Power control for electric pot still/airstill

[Dazzyp]

Hi,

My still is designed for water and runs at 750watts - could I use this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-AC-220V-4 ... 3206693425 as a quick and easy way of dialing down the wattage to 350watts? With a UK plug adaptor...

I have searched through many power control threads but thins are still a little cloudy.

TIA

[Yummyrum]

That would work fine .

[Dazzyp]

Thank you for taking the time to reply

[JK79sGin]

Another thought is that you'll maybe need to put a separate power source onto the fan. If you lower the power for the boiler you're also turning down the fan otherwise.
Apparently that's not good...

[Yummyrum]

Another thought is that you'll maybe need to put a separate power source onto the fan. If you lower the power for the boiler you're also turning down the fan otherwise.
Apparently that's not good...

Thats actually quite an interesting but important point

Yes ideally you should split the wiring to the fan and run it off full mains supply .
Fans in an appliance like the AirStill are usually shaded pole induction motors .
Question is how do they function on a phase controller .?
Can’t say I ever tried .

I would hazard a guess that they will operate down to a certain minimum speed and then stall .
So as long as the heat applied to the boiler is reduced , and as long as the fan can keep up , no worries .

It’s the point at which the fan stalls but the boiler keeps pumping out (elbeit at a reduced rate ) vapour which is no longer being cooled that has my alarm bells going off .

Again ... well spotted JK79sGin

[JK79sGin]

Can't claim credit, read it on a different forum!