StillSmart Home distillation made easy! 2013-06-20T10:34:37+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/feed.php?f=12&t=429 2013-06-20T10:34:37+00:00 2013-06-20T10:34:37+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=15040#p15040 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]> Statistics: Posted by Opus 27 — Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:34 am


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2013-06-17T19:29:51+00:00 2013-06-17T19:29:51+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=14997#p14997 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]>
This really isn't strictly true. For example if you are running a Vapour Managed (VM) still the ACTUAL temperature is meaningless.

Yes you monitor temperature, but are far more concerned about the STABILITY. If it rises by 0.1 deg C you need to know about it and do something. Usually this involves reducing your product rate and increasing the proportion returned to the still as reflux.

On a CM this would be achieved by increasing the coolant flow rate.

Don't be too fixated on the actual temperature (what is the resolution of your temperature measuring device and is it even calibrated?)

On the T500 start in full reflux, reduce coolant flow to start taking heads, and be prepared to adjust the coolant flow as needed throughout the run.

You might eventually develop a run profile that works for your still, in your still room and with your recipe, but change from TPW to sweetfeed (or any other combination) and be prepared to start all over again.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:29 pm


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2013-06-17T19:13:27+00:00 2013-06-17T19:13:27+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=14995#p14995 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]> Statistics: Posted by lll_0_mike_0_lll — Mon Jun 17, 2013 7:13 pm


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2013-06-17T18:34:45+00:00 2013-06-17T18:34:45+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=14992#p14992 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]>
On those designs the reflux condenser has to stop all the vapour from getting past, on this one it has to ALLOW the vapour to get past.

Lower boiling point nasties (Heads) are allowed past first, whilst the condenser and the column send the ethanol back to the boiler to wait. The coolant temperature is not a precise indication - more of a guide.

The temperature referred to on other designs is the VAPOUR TEMPERATURE in the vicinity of the take off port.

Now I haven't used a T500 myself, but in general CM stills are very precise, and notoriously fiddly to get to work to their optimum potential. Perhaps the manual is a slightly "averaged" version to make it easy to run. There might be a more precise set of operating instructions available.

Statistics: Posted by Myles — Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:34 pm


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2013-06-17T10:33:26+00:00 2013-06-17T10:33:26+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=14987#p14987 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]>
Have just done my first run with a T-500 and the top temp was reading 78.2' with an occasional dip to 78.1'.

78.1' being the boiling temp of ethanol I'd have thought that an increase would happen when the hearts had finished but I got a small amount of tails in the final half litre so I stopped the run and it was still reading 78.2'. Bottom temps I kept between 50' and 55'.

Statistics: Posted by John51 — Mon Jun 17, 2013 10:33 am


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2013-02-03T12:06:44+00:00 2013-02-03T12:06:44+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=12066#p12066 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]> I now strip my wash's through a pot still attached to the T500 boiler.
I then run the low wines through the T500 head and yes these days I am making savage cuts.
Anything I dont want to drink on the first run IE heads and tails just goes into the next run.
Since doing these "new" things the quality of my product has increased remarkably, filtering has become a thing of the past oh and the mornings have become clearer :)

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:06 pm


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2013-02-03T09:20:42+00:00 2013-02-03T09:20:42+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=12064#p12064 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]> If you don't want to do cuts as long as you chuck away the first bit and dilute and filter the rest you will get a half decent product

BUT if you do make cuts as described all over this forum you will get a markedly better product with less chance of hangovers

It's down to personal choice and what you want to get out of this hobby ;)

BTW I tend to run nearer 58 degrees temp but I do double distill and filter for neutral

Statistics: Posted by Admiral Toad — Sun Feb 03, 2013 9:20 am


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2013-02-03T08:08:47+00:00 2013-02-03T08:08:47+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=12063#p12063 <![CDATA[Re: Temperature confusion]]> Is this ok to drink ????
Why is it doing this ????
What should I do ???
I know I am new and I have been reading all the posts and cant find any answers
any advice would be gratefully appreciated, Cheers

Statistics: Posted by PhatPhucDistilling — Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:08 am


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2010-11-19T08:15:52+00:00 2010-11-19T08:15:52+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=4109#p4109 <![CDATA[Temperature confusion]]>

how do you know what your pulling off. The good stuff we want to keep only comes off at a head temp of 79-82


Nothing comes out untill it hits 79.

I dont worry about head, hearts or tails as the instructions say that you dont need to do cuts.

All the spirit coming off smells the same from start to finish.

I just collect the first 100ml for wifey to use as cleaning product and the rest is mine for drinky\'s :)

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Fri Nov 19, 2010 8:15 am


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2010-11-19T07:33:12+00:00 2010-11-19T07:33:12+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=4108#p4108 <![CDATA[Temperature confusion]]> I found this with the computer controlled water cooling on the SS reflux. I found I could increase the water flow to keep the column stable until at the tail end of the run I was getting maybe a drop every 20 seconds - and it was still over 90%..
Edited to add - of course the T500 differs differs to LM and VM columns where the cooling coil is normally above the ethanol take off - in the T500 the CM coil is beneath the take off.

Statistics: Posted by MrCat — Fri Nov 19, 2010 7:33 am


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2010-11-19T05:44:20+00:00 2010-11-19T05:44:20+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=4107#p4107 <![CDATA[Temperature confusion]]> Statistics: Posted by Opus 27 — Fri Nov 19, 2010 5:44 am


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2010-11-19T03:46:37+00:00 2010-11-19T03:46:37+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=4105#p4105 <![CDATA[Temperature confusion]]>
If you allow the water temp to go high then the head temp goes up.

Towards the end of the run the head temp will rise so one would just add more water flow to cool things down.

Thats how it works for me anyway

Statistics: Posted by Andy — Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:46 am


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2010-11-19T01:43:52+00:00 2010-11-19T01:43:52+00:00 http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=429&p=4103#p4103 <![CDATA[Temperature confusion]]> Opus 27

Statistics: Posted by Opus 27 — Fri Nov 19, 2010 1:43 am


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