Home Distiller

So, someone please confirm for me that to a full conversion from a gas keg to an all electric keg I will need the following. ALSO... THAT ALL THIS WILL RUN ON 120v WITH THE OPTION TO GO TO 240 AT SOME POINT.

Element (50.69)- http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Camco-02962-0296 ... 53c&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Threaded Insert (3.40) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-1-Female-x-1 ... c00&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Silver solder (20.31) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Oatey-Safe-Flo-S ... 360&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Flux (15.97) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/HARRIS-STAY-CLEA ... a7a&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Controller (20.66) - http://www.ebay.com/itm/10000W-220v-Adj ... 2c7271bb5a" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

12v Cooling fan (4.78) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-DC-3Pin-12V- ... _Case_Fans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Volt/Ammeter (10.60) - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-AC-Digital-A ... 277&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

12v power supply (for volt meter and cooling fan) (8.50)- http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Surveillance-DC- ... fbc&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow


If there's anything else im forgetting please let me know. Looking to order everything on Friday. Also, if you fella's know were to get any of this stuff cheaper lemme know, has to be shipped to Canada tho so please keep that in mind.

The last 2 items are a little confusing. Why not get a 110 volt fan and you won't need the 12 volt charger? Why a voltage meter instead of an ammeter so you can convert to watts and know how much power you are applying to the boiler? Other than that you will probably need to replace the heatsink on the controller with a larger one but you are fine other wise. Hope this helps.

Voltmeter.... I guess cause I seen it in another thread (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43456&start=72) Nice lil chart to quickly convert volts to watts. Specific to this element I think?!?
download/file.php?id=24044&t=1
download/file.php?id=24045&t=1

12v fan casue I alread had to run a 12v supply for the voltmeter

wv_cooker wrote:Why a voltage meter instead of an ammeter so you can convert to watts and know how much power you are applying to the boiler?

1 It doesn't matter what to convert. Volts and Amps linked by Ohm law. Power = Amp*Volt = Amp*Amp*R = Volt*Volt/R. Where R is resistance of your heater.
2 You will not know real power anyway since all that cheap voltmeters and Ammeters don't work correctly with phase angle controller. All that meters work OK only for sinus waveform of AC. You need to have true RMS voltmeter or Ammeter to get correct value.

cwalker - Your list is OK. I'd suggest to use 6cm fan Something like this one - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-DC-3Pin-12V- ... _Case_Fans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And a grill - http://www.ebay.ca/itm/High-Quality-Met ... ls_Filters" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Thanks for the input here guys. Will go with the fan you linked Sam. If it'll do the job, and its cheaper... seems like the way to go.

Are you married to that element you listed? Most Home Depot or True Value carry a 4500w LWD element for about $14. I imagine y'all have a similar store up north there. Just sayin'.

Hippie. Im not totally married to that element. I just like the idea of buying something once and hopefully being happy with it. I feel like If I got the 4500w lwd Ill be wishing I had spent a couple extra bucks and got the 5500w ulwd. Unfortunately they are a bit more expensive and that's the only place I can find to order one that will also ship to Canada. Amazon.com (us) has em on sale for like half that right now no ship to the great north tho. I will check the local big box stores and see what I can find but I seem to remember reading that the 5500w are next to impossible to find in Canada.

That SS half coupling looks a tad thin to me. Might want to go for a thicker one to mate up with the element gasket better....

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003LSSLKO/ref=biss_dp_t_asn" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I thought because of the NPT(coupler) to NPS (element) fitting that a healthy amount of teflon tape would seal it up nicely? Straight thread into taper thread bottomed out before getting to the element's gasket. So teflon was the only way to go aside from running a NPS tap down the NPT thread's?

Also, amazon.COM dont ship to Canada. .CA does, but there inventory is shit compared to the .COM

I honestly don't get why folks feel compelled to have volt and amp meters on their controllers... It's kinda like a thermometer on a pot still... Adds Wow! factor but supplies little else... With a pot still you just want to crank up the heat input until you get a specific output rate... Does it really matter how much just as long as you know where the control knob is oriented at that point...??? Nope...!!! Same goes for reflux columns from a power standpoint, just like not needing to know the exact reflux ratio... Just remember or make a mark or visual reference and be done with it... Then you can adjust more or less from there... No failing meters or complex wiring to worry about... I get repeatable results from a gas stove burner, and electric stove burner, or from an electric controller and internal element, all just by knowing where to set the knob - from experience... I could care less how many BTU's or Watts are required, just what setting works...

KISS...!!! Or just piss money, time, and effort, away needlessly...

I'm curious, as to why the coupling. I don't know what your boiler looks like, but why not use a hex bushing?Maybe a 11/4 or 1 1/2 x 1. I plan on doing this, for my next build.

Been searching around the ole interweb for controllers and all the electrical components to build one. I came across this kit http://www.ebay.com/itm/220-240V-25A-DI ... 2c7545cfcc
What do you guys think? is it a good deal or is it overpriced? I am just trying to keep it simple and get all the parts in one order.
ez

I'd give jimbo's thread a read.
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... conversion. Seems it may be cheaper and easier.

ezlle71 wrote: What do you guys think? is it a good deal or is it overpriced? I am just trying to keep it simple and get all the parts in one order.

Did some research on eBay and found that you can save a half of the price if order all components separately (see below). The only advantage of that kit - you can get all parts together and in one week instead of 3-4.

Switch - $10.51
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-380V-25A-4-S ... 0914159355" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Fan $9.74
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hpst-80mm-Cooli ... 0741993565" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Pot with knob $3.74
http://www.ebay.com/itm/470K-ohm-Single ... 1261726094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Heatsink -$2.74
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Heat-S ... 1153653442" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Voltmeter - $5.10
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-AC30V-Analog- ... 1042385461" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

SSR - $11.55
http://www.ebay.com/itm/40A-2W-Single-P ... 1208312042" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow


Total: 43.38

Does this potentiometer you suggested have too high an ohm rating? Does it matter?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/470K-ohm-Single ... 1261726094" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Im thinking of going with this ssr will this work?
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Solid-State- ... 228&_uhb=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

you need an SSR with a resistance input or it won't work. There are a few links above with correct items

Thank you kinds sir.

Is this one going to be beefy enough to do the trick? Im plugging it into a 240v dryer outlet.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/40A-2W-Single-P ... 1208312042" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow