StillSmart

This may be on this board somewhere but I couldn't find it. I'm wondering what the water temp should be on a T500 everyone I assume talks about the stack temp or the temp from the probe on top. My T500 only has the one temp probe on the water outlet spot so what should the temp be when doing a run?
I'm sorry if this sounds dumb or has been discussed elseware but I 'm not getting the ABV that I think I should be getting and was wondering if the water temp is too high.

I have found it depends on the packing and how dense you pack it.
If you are using the copper and ceramic saddles that came with it, I would run it at about 50C, it will be slow, but the best ABV.
Also it depends on if you are going to double distill, if you are, then run the wash at a higher temp (60C) to get as much off, then do a spirit run at the lower temp.
When I used the original packing I could not get the best results as far as ABV went, so I switched to SS & copper scrubbers, but run at 58-62C, scrubbers reflux better than saddles.
The normal consensus among T500 users is the lower the better

vino-tinto - I have bought alleged ss and copper scrubbers only to find out they are only coloured as such.

May I ask, please, where you bought yours from so I can pop out and get some?

Many thanks.

The SS scrubbers came from Lidl @ 99p for 4, they are made from SS lathe shavings.
The copper scrubbers I got are "Chore Boy" sourced on ebay, bit pricey on delivery charges.

Also look at http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2825

everyone I assume talks about the stack temp or the temp from the probe on top

We're talking about the lower temps, that's why SS ditched the top thermometer.

I find an increase in quality running slow, some haven't, not sure why so still things to learn.

This is just the way I do it, others are different but I'm lazy. It won't be long before you've found what works best for you.

Vodka Star, 6Kg of sugar. After the still reaches equilibrium, ie. top of the column is hot enough to produce spirit but the water flow is high enough to stop that, I leave it for 15 minutes or so as it cleans the column. Then I adjust the flow to give about 42'C until I've collected 500ml of fores/heads. (Takes ages.) These go either down the sink or into a spray bottle for kitchen cleaner. (It is also a very good deodorant btw.)

Then temps up to 50/52'C and collect 3L of hearts. Turn off still, no tails collected. Ends up costing me <£1.40 per litre of 45% spirit. I really can't be bothered doing extra work to shave a few pennies off the per litre cost by recycling heads or tails but many others enjoy the recycling part of it.

My problem is I get absolutely no output until my temp reaches about 75%c so my ABV is around 65% and around 3 litres from a 25 liter wash. Would I have a problem with my column?

Spudnik1954 wrote:My problem is I get absolutely no output until my temp reaches about 75%c so my ABV is around 65% and around 3 litres from a 25 liter wash. Would I have a problem with my column?

Are you using the original packing

Yes I use the ceramic saddles and the copper pieces as well although I have added a few extra copper ones. When I do a rum wash I only use some copper electrical wire nothing else.

Spudnik1954 wrote:.... I only use some copper electrical wire nothing else.

Now that's exactly what I've been waiting for and wondering about.

I have a bunch of Oxygen-free copper stranded cable - would that perform better - ie react less negatively?