frustrating day

[Clandestine]

Hello everyone, new distiller and first post. I had a frustrating day trying to get the alcoengine reflux still to stay between 77 and 80 degrees Celsius. I had 25 liters of TPW at around 10% abv in the still. I'm running an Ozito 350W Dirty Water Submersible Water Pump from a 220 litre water barrel. The temperature stabilises at around 78 while i have the valve turned off but when i open it the temperature increases.

When i first used it i had vapour coming out of the top but read that can happen if the packing is too tight. the column had 8 scourers in it so took out two and loosened the others up.

I am doing a stripping run and ended up with about 3.5 liters

Does anyone know why the temperature wont keep a stable 77-80 degrees?

Its been a super frustrating beginning to my distilling journey

Regards, Rob.

[The Stig]

Welcome to the forum.
Sorry I can’t help
And since this is your first post I have moved it into the welcome centre
I’m sure somebody who runs one of these stills will be along soon enough to offer an idea

[BigRig]

Its been a few years since i ran one but i remember you needed the full column packed for it to work properly, so i definitely wouldn't remove any packing. You should be able to blow through the tower without resistance though.

You say it is a stripping run? You shouldn't be worried about getting equilibrium with the temperature, just strip it hard and fast to get all the booze out as quick as possible.

In saying that, boka style stills are terrible for stripping as you will get vapour escaping if you are trying to push it hard.

[Clandestine]

Thanks for your reply and advice Big Rig. I'm going to repack the column and have another go on the weekend. There were 8 scourers and i took out two so I will put them back.

[The Stig]

One of these may help you along: https://5stardistilling.com/product/pow ... 00w-10amp/
Dialing back the power will help slow things down a little

[WoodyD40]

Howdy Clandestine

I recently bought the 65 litre with the alcoengine reflux.
I cant adjust the power through any controller for the 15 amp 65 litre boiler - but i can turn off elements to stop the vapour escaping through the top.
On my boiler, it has a 500w, 1000w and 2000w heating elements.
When running a smaller wash for the first time in the still, once the boiler got to temperature i turned off the 2000w element and everything worked very well.
On my next run with more in the boiler (approx 55 litre) I attempted to run the still at 2500w, and ended up with vapour escaping out the top.
I now only run a full boiler at max 2000w and everything is happy again.

I went digging through the information available (at Keg Land web site) and found that the alcoengine reflux should not be run at above 1900w (found out too late :crying-blue: ), But it does still seem to work running at 2000w - but I certainly must turn off the other elements or i will risk big problems.

From what i've read (and yes, i'm very new still too) is the 2500w 35 litre boiler you can turn down the power, so it may be that once the boiler temperature reaches above the 85 deg, start to turn down the power on the boiler for the final stages of heating up. (note: i'm talking about boiler temp, not column temp).

By the time the boiler temp is up at 98 degrees, i'm using starting to get tails in my collection jars.
I also watch the column temp carefully (cant remember the figures from the top of my head, only used it 3 times properly so far) - but i'm more careful now about the drip rate into my collection jars. Once the drip rate slow down, I'm almost certain I'm into tails. Then comes the smell and taste tests to be sure.

But, congratulations on your purchase and I hope you have a lot of enjoyment playing with it, and learning its quirks and what works well for you.

Dang - after i posted the above I read Stig's reply ....

One of these may help you along: https://5stardistilling.com/product/pow ... 00w-10amp/
Dialing back the power will help slow things down a little

So, Stig said it in much fewer words. I obviously talk too much.
8-}

[Puk]

+1 for the voltage regulator.

I have the alcoengine pot still.
there is nothing better for controlling the stream during spirit runs.

Puk

[The Stig]

There are “fake” 65L Digiboils that are only 2500w on eBay .
These can be used with the controllers
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/29529950508 ... media=COPY
Or 5 Star have the good old 30L 2000w boilers
https://5stardistilling.com/product/30l ... ler-2000w/

[Clandestine]

One of these may help you along: https://5stardistilling.com/product/pow ... 00w-10amp/
Dialing back the power will help slow things down a little

Ordered one today
Regards, Clandestine.

[The Stig]

That will go in the post tomorrow via express since you’re a forum member :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Thanks for spending with 5 Star :laughing-rolling:

[Wellsy]

Got to love suppliers who work on a Sunday :)

[bluc]

Especially when they help you make spirits

[Clandestine]

That will go in the post tomorrow via express since you’re a forum member :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Thanks for spending with 5 Star :laughing-rolling:

Thanks Stig!