220v Digiboil setup running indoors

[tommyboyhomebrew]

New to the hobby and my first still. I have been reading this site on and off for about 4 months now. So for my birthday I got a 220v Digiboil 35L, cap, and a potstill copper pipe kit with a thumper (for now). I am going to build a parrot too. I am planning on putting in a 220v breaker in my last slot of my electrical box and running indoors. I am thinking about getting a used stovetop range to go over my still and vent out the window. I plan on watching / being with my still for the entire run (laptop, gaming, 3d printing, etc) and have a fire extinguisher with me. I have had a couple of comments on various social media pages to not run indoors. Safety for me is first and foremost. What do I need to look out for in addition to what I plan on doing?

Thank you. I love this site and all the helpful people on here.

DigiBoil 35L 220V https://www.ebay.com/itm/273720789576
Cap https://www.ebay.com/itm/282931820324
Pipe Kit https://www.ebay.com/itm/283596763195
Weldless tri-clamp bulkhead https://www.ebay.com/itm/274007285691

[Salt Must Flow]

I'd start by keeping it simple. I'd ferment, do your cleaning runs and then do your first keeper run before you go rigging up a hood to vent anything outdoors. I've always ran indoors and no issues. My wife bought me a couple of fire extinguishers (better safe than sorry). Social media is garbage and not a source for good information.

[contrahead]

I have had a couple of comments on various social media pages to not run indoors. Safety for me is first and foremost.

Nonsense. Unless your living in a tiny 800 sq.ft. apartment or something similar, and are trying to run a still inside a shoe-box that has no atmosphere.

I've only ever done runs inside. It's a matter of convince and of security. Of course my stills have always been small and modest. Currently my biggest boiler is a 9 gallon (35L) Digiboil just like yours. Except that I opted for the 110v version. Because I can plug it into any outlet, and so set up in many different locations - rather than only 2 if I were to plug into the 220v behind the kitchen range or out in the pump house behind the 220v clothes dryer.

[BrewinBrian44]

Many of us run our stills indoors. If you’re watching the still and there are no vapor leaks, it’s a very safe hobby.

I use a little mirror with an extender handle on it that I bought at the auto parts store to check for vapor leaks. Run the mirror along all joints during a run and look for fog. If no fog, you’re good. I do this with every run.

[tommyboyhomebrew]

Many of us run our stills indoors. If you’re watching the still and there are no vapor leaks, it’s a very safe hobby.

I use a little mirror with an extender handle on it that I bought at the auto parts store to check for vapor leaks. Run the mirror along all joints during a run and look for fog. If no fog, you’re good. I do this with every run.

I was wondering what a good way to look for leaks would be

[welly]

I have had a couple of comments on various social media pages to not run indoors. Safety for me is first and foremost.

Nonsense. Unless your living in a tiny 800 sq.ft. apartment or something similar, and are trying to run a still inside a shoe-box that has no atmosphere.

I've only ever done runs inside. It's a matter of convince and of security. Of course my stills have always been small and modest. Currently my biggest boiler is a 9 gallon (35L) Digiboil just like yours. Except that I opted for the 110v version. Because I can plug it into any outlet, and so set up in many different locations - rather than only 2 if I were to plug into the 220v behind the kitchen range or out in the pump house behind the 220v clothes dryer.

Just out of interest, how to you control the power to the Digiboil heating elements? Because it uses a thermostat rather than being able to set the power level. I've got the 220v version (I'm in the UK) and it has a 1900w element and a 500w element. I'm trying to figure out how best to run this thing as I'd like to run smaller batches through it and leave my 50L keg still for bigger washes.

Cheers!

[rubberduck71]

+1 to running indoors being safe. Don't leave it unattended & don't run out of cooling water.

Like Contrahead, I use the 110v Digiboil. Get yourself a voltage/SCR controller & you're set.

Please post a pic/link for the thumper. Would love to see it!

Good luck, have fun, be discrete.

[Laredo7mm]

I have never run outside, always indoors. I run a 16 gallon boiler with a 5500W heating element. The heating element is run off of 240V with a controller and steady state relay. The only thing “special” I did was bought a dedicated GFI unit to feed power to the still. I figured it is a good idea since water and electricity don’t mix.

I use to use a “heat stick” to heat my mash water and that tended to leak every now and then so it was a good choice for me. Now I heat my water in the boiler and go from there. The heating element in the boiler is the type that is connected and sealed to a 2” tri-clamp cap.

The GFI breaker is sold for hot tubs. I got mine at a big box store. I think the one I bought was good up to 60 amps. Wire the 240V to the GFI and then run wire from the GFI to your still. If you have no leaks and are using a submersed electric heating element, I think the chance of a fire is extremely low.

[welly]

+1 to running indoors being safe. Don't leave it unattended & don't run out of cooling water.

Like Contrahead, I use the 110v Digiboil. Get yourself a voltage/SCR controller & you're set.

Please post a pic/link for the thumper. Would love to see it!

Good luck, have fun, be discrete.

I've got a voltage controller, but what would you set the Digiboil to? Highest temperature possible and then adjust the voltage or something else? What do you set the two heating elements to?

Thanks for any tips!

[GrumbleStill]

Hi TommyBoy, sounds like you are taking safety seriously, which is a great starting point. Some great advice from really experienced stillers above. I have the 240v digiboil and always run inside without issues, but you do need to stick to your principle of always monitoring it. Shit does happen from time to time. I like to keep the boiler a good distance from the power supply, so I can kill it quickly if (when) something goes wrong. I had a quick look at your other links, and suspect your seals are mostly silicone. If so, you might want to change them out for ptfe. Have fun, and keep safe.

Hi welly, no need to go to maximum temp. just set your digiboil a couple of degrees above the boiling point for water in your area, and you’ll be good. I set mine at 102°C and it runs just fine. Have only seen it get above 99°C once, when I did something dumb, and was happy that it cut the power. Cheers, have fun, and stay safe.

[rubberduck71]

I've got a voltage controller, but what would you set the Digiboil to? Highest temperature possible and then adjust the voltage or something else? What do you set the two heating elements to?

Thanks for any tips!

I set it to 212F & go full blast (1000w + 500w) until just before it starts dripping. Then I turn off the 500w & dial the SCR controller to ~80v on the display (~67%) to get a pencil lead continuous stream.

[welly]

I've got a voltage controller, but what would you set the Digiboil to? Highest temperature possible and then adjust the voltage or something else? What do you set the two heating elements to?

Thanks for any tips!

I set it to 212F & go full blast (1000w + 500w) until just before it starts dripping. Then I turn off the 500w & dial the SCR controller to ~80v on the display (~67%) to get a pencil lead continuous stream.

Fab, thank you. I'll give this a go!

[Ben]

I wouldn't sweat the vent hood, if you were making beer where you have to constantly vent boiling vapor it would be a necessity... but if your still is right you are condensing everything. I suspect the lions share of people doing this, at least in north America are running indoors, where they can be out of sight/smell of general public.