StillSmart

Why don't you go for a PID controller like this? I have one and it's great! You can set your temp to exactly what you want and it 's rock steady.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REX-C100-Digi ... 1351946036

Dave wrote:Why don't you go for a PID controller like this? I have one and it's great! You can set your temp to exactly what you want and it 's rock steady.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REX-C100-Digi ... 1351946036

I looked at those, but got confused by all the comments on home distiller saying it's wrong to think in terms of controlling temperature instead of power.

My presumably wonky logic was to set temperature just below where hearts start and collect foreshots and heads (discovered through experience with my still) and when output stops or slows adjust temperature to just above where hearts start and collect some small jars to make cuts. Then adjust temp to just below end of hearts and collect them until output slows/stops again etc.

That's just what I thought I'd do, until I started to learn about azeotropes and came across this.....very interesting.

http://learntomoonshine.com/still-tempe ... -moonshine

Interesting indeed. It is vapour temperature and not liquid temperature I was hoping to go by.

I guess you wont get one without the other, tho. My thermocouple measures the wash temp, but you can put it anywhere you like. I think it's a matter of getting to know your still too. I'm learning something new about mine everytime, how it heats up, how it behaves at certain temps. It's almost like a living thing!

It is a little like moving in with a new partner, very exciting at first, as you learn just what tickles their fancy.
After a while you know the routine, and it becomes more formulaic, but still enjoyable!

Robert.

Yes, and the more you learn, the more you're moved to experiment a little, try a little more of this, a little bit of that!.....

There is a song in there somewhere!

Robert.

I'm at the very confused stage. I'm reading pid controllers as coming wih K type thermocouples (thermometer probes I think?) and most are 4mm. My still spirits alembic pot head thingie comes with a 3mm probe thermometer, which makes me think I need one of these? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Liquid-Measuri ... couple+3mm

They come in all different sizes. Mine is, I think, about 230mm long, 5mm dia, and has an 8mm thread. You can get one to suit your needs. All 'K' type, so will work the same.

Here's a graph showing the vapour temp and alcohol % for any given boiler temp