Power Controler for T500

[Spudnik1954]

I'm full of questions today sorry. I am having a hard time controlling the temp on my T500 it will vary a lot very quickly and I have to continuously adjust the cooling water. I have a pressure control valve so it shouldn't be the water pressure. I was wondering if it could be the boiler shutting off and coming back on again? If I could control the amount of power to the boiler would that solve the problem?

[Admiral Toad]

This is an odd one usually a pressure releif valve makes a massive difference if fitted and working properly you still get some fluctuation if a loy of taps etc are used at once and you get variation as the brew bubbles away and the alcohol is distilled out so the temperature will rise gradually

As far as I know there is only an overheat cutout in the boiler no thermostat it just runs at 1800 watts

I use a power controller but only on pothead spirit runs or when using a real grain wash which are volatile

Maybe the water pressure is varying hugely in your neighbourhood or is your power supply stable ?

One last silly thought it only requires minute movement of the needle valve to cause big cooling water temperature fluctuations I have a small lever bar epoxy glued on the valve head so I can make tiny adjustments. just a thought

[Spudnik1954]

I'm on well water and at first I thought that was my problem so I hooked my cooling water up to my shower head that has a pressure valve so I should be getting stable water pressure. I can keep it pretty stable if I adjust the needle valve almost continuously but I read that people set it and it pretty much stays the same. Will the fluctuating temps effect my product?

[John51]

Have you tested the pressure valve by turning another tap on or flushing the toilet?

[Superslim007]

I concur, run the T500 and flush the toilet, as long as you have the pressure control valve set a little higher than the T500 requires even when the pressure drops in the main system it should still be higher than the T500 is drawing so you should see little or no difference

[Capt-Cudellez]

Have you had it running properly before, and its started misbehaving? Or has it never worked.

Check you have it plumbed round the correct way, there is a sticky by at the top of the T500 forum.

If its plumbed correctly, repack the column as you might have surginging going on.

[Spudnik1954]

Everything is hooked up correctly. I am going to do another run today . I will repack the column and see what happens. Let you know.

[Keystone]

If your water supply is susceptible to surging water pressure, try a water pressure regulator for campers and caravans. Put it inline between the faucet and the T500 valve, open the tap full bore and adjust the T500 valve as appropriate. The idea is that the output from the regulator should be constant even though the input may vary so long as the water pressure of the input with the water valve in the fully open position is not less than the fixed water pressure setting of the inline regulator.

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-40055-Brass-Pressure-Regulator/dp/B003BZD08U

[John51]

By how much is your kitchen tap turned on?

I have found that there isn't much fine control with the T500s needle valve unless the kitchen tap is only giving just a little more water than is needed.

[Spudnik1954]

Thanks for the idea Keystone I picked one up yesterday I will let you know how I make out.