T 500 tips and tricks?

[poompy]

Yep. Electric. Would be doing it a T500 boiler.

The keg I have converted to a HLT uses a $9 1800w kettle element. Has so for the past 2yrs with no hiccups.

[Kimbo]

then the camping mat will work great :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[danmiz]

thats camping mat is a good idea.

[Brauer]

I read with interest about the T500 and putting in stainless steel pot scrubbers and wondered about the copper wool that is inside some of the other stills. Then someone made a remark about using marbles. I was thinking about the marble idea as well, in some refinery processes glass balls are used and wondered if anyone has actually tried the marbles? Prosit (cheers)

[Sam.]

I uses to use marbles in my old still and they did work well but it had 2 big columns so it's still pumped out a high ABV the problem is they have nowhere near the surface area as the scrubbers so you can achieve more reflux in a shorter length column

[Popcorn Jack]

Check your temometers

I did a couple runs trusting they were accurate. Later finding out the bottom was out 3c and the top1c.

[rollander]

I have repacked the top half of my t500 column with copper saddles that I made myself from half inch pipe.
You guys have been talking about keeping the top temp at 78 - 79 degrees. For me nothing I do changes the top temp. It stays at 78.6 right up til about four and a half hours. Then it jumps to 86 in about 10 seconds . I turn it off then , and I get 50 ml either side of 4 l at 93-94%. Whatever temp I adjust the water outlet to, just changes the alcahol flow rate.

[Popcorn Jack]

You guys have been talking about keeping the top temp at 78 - 79 degrees. For me nothing I do changes the top temp. It stays at 78.6 right up til about four and a half hours.
Let you outlet temp rise and watch your top temp jump up .

I turn it off then , and I get 50 ml either side of 4 l at 93-94%. Whatever temp I adjust the water outlet to, just changes the alcahol flow rate

I find the higher the outlet temp the higher the yield I get but the lower the ABV. And vis versa, low the temp higher the ABV, lower yield.


Pj

[Brauer]

Has anyone tried to put CCC copper ribbon in the top of the T500 and what were the results?