Home Distiller

Operating a 5 gallon reflux, which heat source would be cheaper a 120v hotplate or propane burner?
Where I live a 20lb tank of propane is $19.95. I have know idea how many runs could be made from one tank of propane and what kind of light bill increase could a person expect running a hotplate? I was hoping someone would have the answer.



Thanks

Propane will probably be much cheaper. The amount of efficiency you will get off a hot plate is pretty low.

Propane where you are is about 2x where I am (US dollars. If you are somewhere else, then my 1/2 cost means nothing). That being the case, you might try calling around. If I buy propane from a Home depot, or most of the convenience gas stations, my cost is about $20 also. If I go to a better source (Truck stops around here have propane ranging from that $20 down to about $8 for a 20lb fill up). Also places like U-Haul usually have propane at not too expensive of a price. You just have to find who supplies at the best price.

H.

20 lb weighs out to about 4 gal. 100 lb about 24gal.
find you a farmer they getin it for farm use. was 1.39 a lb
you can buy / make a hose to fill your on tanks

Propane verses electric: for the same money you can get around twice the BTU from propane.
I use electric elements in my boiler, I 100% insulate the boiler so I get very little heat loss. With a propane fired boiler and no insulation you are (guessing) about 50% efficient. Adding insulation to the sides and top of your boiler you might gain another 10 to 15%. If your outside and there is a breeze your efficientcy can go down a lot.
I do not like using hot plates.