StillSmart

With a view to saving energy and hopefully a bit of time, has anybody insulated their T500, boiler body and column?

I'm thinking of using the immersion heater cylinder jackets for this. Would anything else be suitable/easier/cheaper?

I do not have a T500 but I do have an insulated boiler. However I also have a power controller.

The insulation speeds up the time it takes my still to boil, but then I turn the heat input down with the power controller. I turn it down further than I would do if I had an uninsulated boiler to get the slow simmer that I am looking for, therefore I use less electricity.

Yes I save money because it boils quicker and simmers at a lower wattage. So in my case insulating the boiler is worth doing. I used old floorboards for mine.

If you insulated the boiler on a t500 it would also heat up quicker and therefore save money, but after that I am in unfamiliar territory. The insulation and lack of a method of reducing the power would cause the T500 to produce more vapour. What I do not know is if the T500 reflux and product condensers can handle this extra vapour.

Hopefully someone who has tried insulating a t500 boiler will be along shortly and educate us both.

Toodlepip

I insulated the boiler and lid some time ago definitely better

I wouldn't do the column though it might upset the reflux

Thank you, both.

Some use a sleeping bag cut in half to insulate the boiler.

That's food for thought - I'll sleep on that one.

Voddy wrote:With a view to saving energy and hopefully a bit of time, has anybody insulated their T500, boiler body and column?

I'm thinking of using the immersion heater cylinder jackets for this. Would anything else be suitable/easier/cheaper?

--------------------------------

Its not going to save you that much time unless you as distilling somewhere cold and drafty. But it will wave a little time on warm up. I did both the boiler and column (only insulate up to where the bottom of the coil is, the top of the column should remain uninsulated.)

I still use my T500 boiler, since upgrading to a larger still its primarily used as a gin still. I think it looks quite smart in its little black dress

It certainly does. Lucky you - two stills!

This is just my personal view on this issue. I think it is ALWAYS worth insulating the boiler. As far as energy and cost is concerned it is a good idea.

On a reflux column, insulation on the column itself depends on the situation. Yes I admit insulation does make it more stable, however in some situations you do not need it.