T500 issues temp

[fizzydrink]

Hey all
Not sure if this is similar to the issue prof green was having.. but doing a run today with a tpw and about 2hrs in and the temp off the colum was around 78 degrees. All good there..
Out of the blue the temp just started to drop quite quickly.. as if it wasn't being heated up. I hit the power as wasnt too sure what happpening. All looked good so restarted and seemed to get up to temp again.. but after about 5mins it happened again. I had collected about 2l so gave up and cut it away there...
Any ideas?

Element maybe?

Cheers
FD

[rumdidlydum]

Could you hear the boiling sound when the temp was droping ?
Is your t500 the older series that had the temp probe in the top?
Also there should be a reset button under the boiler. Not that that helps at all but is it tripping and resetting itself?

[fizzydrink]

Did sound crackly toward the top of condenser. Which it doesnt usually. Ill have a look for this button.. sounded normal in the boiler
Yeah..temp probe is in the top


Cheers

[Professor Green]

Crackling sound at the top of the condenser and the boiler sounded normal?

Don't think that is the issue I was having.

Maybe you had air bubbles in the condenser or fluctuating water pressure? I know the t500 column is VERY sensitive to changes in the water flow through the condenser.

FWIW, before I ditched it for a Mac Boka, I used to sometimes get a "crackling" sound from the condenser on my t500 column and that "crackling" sound would change depending on what the water was doing.

Cheers,
Prof. Green

[fizzydrink]

Water temp was constant... not too sure. . Might just check the element. Only thing that makes sense really. Without heat temp drops. Anything like a blockage would push temps up im guessing.

Cheers for your help

[fishingbrad]

I have had the problem of the column temp fluctuating in the past. clean or replace your packing fixes that issue. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Doubleuj]

Hey fizzy, I have this trouble if I pack the column too tight.
If you're using ceramic saddles, just drop them in, no shaking or tamping
Hope it helps :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[WTDist]

since weere going into packing tightness ill add my 2 cents.

If it is too tight then the vapor will rise and re condense on the liquid causing the reflux but if it is too tight it will reflux and stay up as rising vapor and pressure pushes it up making the column flood with no liquid making it back to the boiler. this can cause it to surge and spray out the condenser and if it fixes itself it could drop in temp maybe.

Try having the packing loose. tight isn't always better unless you can drop the power down with a controller

[fizzydrink]

I have given the saddles a good clean for a few runs..
Ill give em a good scrub and repack and see if it helps

Cheers

Fd