Home Distiller

Pretty boring! I have an iPhone and an iPad and discovered last night that by using the FaceTime App I could turn my iPhone into a remote TV camera! Set it up watching my parrot and quart collection jar. From inside my house I could see the hydrometer, the drips, and how much had collected. I could even hear the drips and the small sound made by my propane heater. I also have a Bluetooth thermometer and can remotely watch the head temp.

Now, before you start hollering, my entire operation is in a shed out back and if the whole thing went kaboom, not much would be lost. I have a piece of galvanized metal wrapped around the bottom of the heater and the parrot is 5 feet away from the flame plus it sets inside a plastic container.
Mike

What's the difference between watching it on a screen and watching it in person?. You must not value your shed much. the worse thing that's lost, is our reputation for safety, which has taken a long time to establish here.

Most of the time I'm setting on my back porch which is 50 feet from the shed. I can see the entire operation but can't see the details. This helps me see the details. Plus if I like have to go potty I can still see the details while setting on the throne.

If you are out of arm's reach +2 steps you are too far away . Safety is not something we take casually here .

Mike,

Don't look for approval for unsafe practices. We must reinforce safety and safe practices. Recognization of your dangerous protocol must be accompanied by an admonishment. Do not leave your still unattended while running.

Don't forget that these forums are not private...they live on in perpetuity and many other inexperienced hobbiests may learn unsafe practices from you.

If you can't tolerate that reprimand....then don't post an unsafe practice.
ss

googe wrote:What's the difference between watching it on a screen and watching it in person?

Depends on how fast you can run 50' I guess ,
That's the kind of thing that "worked fine before, did it for years but then... I almost got there in time to stop it and..."
That scenario has bad practice written all over it, sorry.
+1 googe

Sorry, you won't get my approval either. +1 on Googe. Your title says "watching water". But it sounds as if you are referring to distillling a wash. So, you need to be clear. If distilling a wash/mash then this is my opinion: My/our reputation is on the line, and I think that this action would put it in jeopardy. Everything we do has an effect on all those here that love this hobby. If we abuse it by having an episode that could end up in the media, we are letting our brothers down. You represent all of us. Please don't even suggest to others to EVER leave the still unattended, even with a camera. We appreciate your being a part of this community, hope you understand our concerns.

So you don't care if the shed goes boom. That's fine. What do you plan to tell the fire dept when they show up?

So your shed goes boom and no loss you say . . . but stop and think, if there is a catastrophic failure, how far can debris travel? You think 20 feet is safe? 50 feet? 100? Take a look at some of the other threads where distilleries have blown . . . sure you say, it's a bigger operation, but take that damage done, and even scaled down, your 50 feet away isn't going to save you if you get a alcohol vapor fueled rocket flying your direction.

Aside from the alcohol fule rocket, and I may be picking, Any apparatus that has the potential to hold high proof likkkerr should not be housed in plastic period. The advice/rules are cut and dry. Never under ANY circumstance leave a running still. You may be able to see it, but if she goes off, that's all you can do. And believe me the damage will be the same even through an I-phone.

Truckinbutch wrote:If you are out of arm's reach +2 steps you are too far away . Safety is not something we take casually here .

You beat me to it... That was exactly what I was going to post after reading that irresponsible post...

rad14701 wrote:

Truckinbutch wrote:If you are out of arm's reach +2 steps you are too far away . Safety is not something we take casually here .

You beat me to it... That was exactly what I was going to post after reading that irresponsible post...

You have been a good teacher , Master

If a still is going to go boom, how much warning do you think you might have?

Lot of variables. It depends on the ability of the operator, the still, build quality. You should know fairly quickly something is amiss.... if you are constantly monitoring and PRESENT.

pythonshine wrote:Lot of variables. It depends on the ability of the operator, the still, build quality. You should know fairly quickly something is amiss.... if you are constantly monitoring and PRESENT.

+1 .

freaky_cutout wrote:If a still is going to go boom, how much warning do you think you might have?

If you are paying attention to everything there will be plenty of signs and no boom because ya shut it down unless some tool has an unvented pop of valve, then things might go to snot real fast. We very rarely hear of a kaboom but unexpected fire from a sudden leak or spill is less uncommon and you want to be dealing with that crap real fast. Back on the kaboom scenario having had a partial liebig blockage yrs back. I know how hairy that can be and to tell what's going on ya kinda need to be there, right there

You either got time to run a still or ya don't. Stay out there and run it right.

The wisdom in todays culture seems to be that if your not multitasking your not being efficient. The reality is that not all things can be done properly without your full attention. Some examples might be; driving, shooting a gun, tending the SOH, and yes running a still. If your bored or find it to be a bother then tending a still is not for you........

True words. My ex multi tasked, I exploded. She lost everything in the aftermath.

freaky_cutout wrote:If a still is going to go boom, how much warning do you think you might have?

Do you think a person hears the gunshot that explodes their head like a watermelon...??? Do you really want to try it to find out...??? Some things are better left a mystery, eh...???

I have a extra large cup for pee, bucket and tp for the dew, an electric blanket wrapped rocking chair for the chilling days/night. A galaxy note smart phone for entertainment. I also have the potential for failure if I'm not there to quickly address any and all problems that may arise. The fire department is across the street, but I don't need or want to explain why I have a still in whats left of my garage. Or have to explain to my insurance co. Ah, no that wasn't moonshine. I'm new and I know better!!!

I bet you wish you didn't think you had a good idea to bring to the table. Please don't do it.

rad14701 wrote:

freaky_cutout wrote:If a still is going to go boom, how much warning do you think you might have?

Do you think a person hears the gunshot that explodes their head like a watermelon...??? Do you really want to try it to find out...??? Some things are better left a mystery, eh...???

I think in some ways this is why I asked that question. For someone who is new to running a still and does not know what to look for then they may be better off a long long way away. Not that I am condoning nor supporting the argument. It was a purely theoretical and intellectual question.

Anyone who has spent five minutes reading these boards would know that talking about an unattended still is a bad way to make friends here, along with a great many other things that seem to come up from time to time.

I suppose the real instigator/motivation for the question was to produce some dialogue about what users should be looking for rather than "remote veiwing is bad don't do it"

It could be that it has already been covered, but searching "things to look for to let you know that your still is about to have a catastrophic failure" didn't yield much.

If there is a thread like that here someplace it would be really neat if someone who knows where it is could put a link up, which would in my opinion be much more beneficial to newbies reading the site than everyone parroting the comment from above about "don't do it".

Thanks Crow for the answer, it was along those lines I was seeking.

I had a main boiler gasket go south once. In an INSTANT there was flying hot wash everywhere. Honestly. One moment all is groovy, the very next steam, wash and all is flying across the garage. I still don't know how I got it shut off without getting burned or having a flash fire and I was sitting 4 feet from the rig.

Get the idea?

tp (and some soiled laundry)

T-Pee wrote:I had a main boiler gasket go south once. In an INSTANT there was flying hot wash everywhere. Honestly. One moment all is groovy, the very next steam, wash and all is flying across the garage. I still don't know how I got it shut off without getting burned or having a flash fire and I was sitting 4 feet from the rig.

Get the idea?

tp (and some soiled laundry)

There, another great answer!

I never relax my vigilance . From the time the fire is lit until I shut it off I sweep all joints with a mirror for leaks every 15 minutes or so .Be it a 3 hour strip run or 10 hours on a spirit run . That Bastard Murphy haunts every still house and waits to ambush you . He's just that kind of a prick .
>Check for leaks on a regular basis . Listen to your rig (it will talk to you and tell you if it has a belly ache if you will just listen) , touch your rig to see if it is warm where it's supposed to be and cool where that is expected .
>Vapor being released into the atmosphere from any point is never a good thing .Shut down immediately and correct the problem .
>After you have mastered removing the foreshots the cook has to drink all the mistakes . That in it's self is incentive enough to go cautious ..................
>Damn ! That's more 'splainin than I've tried to do since my first wife found a pair of panties wedged between the back seat cuhsions of my car that wouldn't fit her ass Hope it helped .

Truckinbutch wrote:I never relax my vigilance . From the time the fire is lit until I shut it off I sweep all joints with a mirror for leaks every 15 minutes or so .Be it a 3 hour strip run or 10 hours on a spirit run . That Bastard Murphy haunts every still house and waits to ambush you . He's just that kind of a prick .
>Check for leaks on a regular basis . Listen to your rig (it will talk to you and tell you if it has a belly ache if you will just listen) , touch your rig to see if it is warm where it's supposed to be and cool where that is expected .
>Vapor being released into the atmosphere from any point is never a good thing .Shut down immediately and correct the problem .
>After you have mastered removing the foreshots the cook has to drink all the mistakes . That in it's self is incentive enough to go cautious ..................
>Damn ! That's more 'splainin than I've tried to do since my first wife found a pair of panties wedged between the back seat cuhsions of my car that wouldn't fit her ass Hope it helped .

Awesome!

Freak Wrote
I suppose the real instigator/motivation for the question was to produce some dialogue about what users should be looking for rather than "remote veiwing is bad don't do it"

The comment the OP received was appropriate for what the OP posted. Experienced members here were trying to stop others that might read this from trying something very dangerous. If the OP's intent was to ask "what should users be looking for" he should of asked that. No one here is a mind reader. Switching gears mid stream after receiving responses you don't like is bullshit. I applaud the senior members here that rolled with it and gave great answers. But turning the tables on those that responded to the ORIGINAL POST with an innuendo of rudeness is weak, offensive, and challenging. Those responses were meant to send a clear message that the suggestion in the OP of remote still operation is NOT excepted safe practice. PERIOD!

WIski wrote:

Freak Wrote
I suppose the real instigator/motivation for the question was to produce some dialogue about what users should be looking for rather than "remote veiwing is bad don't do it"

The comment you received was appropriate for the OP YOU posted. Experienced members here were trying to stop YOU and others that might read this, from trying something very dangerous. If YOUR intent was to ask "what should users be looking for" YOU should of asked that. No one here is a mind reader. Switching gears mid stream after you received responses YOU didn't like is bullshit. I applaud the senior members here that rolled with it and gave you the great answers. But turning the tables on those that responded to YOUR ORIGINAL POST with an innuendo of rudeness is weak, offensive, and challenging. Those responses were meant to send a clear message that YOUR suggestion in the OP of remote still operation is NOT excepted safe practice. PERIOD!

Freak was not the OP.

Why was the OP allowed to post it up in the first place, I will admit I have been told off in a private message, the OPs post should of not even seen the light of day, this post made me cringe, could not believe what this person was advocating ,
when you run a still, it should always give you a slight feeling of fear, that way you don't become complacent,
also I love sheds, I would be really gutted if my shed got blown up! through my own stupidity