low power ?

[Mash]

I have seen a couple of mentions of "use low power".
Is this possible on an air still?

[Blue_Duck]

Hi mashy, yes it' possible get yourself a 300w dimmer switch and a kettle plug, to run the fan separate or you'll be turning the fan down as well if you don't.i plug into a power meter and when the air still comes to the boil start reducing your power to what you think is best.

regards B_D

[Mash]

Hmm. Just a light switch jobby - got it.

What the gain? .. better product or cheaper to run ?

[Blue_Duck]

Better product, i don't think you'll save much on power as you will be running for longer.

cheers B_D

[Easydrinker]

I remain unconvinced after trying this,but some users here would swear by using a power controller,with this still(I believe power control has more validity with others).
It is inexpensive enough to try for yourself.
It certainly can help with fizzy washes.
Different strokes.............
And if you don't try it,how can you knock it?


Robert.

[Mash]

Thanks. I am so pleased you said that. I haven't got a problem that needs fixing, so I might give it a miss for the moment.

[makum101]

To what voltage should I turn it down to?

[Easydrinker]

You have me there.
It is the Wattage that gets dialed down.
As the Airstill/Smartstill runs at 400W,I believe a common start point for those that do or did this practise is 200W.
Having built/acquired your power controller,(light switch dimmer),the simplest way to see the power going through it is to plug it into one of the gadgets placed between socket and appliance that give a digital readout in real time.
HTH

Robert.

[makum101]

Wattage. Yes not voltage. hahaha.

Thanks for the info. Ebay informs me that my dimmer is ready to collect at my local Argos so ill give this a try this week.

[Almanac]

It really is vital, if doing this, to have a separate connection for the fan to keep it at full power/speed or you'll end up getting pissed on the fumes

AM

[makum101]

Yep I got a separate lead for that. Ive made that mistake before - didnt push the lead in far enough and the bottom heated but the fan didnt start. I'd put it on a timer to start at 4am. When I got up and went in the room it was like an Alcoholic sauna!

[Capt-Cudellez]

I find if I run a pot still very slowly the spirt has a hot taste, if I was running running a wee still like an air still, I'd probably run slow to maximise the ABV, then run the strip again at a more energetic level.

If you try this let us know if the results were better than what you getting?

[Easydrinker]

I was starting to think it just me,but I find spirit runs through my pot still better when run harder,(more) as opposed to lower power.
Maybe the warmer distillate is already losing some of the higher alcohols/Angel's share?

Robert.

[Capt-Cudellez]

That's how I do my strip for a neutral Robert. The distillate is around the 40oC mark. So using a hydrometer is not possible. I know that i collect about 11 litres so when I'm near that I increase the cooling and drop the power to verify with the meter.
I'm sure it helps get rid of some of the volatiles, I also don't put a cork in the DJs but just a piece of kitchen paper until the next day, again hoping some of the less desirable components evaporate off.