5 or 4 plates??

[Fishleg]

Hey y’all
I have a neutraliser which usually I run with 5 plates and no packed section for rum, cfw and the occasional slivovitz.
If I drop one of the plates out, what should I expect in the run? Lower abv? Slower collection? More or less responsive to heat input or cooling changes?
I know some of these things will change between different washes. Just thinking generally what difference do people see between 5 and 4 plates?
Cheers.

[cjhero]

I've been running 3 plates in a 3" column for whisky and very happy with the flavour that has been coming through.

[Fishleg]

I’m more referring to the way the still behaves whilst running

[bluc]

Without plates its a pot still. Slower collection more flavour more smearing between fractions and expect to have to run twice a strip run then a spirit run.

[The Stig]

I’m more referring to the way the still behaves whilst running

It will behave more or less the same but it will run slower with less plates to achieve hi ABV, but to keep the flavour you will run around 3 litres per hour at 85%

[bluc]

Less plates = more flavour, at the cost of a more smeared lower proof alcohol.
Once in heats and with same wash, I would expect:
5 plate 92-94% abv
4 plates 88-90% abv
3 plates i would expect 84-86% abv

Straight pot still spirit run I use to keep 74-78avb as hearts

These are rough numbers off top of head and all stills are different. This is how mine likes too run.

[Fishleg]

Less plates = more flavour, at the cost of a more smeared lower proof alcohol.
Once in heats and with same wash, I would expect:
5 plate 92-94% abv
4 plates 88-90% abv
3 plates i would expect 84-86% abv

Straight pot still spirit run I use to keep 74-78avb as hearts

These are rough numbers off top of head and all stills are different. This is how mine likes too run.

Thank you. This is what I was after. With my setup generally with 5 plates, the sweet spot is about 93% @ around 2L p/h.
So with 4 I should be looking for high 80s.
Just trying to save myself a bit of trial and error.
Cheers.

[The Stig]

Not 100% true , run 4 plates slow enough and you will get higher than 90%
You achieve the lower ABV by running faster

[bluc]

Sorry i should have added all things equal :handgestures-thumbupleft: