StillSmart

I know I know... ...but hey you only live once...

I've just ordered a milkcan boiler from Michael...funny thing is the wife was all for it... weird or what???

I've received an email from Still Dragon, the parcel is in transit.

Not bad...the order was placed at 10.45 today and it's now winging it's way to blighty.

Icefever wrote:I know I know... ...but hey you only live once...

I've just ordered a milkcan boiler from Michael...funny thing is the wife was all for it... weird or what???

I'm glad someone took the plunge. It's outside my current budget profile - which means I'm broke at the moment.

I'm interested to see how the element connection will work out. I assume you had to order reducers, connectors, element kit and extra tri-clamps, etc..

Post pics as soon as you have it set up

AM

Cheers.

I've ordered the element...Kit got to source one now. Michael as suggested a "camco ripple".

Anyone suggest what size wattage I'd need??

@Icefever:

I am always that quick, when it comes to shipping the parcels. It is actually fun, like doing Christmas parcels the whole year round

Many distillers use 5500 W elements with their milkcan boilers, but clearly you will first have to find out, if your electrical power system in the house is o.k. with that.

Domestic power supplies in the UK and Ireland are identical and, as far as I know, 3Kw is the max on any one system because the system is 240v AFAIK

AM

Hi Guys

3kw is 12.5 Amp so you can get away with it in a normal plug socket, I have a 3kw immersion element in my 50 litre boiler, takes an hour, maybe a little longer on full power to heat 30-40 litres depending on starting temp, then I drop the power dramatically for a spirit run.

A 5.5kw element will only speed up the heat up time, you won't even need half that power to run the still once it's up to temp, so I'd say go for 3kw.

Anavrin wrote:A 5.5kw element will only speed up the heat up time, you won't even need half that power to run the still once it's up to temp, so I'd say go for 3kw.

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Of course that depends what he puts on top of it, a bubble plate still or a 3" packed column could absolutely handle 5.5kw.
But to run an element that size your really looking at a dedicated circuit and industrial 40amp connections.

I suspect that Ice is looking to satisfy his own needs and brewing capacity,and 3Kw will be fine.
Maybe add a power controller?
Any more power than that and he will need a big brew shed to provide the needed.
A quicker/faster turnaround with a powerful still calls for a bigger/faster supply of ferment,unless it seldom is fired up.
There's moon-shining,and there's moon-shining!

Robert.

@Sunshine: I just tried to hook into your website to see what your milkcan boiler looked like. It is blocked from China. I would assume the can is made here anyway.

Yes, there is an Aussie that goes by Fester living there that is the local "source".

we had to block out China, they stole a lot of content from our site. >:(
Sorry!

https://www.stilldragon.org/discussion/ ... iller-more

The milkcans are made in China, all of our equipment is. This is no secret at all, it is the reason we call ourselves StillDragon. But there is more to it:

We are known for outstanding quality, we are the ones, that have made many innovations, that are now copied a lot. We invest much hard work and effort to get the best possible product for our customers, that is why, we carefully choose our factories and don't go only for the cheapest price. Perhaps customers don't see the difference at first glance, but in the long term there is one!

Buying in China can be hit and miss, with us, you have all the convenience of European law and quality, approved products + fair prices!


And, not to be forgotten: customer service is on the first place of the list for us.

chill wrote:Yes, there is an Aussie that goes by Fester living there that is the local "source".

Fester is a Texan Not Aussie

Was just going to say I think LLoyd is the SD originator in China but just as I was typing we had a power failure. All OK now though, just one of those things.

AM

I'm sure You can up your power if you get a electrician to upgrade Your consumer unit circuit breaker and
Wiring to a dedicated ring in shed or socket, I had my one
Done a while back for lathe n milling machine to workshop
there is also a small consumer box in workshop my cable is
armour type, main breaker is 45 amp my sockets 32 amp in shed I'm sure it's 40 amp and 6 for the lights.