Home Distiller

I have looked through the site and searched but still have unanswered questions regarding elements.

In the UK prices are generaly higher as well as a VAT ( value added tax rate) of 20% and no cheap large outlets such as Harbour freight to go to, so the elements I have been looking at are eyewateringly expensive.

The range went from:-

Starting at £37 simple screwplug
http://www.omega.co.uk/ppt/pptsc.asp?re ... Nav=heaf01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

At £44 pretty much same thing
http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cartridge ... s/7242239/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

These had varying lengths available, but high watt density

At £71 Watlow Ltd offered an L9EX11A Firerod Incaloy with 3/4 '' NPT and 9 1/4'' immersed length
3KW single phase 240V again high Watt per unit area

Then a quote for a custom made element at £113.58 for a 2 ¼” BSP brass boss industrial low watts density immersion heater. Die cast aluminium terminal box with protection to IP66 containing a rod type control thermostat range 45-120 °C. 8mm diameter incoloy 800 element coil formed with a maximum immersed length of 13”. 3kW 240V single phase.

With the coil we have a much longer immersed length with a lower watt density. But did not need the terminal box and rod type thermostat. I realised they may be working with preassembled /standard components but asked if this part could be ommitted to bring cost down as manually controlling with a phase angle controller to a required temp range. Also asking that the incoloy element coil length be 11'' rather than 13'' to keep well away from the other side and allowing for variation when welding in the SS boss housing. Coil length did not play much of a part in the pricing I was told.

We are running a 220-240V 50-60Hz household set up with a 13 Amp fuse so 3KW element will be max we can run

I am not sure how critical it is that the element surface be reaonably low wattage but aware of what we are heating and what we are trying to obtain. Also do not know what charring to expect if the surface temp of the element gets too high?

I did see Prairie Piss's set up with his 2 5500w 220v elements mounted in a 15.5 gal keg. One straight one and one wavy type. At 5500w these elements run at approx 1375w in 110v. I would have to believe these elements are cheap and easily available at prices that make ours look ridiculous, also that I might have overlooked some very cheap alternative here in the UK.

Obviously one wants a reasonably quick heat up of the wash without waiting too long, without heating too quickly and running into a bad situation, but have no experience or input into what is reasonable or available out there, so some advice would be much appreciated.

I also have seen reference made to marbles and boiling chips? Are these to help agitate the wash and to help disperse the heat through the wash more evenly? How do they figure in the average boiler?

With regard to the control of the element was fascinated by the length of the thread dealing with that little question and which seems ongoing. Look forward to some much needed steering.

In anticipation, thanks.

did you check out low density heating elements for hot water heaters?

+1 dnder.

Yes the elements I used are available at most all home improvement stores and hardware stores hear in the states. The straight one goes for around $20 and the wavey goes for $35.99. I just bought two more wavey ones yesterday. But they are simple water heater replacement elements. I'm not sure what's available to you. Hopefully someone like Sam will be along to help point you to a good supplier there.

As for boiling chips. They break the surface tension on the bottom of the boiler. When a outside heat source is used. Gas burner or hotplate. They won't do much of anything for an internal element setup.

Your looking at Thermostatically controlled elements. They wont work.
Why you cant controll a still with temp
Yes, you want a phase angle controller that you can turn heat input up/down smoothly. Not chasing temperature.

Thank you for the responses guys.

Yup thinking about the marbles on the bottom after I posted and had come to that conclusion. Only be a direct heat to the bottom where those would agitate.

Phase angle control is the way we have to go, I liked the analogy of the acelerator on the car accelerator going full down and then off again. It ilustrated very well why that type wasn't very suitable. Problem is the thread telling us how to make the neat cheap phase angle one hasn't quite finished, though there have been other descriptions of ones that do. There is an electronics guy who might just be able to sort that one with what info I can get off the forum

Thanks PP, given that yours are straighforward water heating immersion heaters, that answers the question about the base and probe metal not being a big issue.

Yes Dunder went on ebay and looked at a number of the ones available on there, a lot were too long, most come together with thermostats however sure that there will something that we can use. Some down around £20-"40. And now looking for low watt density and accepting that we will just have to wait while it heats the wash up slowly...or go for two. That custom job with the 30 odd inch coil that was 11'' immersed sounded good... except for the price. Thanks again for straightening me out on those.