T500 issues temp

Reflux still design and discussion

T500 issues temp

Postby fizzydrink » Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:08 pm

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
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby rumdidlydum » Sun Dec 06, 2015 4:22 pm

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?
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby fizzydrink » Sun Dec 06, 2015 5:09 pm

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
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equipment: Did have a Still spirits 25l super reflux, now a T500.
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby Professor Green » Sun Dec 06, 2015 6:28 pm

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
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby fizzydrink » Sun Dec 06, 2015 11:48 pm

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
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equipment: Did have a Still spirits 25l super reflux, now a T500.
Slowly working my way up. ..

Re: T500 issues temp

Postby fishingbrad » Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:26 am

I have had the problem of the column temp fluctuating in the past. clean or replace your packing fixes that issue. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby Doubleuj » Mon Dec 07, 2015 8:06 am

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:
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby WTDist » Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:03 am

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
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Re: T500 issues temp

Postby fizzydrink » Mon Dec 07, 2015 10:52 pm

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
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Posts: 159
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 6:00 pm
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equipment: Did have a Still spirits 25l super reflux, now a T500.
Slowly working my way up. ..


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