dimmer switch

[Magnu420]

ok im refering to johns post here >>> viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1357&p=10737&hilit=ebay#p10737 If any of you airstillers are willing to risk 6 quid, this might be of use to wind the power down and get a much better product from your airstill:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Light-Adjusta ... 337902ff56

My airstill was sold as a water still and is 450w (afaik, a regular airstill is 300/320w )and that dimmer is 300w max so I can't try it out. The reason I say risk is that ime the Chinese can be somewhat inventive when labeling max wattage but hey it's only 6 quid


has anyone tried this,would it be worth using on a airstill

[John51]

One way to find out is buy it.

I think I went a bit OTT with the risk thing but I once had a dimmer melt on me when asking too much of it.

500w dimmers are available but they're close to 20 quid unless you order from abroad:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500W-smooth-V ... 45ffe40c4d

You'll need to wire it up which is why that 300w dimmer is so cute, no wiring needed.

Load up the airstill with water, set the dimmer to about half power and keep touching the dimmer every 5 or 10 minutes. If it never gets more than a little warm in a couple of hours then imo it's good to go.

Make sure you plug the fan into a different socket using a kettle/computer lead, don't want the fan running on lower power.

Manu, does your airstill have an on/off switch or is it a case of if it's plugged in it is on?

Mine has a stupid electronic switch that won't let me go lower than 175w and I'd love to try even lower power runs. 2L of 40% neutral and 2L of (no preservatives) fruit juice to make a very slow Schnapps sort of thing.

Even though my Burco still should be finished soon, I might treat myself to a HBS airstill once the seal on mine finally goes. (Different size seal, can't replace.)

[Keystone]

I would suggest a router speed controller to control the wattage and a kill-a-watt to see the wattage reading. I would also add a very small fan to blow air at the small heat sink on the back side of the router speed controller. It's all plug and play.

[Magnu420]

just seen one on fleabay that ends termoz i might have a bid at it

@john the airstill i got is you plug it into mains and off it goes no switch
to turn,but there is a switch but i think its a re-set button

[John51]

Now that I've got a real airstill, I ordered one and it arrived yesterday.

Good news is that it works fine, just slightly warm behind the control knob, nothing to worry about. Bad news is that the price has gone up a quid.

[Magnu420]

Now that I've got a real airstill, I ordered one and it arrived yesterday.

Good news is that it works fine, just slightly warm behind the control knob, nothing to worry about. Bad news is that the price has gone up a quid.

john whats that behind the switch a temp guage ??

[John51]

It's a power meter, is showing just under 170 watts. Also good for telling me that boiling enough water for 2 brews costs me 0.8 pence.


I won't need it after a few runs with the dimmer as I'll mark the dimmer knob.