StillSmart

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2017-05-22T15:13:34+00:00

This is worth a read.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3904&hilit=controller

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon May 22, 2017 3:13 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2017-05-22T11:52:40+00:00

Icefever wrote:
Distillingchris wrote: So do you turn water on full for 15mins when it starts producing alcohol to stop it or is that to long ?

Everyone has slightly different ideas/methods with reflux....so yes turn the water on full.

What you need to happen in the column is...hot vapour rising...hitting the cold condenser..can't pass that barrier so turns back to a liquid and starts to drop back down.

On it's way back down it hits more hot vapour...heats up again and starts to ascend again.

All it is, is a merry go round...up & down & back up again....now you hold it like this for how ever long you wish...I go for 20/30 mins, ED goes for the hour...I've read of folks going for the hour, the longer the better.

When your ready you back off the water slowly, as you do this the vapour will start to pass the condenser turning to likker and will start to drip out into your jar.

Part 2....is having a controller fitted so that you controll the heating element...then you get to play with that as well... "oh happy days"

Enjoy..

Hi m8
sorry for butting in.
for some time I'm researching the use of my grainfather with the stc controller. and hoping to purchase the T500.
I was getting confused needing a power control to the GF to regulate the boil.
could you explain what power control I should get and how it operates?
unfortunately my battered brain is best if I have a picture or link.
this is the only thing that holding back with buying either the T500 or a alembic still setup.
or
buy a larger spot still (gas or electric) from a maker in the uk.
either way, ive got the GF to use and if not a good option save it for my AG brewing.
thank you
Bri

Statistics: Posted by old bri — Mon May 22, 2017 11:52 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-10-23T05:30:26+00:00

Such practise does indeed compress the heads.
You are maybe no madder than I.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:30 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-10-22T19:15:02+00:00

Have found IME this squeezes the heads
into a smaller volume.
Or is it my imagination.

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Sat Oct 22, 2016 7:15 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-10-22T00:06:46+00:00

That is it in a nutshell.
Maximum water flow for maximum cooling (or whatever it takes) is Full reflux.
A slow and controlled warm up for the run.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Sat Oct 22, 2016 12:06 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-10-21T00:07:18+00:00

guest5234 wrote:
hi, slightly confused, I am doing my first distill next week on the t500, what do you mean run the water on full for the first 15 mins or so...cheers

On spirit run, once you get the heat up and alcohol starts to come out, run water through at full speed for 15 minutes. This will normally mean having your inlet water ie tap full on and your waste water coming out fast by having the little needle valve wide open.

This will mean you get "full reflux" and no product coming out and after the 15 minutes use the needle valve or alternative to gradually slow down the water coming out your waste pipe until you get a nice drip but not as fast as a stream of alcohol coming out the product tube.

Statistics: Posted by Curmudgeon — Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:07 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-10-20T21:43:14+00:00

hi, slightly confused, I am doing my first distill next week on the t500, what do you mean run the water on full for the first 15 mins or so...cheers

Statistics: Posted by guest5234 — Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:43 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-19T05:22:20+00:00

Distillingchris wrote:
So do you turn water on full for 15mins when it starts producing alcohol to stop it or is that to long ?

Everyone has slightly different ideas/methods with reflux....so yes turn the water on full.

What you need to happen in the column is...hot vapour rising...hitting the cold condenser..can't pass that barrier so turns back to a liquid and starts to drop back down.

On it's way back down it hits more hot vapour...heats up again and starts to ascend again.

All it is, is a merry go round...up & down & back up again....now you hold it like this for how ever long you wish...I go for 20/30 mins, ED goes for the hour...I've read of folks going for the hour, the longer the better.

When your ready you back off the water slowly, as you do this the vapour will start to pass the condenser turning to likker and will start to drip out into your jar.

Part 2....is having a controller fitted so that you controll the heating element...then you get to play with that as well... "oh happy days"

Enjoy..

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Fri Aug 19, 2016 5:22 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-18T23:15:54+00:00

I understand that many will hold full reflux for an hour, I do.

In my case this involves juggling the power to the boiler, as I use constant cooling, i.e. the coolant flow never changes. This is more than you need to know for your still.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Aug 18, 2016 11:15 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-18T09:04:22+00:00

Thanks so refluxing will sperating the heads better ? So do you turn water on full for 15mins when it starts producing alcohol to stop it or is that to long ?

Statistics: Posted by Distillingchris — Thu Aug 18, 2016 9:04 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-18T02:08:23+00:00

DC for your first time you did ok matey... we've all been there. As Robert said don't throw anything after you've dropped the first 50/100ml. After that you can always run it again and make something out of what you have left...but as I've said before it's a learning curve...get another wash on and get stuck in..

Statistics: Posted by Icefever — Thu Aug 18, 2016 2:08 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-18T00:14:32+00:00

I may be attempting to walk on water here, I own an air cooled reflux still, and not a T500, but I wish to try and help you. I welcome being corrected by members with superior knowledge

Firstly, don't waste spirit throwing what are commonly known as "Foreshots" too often, this one is a personally judged thing, based upon the wash, there is no hard and fast rule, but the perceived "danger" element is much smaller than reported or expected.
Read around a bit and decide for yourself.

Holding the column in total reflux, i.e. - maximum cooling, no product condensing;
This concentrates the higher alcohols, and ensures tighter cuts.
The Heads should come almost all at once, once the column is allowed to warm a little.
Get the column a little warmer and come the Hearts.
With my own still, the Tails don't even start.

These subtle nuances are something that you learn.
They are subtle, and you do learn, and from there it is all about living on Easy Street.

HTH

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Thu Aug 18, 2016 12:14 am

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-17T19:28:34+00:00

I see made abit of a mess of it but here is exactly what I did, feel free to comment or pass advice, now I know what to expect would do it a little different,

20litres at 20%
Threw 50ml even though I have done the same on the runs before
Collected 10x 100ml
Collected 1 litre
Collected 2 500ml
Then that was about it got 100ml more out of it then all but stopped

I ran at about 45c for 6 1/2 hours

Once tested tomorrow hopefully should get around 1.5 2 litres at 80/90% but as I messed the tails up will prob have to get rid off ( save for next time ) the last 600ml and hope not to many tails have gone into the 500ml before that

Now this reflux business, I didnt 'reflux' as you call it once it hit 50 and liquid started coming off I turned the water on to keep below 50c, what does the reflux do ? I read somewhere that once liquid comes off someone turned water up left it 15mins then turned it down to start collecting, however also read by yourself Then you do it differently still ?

Cheers

Statistics: Posted by Distillingchris — Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:28 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-17T19:01:09+00:00

I keep the temperature around 40C and run in full reflux for 15 mins, then allow it up to 45C and throw away anything which comes off to that point, then up to 50C and collect around 250ml of heads which goes around again with the next batch, then up to 55C and collect 500ml jars until the flow slows to a trickle.

Final jar usually gets sent around again.

First and last-but-one jars get watered down and used for ouzo or pastis, middle jars get used for whiskish and liqueurs.

Statistics: Posted by GrunthosTheFlatulent — Wed Aug 17, 2016 7:01 pm

Re: T500 1st spirit run

2016-08-17T18:42:57+00:00

Sorry mate thought you were on your Airstill.
That makes me stupid
When I use my T500 , I collect in 400 ml jars.
Just collect until it slows to a drip.
You can always recycle what you don't Keep.

Statistics: Posted by gaza the instructor — Wed Aug 17, 2016 6:42 pm