside

you would need to make sure it can pass through your hole in the top of the keg boiler
i know 32mm will go through the hole in the keg but have never measured it really

i have one quite like (not exact but) it in a all grain boiling pot, but did not have to worry about getting it in the hole

they are "easy" as no welding etc required

one you would need to weld in would be (or weld a nut onto the boiler maybe)
http://www.brewershardware.com/4-Heat-S ... owell.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

few more
http://www.brewershardware.com/Threaded ... ed-Length/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Depends on the diameter of the thermometer probe, attach a tube onto the boiler, a bit bigger than the probe, and seal the probe into the tube by various means.

But the question remains; why bother adding a thermometer to a pot still boiler? Please explain.

snuffy7 wrote:. What would be the best and most professional looking way to do this?

Ayay wrote:Depends on the diameter of the thermometer probe, attach a tube onto the boiler, a bit bigger than the probe, and seal the probe into the tube by various means.

doesn't sound very professional ?

What are you wanting to monitor the temp of? The liquid or the vapors? I would get a SS female pipe to female pipe and weld it on. Or even a 2" triclamp flange welded on. The a cap drilled and tapped to the size of your thermo.

@ maheel,

Yes I did read Forum Member snuffy7 Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:38PM posting.

If you closely read my Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:46PM posting I suggested that Forum Member snuffy7 “Visit” the New Distiller Reading Lounge and “Review” the ‘Why you can't control a still with boiler temperature’ and ‘Do I need a thermometer on my pot still?’ threads. Nowhere in my Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:46PM posting did I state, say, hint, suggest, and/or imply that Forum Member snuffy7 was “trying to control his still” with a thermometer.

Regards,
Coaster

Just by telling him to read those two threads you are implying it.

Or a least that's how I read it.

Prairiepiss wrote:What are you wanting to monitor the temp of? The liquid or the vapors? I would get a SS female pipe to female pipe and weld it on. Or even a 2" triclamp flange welded on. The a cap drilled and tapped to the size of your thermo.

this is what i use- 3inch sanitary fitting welded on my sankey keg that is part of my kegarator setup it works well to monitor temp when condictioning the brew and is a real bonus when its time to clean up or fill the keg as you dont need to pull the spear out. I intend diong the same thing on my next still mainly for the ease of cleaning/filling. will put up a photo if i can find my camera

I have a temp probe in my keg and in the top of the collumn, both inputs to the pid controller. The only thing the temp of the keg is good for is figgering how much alcohol is left in the wash (and on start up, how close you are to go time). Not saying its not useful. If your into adding bells and whistles and whodiddys to your set up, give'r hell

here is the fitting on the keg you can just cut out the blanking plates to suit your thermometer this it hasnt got the thermometer plate on as it has a leak. withcare this will seal up to 30psi. and if you decide you dont want need the thermometer its an easy fix to make a new blanking plate

That's kinda what I was going to get at. If he wants the vapor temp he could add a triclamp flange on top. And it could double as a fill port.

If I had it to do all over again. I would have used triclamp flanges for my elements and drain.

I am going to redo my drain on mine. And I'm gona plug my current drain hole with a cool thermometer I picked up. It has a huge 5" face. The best part is the angle of the face is adjustable. So when I install it in my drain hole on the side at the bottom of my keg. I can face it up. So it is easier to see.

Coaster wrote:@ maheel,

Yes I did read Forum Member snuffy7 Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:38PM posting.

If you closely read my Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:46PM posting I suggested that Forum Member snuffy7 “Visit” the New Distiller Reading Lounge and “Review” the ‘Why you can't control a still with boiler temperature’ and ‘Do I need a thermometer on my pot still?’ threads. Nowhere in my Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:46PM posting did I state, say, hint, suggest, and/or imply that Forum Member snuffy7 was “trying to control his still” with a thermometer.

Regards,
Coaster

well whatever your trying to say it's not giving any solutions to a question is it......

but i guess i might just be feeding the trolls now

I saw the thermometer in the boiler in one of ky shiners vidieos. I have one in my current still but I'm building a new one and didn't want to drill into it if not nessecary. I'm trying to watch the vapor temp.

I can't think of a way to mount a thermometer in a keg without drilling? What kind of still head are you building?

Is there a reason you want to take the vapor temp at the boiler?

are you running a copper head ?

what about making your thermowell that begins in the bottom of the pot head on an angle that allows the probe to poke through the hole in the keg.

use some 1/4 copper tube soldered in
get a long probe digi thermometer and it will go through into the top of the keg
or a "K" type thermocouple type bead probe in a sealed thermowell pushed in

you might get some condensation on the tube / probe effecting exact temps but it would be very close to vapour temps i reckon

thanks maheel I think I've got it figured out. No higher than my copper is above the boiler I don't think it will make a difference keg or collumn.

My old boiler I just drilled a hole the size of my temp gauge and put paste down it held fine then I put the same temp gauge in my mash barrel to keep a eye on temp. Not the best design or the best looking but it worked .

The temperature in the boiler is all but meaningless... You only need to know the vapor temperature at the working end of the still... Well, for a reflux column, anyway... Not really important at all for a pot still...

wish I had a thermo in my boiler, for exactly what mulekicker says. just saying! Then I could stop pissing round with an alcometer except for diluting pot stilled spirits. The temp in the boiler tells you the vapour ABV at the boiler and the wash ABV. Both are useful to me.

I just want one to look cool.

I put one in mine just to know when to get ready to really pay attn. After it gets to 180 It dosent matter Tater said it best. You should be able to run your rig in the dark I also proof my likker off taste , smell and the bubbles. Then I check with a hydrometer just to see how close I got .

I was talking about the top of the keg for the vapor temp. I just got used to having one one my still head just so I could start watching everything close. If I install one I'l just put it back in the still...Thanks everyone

I have a 4" dial face thermo that I place in the same spot on top of my keg.

As a thermo in the boiler really don't do much, I didn't want to add a hole in the keg, but I still want a way to know when its action stations.

It gives me all I want to know. Its accurate in itself, but I'm not measuring temp, I'm measuring kick off time. For this, it only needs to be consistant, not accurate. I got my own line marked on it, marked after many runs. It has been a useful, reliable indicator.

I want to get a infra red thermo gun. Point it anywhere and know, even if you don't need to. They are getting affordable nowdays.

The problem with inferred themos is. Most stills and boilers are shiny. They don't work well on shiny objects. And they will only give you the temp of the outside of the object. Some have recommended making black or a dark area in certain spots. That you can use to get good readings. Not sure as to how well the work with a still? I have one but have never tried it. I just use my hand. By feeling my column I can tell where I am in the heat up cycle. When its hot here I have this much time when its hot there here we go.