StillSmart

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-03-13T17:04:28+00:00

Yeah it is. Couldn't get it over here so had to order from abroad. Got the first one sent over from NZ, then loved it so much got a back up sent from Oz cos let the first one run dry by accident for a bit

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Mar 13, 2016 5:04 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-03-13T16:29:46+00:00

Is that an official Still Spirits bit of kit?

Statistics: Posted by Anavrin — Sun Mar 13, 2016 4:29 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-03-13T14:05:01+00:00

My beloved water flow regulator at work. No more tap connection problems!

I love those guys at Still Spirits!

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Mar 13, 2016 2:05 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-02-20T06:22:18+00:00

The T500 is difficult to control even with stable mains pressure. A small turn of the tap or the needle valve floods the column and sends temperatures crashing or rising rapidly. The actual adjustment required when you are in the sweet spot is so small you can barely feel the movement.

After 3 years of various set ups and frustration, adding a gate valve solved it for me.

I dial in the water volume ( by watching the cooling water output temperature say 55 degrees) with the gate valve. Then ( because I already have one) I make any fine adjustments as the run progresses with the needle valve.

The gate valve gives much better control than a house tap and can make the tiny adjustments you require to run the still. I have run it without the needle valve and it works just fine. I only use the needle valve because I bought one in my earlier attempts at solving this problem.

Statistics: Posted by Mr Four Square — Sat Feb 20, 2016 6:22 am

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-02-14T19:02:18+00:00

quote="Seagull"]Thanks Icefever

I've been lurking in the background on here for a while but decided to take the plunge and register today.

Looking forward to learning from the contributors on here [/quote]

Welcome, and you will find that it is not long before you contribute yourself.
Whoops you have already..
The first posted review of the new T500 widget.

People here like to help.

Robert

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Feb 14, 2016 7:02 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-02-14T17:13:31+00:00

Thanks Icefever

I've been lurking in the background on here for a while but decided to take the plunge and register today.

Looking forward to learning from the contributors on here

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:13 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-02-14T15:40:04+00:00

Seagull wrote:
Hi there. A newbie here.

Hope you don't mind me resurrecting an old thread but having just bought one of these regulators I am delighted with it and wanted to share my experience.

In short, I love thus device! So much so that I bought a second one from Oz as a back up!

First of all....Welcome Seagull to the forum, hope you enjoy your time here.

#1..old post...no problem..that's what it's all about.

#2..If your happy with this item, that's all that matters...if it works for you that's great. You will find as you progress with this hobby that "one mans meat is" and all that.

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Sun Feb 14, 2016 3:40 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2016-02-14T09:51:21+00:00

Hi there. A newbie here.

Hope you don't mind me resurrecting an old thread but having just bought one of these regulators I am delighted with it and wanted to share my experience.

I'm relatively new to the T500 and was having real difficulty with temperature control. My kitchen taps have now thread to screw in the needle valve so I was using the rubber push on connector. That was hopeless, pressure kept on blowing it off the tap.

I saw the regulator on Still Spirits website but couldn't find a supplier anywhere in UK. Eventually I went chose the expensive option of buying one from Australia.

The regulator has a little rubber draining bung at the base. I remove this and set the regulator inside a saucepan. I then let the tap run into and fill up the saucepan which fills the regulator. I can now control the temperature perfectly and even recycle the water back through the still once cooled.

In short, I love thus device! So much so that I bought a second one from Oz as a back up!

Statistics: Posted by Seagull — Sun Feb 14, 2016 9:51 am

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T22:53:19+00:00

very interesting. I have a close friend who know alot more than me about automation for things such as this. I'm going to experiment in the spring and see if I can get a upper and lower limiting switch to control water flow. See if we can't get this beast fully automated..lol

Statistics: Posted by BRandySavoy — Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:53 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T21:49:00+00:00

Youve sussed it you will find the coolant temp creeps up as the run goes so yes it needs a bit more cooling water as you go

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:49 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T17:27:01+00:00

Great pics! Thanks a lot. I'm just curious, with the PRV in place is there much adjusting the still has to be done throughout the run? I'm assuming some pressure adjusting has to be done since the boiling point of the wash changing with the concentration of the ethanol coming down.

Statistics: Posted by BRandySavoy — Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:27 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T15:43:08+00:00

Hi BRandySavoy,

Have a look at this link, it has a photo of my setup.

http://postimg.org/gallery/7aw69x6e/

Statistics: Posted by fuf — Thu Jan 22, 2015 3:43 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T14:00:58+00:00

Thanks for welcoming me to the site. I've been sniffing around here for a while taking all of your secrets..lol I'm definetly investing in the pressure regulating valve in the spring. The boss says no stills in the house! anyways hope it solves my stupid temperature fluctuation on the T500. Is there any pics of how people have plumbed in the PRV to their t500?

Statistics: Posted by BRandySavoy — Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:00 pm

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T06:28:56+00:00

BRandySavoy wrote:
just curious what a "PRV" is? Any help is appreciated.

First off..welcome to the forum BRandySavoy...

A "PRV" link HERE and Admiral Toad has answered the technical bit.

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:28 am

Re: new water regulator from still spirits

2015-01-22T06:05:32+00:00

Looks a clever but over complicated and no doubt expensive solution to the common problem of fluctuations in water pressure
Like a few folk on here solved it with a pretty cheap pressure regulating valve off the net coupled with replacing the outlet temperature gauge with one where you can set your temperature range with audible alarms
I also epoxied an 'arm' onto the needle valve to make fine adjustments easier
Someone cleverer than me can probably find the links

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:05 am