StillSmart

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 5:14 pm**

Hi folks, I'm pretty close to doing my first ever strip runs using my T500 boiler (modified with a pot head). Ive got 75litres of cider to run through. Now i understand on a strip run you should run hard and fast but ive also read on this forum that the T500 boiler can have a habit of burning your wash. So, please my more experienced forum members could you advise! Do I run at the full 2000W (Im in the UK so theoretically this is what the output should be) or should I reduce the power a little? I have purchased a voltage regulator so the option is there. I will certainly be reducing the output for the spirit runs but a little unsure as whether this will be required for the strip run. Thanks for the help - if you need any more info r.e. %vol of the wash etc i can provide it

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 6:17 pm**

I do not see why a T500 should be any more prone to scorching washes than other boilers, quite the opposite I would have thought due to the flush bottom. My boiler has exposed elements which I run at 2.5 kW and I have not had any problems in that field.

Scorching appears to be a function of the wash rather than the boiler. If the wash has solids in it, then they may settle on the heater and scorch, regardless of who made the still.

So the clearer the wash, the less solids, the less chance of scorching.

Posted: **Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:59 pm**

Thanks for a swift reply YHB, puts my mind at rest somewhat

Still gonna be overthinking it until I actually start running. My wash will certainly be as clean and clear as possible and certainly fully fermented (on the principle that not fully fermented washes will cause a world of problems!!!) Got my sacraficials to do first and will have it on full whack so will hopefully see what happens, if anything untoward. Thanks again, appreciated!

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:30 am**

Hi Smiler Sounds like we might have a similar set up.

Here's mine and the controller I use.
http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2814&start=15

You can run the T500 flat out on the strip run (mine is just under 1800 watts) as long as you have a decent sized leibig to cool the distillate down.

My first pot head (Still Spirits) was too small to handle the 1800 watt boiler and I definitely used to scorch the wash.

Running a pot on this boiler has just ramped up my success no end. Strip TPW for neutrals on the reflux. Make rum, vodka and fruit brandies, its all possible with a pot and a controller.

If you haven't got one already I suggest you buy a plug in power manager to give yourself an easy way of repeating your success. http://www.jaycar.co.nz/Power-Products-Electrical/Power-Monitoring/Power-Meters/Mains-Power-Meter/p/MS6115

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:00 pm**

Hi Mr Four Squares, yep just built a pot (100cm 2" column) and a 75cm jacket liebig (pretty much vino tinto's design on here with a few mods) nothing fancy but after all my research it's defo what I wanted. Not overly interested in vodka (possibly rum) more brandies and whiskys is my thing

Never seen those power monitors before so quick question! Do ya just plug it straight into the socket, your lead from monitor onto the voltage regulator and obvs the regulated voltage onto the boiler? I only ask as it's the output voltage of the regulator that's variable so does this device measure the current/voltage draw wired this way or do you need to place it after the regulator per se? Hope that makes sense lol

Great bit of advice there, would certainly help without getting too complicated with the electronics side of things!!!

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 5:16 pm**

Haha Mr Four Squares.... Looks like we may have done very similar things with VT's original (great) design. Complimentary plagiarism at its best

Posted: **Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:24 pm**

MrFS I should have said sooner. Brilliant solution. Simple, Does the job and uses standard items just applied in a slightly different way.

Bang on.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 12:27 am**

Smiler wrote:Hi Mr Four Squares, yep just built a pot (100cm 2" column) and a 75cm jacket liebig (pretty much vino tinto's design on here with a few mods) nothing fancy but after all my research it's defo what I wanted. Not overly interested in vodka (possibly rum) more brandies and whiskys is my thing Never seen those power monitors before so quick question! Do ya just plug it straight into the socket, your lead from monitor onto the voltage regulator and obvs the regulated voltage onto the boiler? I only ask as it's the output voltage of the regulator that's variable so does this device measure the current/voltage draw wired this way or do you need to place it after the regulator per se? Hope that makes sense lol Great bit of advice there, would certainly help without getting too complicated with the electronics side of things!!!

It seems that your question has been missed by others,so I will butt in.
Yes,you plug one of these into a socket.
And your regulator into that.
It could not be much simpler.
The gizmo will show the current/voltage passing through it.
Hope that is clear,
If not,ask again.
Someone will give the answer you need.

Robert.

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 4:56 am**

Yep as per Robert. I got the idea from him when he was just a lad (about two years ago).

I use the watt scale as that is the one I find most easy to relate to.

There is the distinct possibility that the numbers on the display aren't super accurate but they do appear to be repeatable which is the main thing here.

You will discover your own sweet spots to run. I do mine firstly by looking at the output.
Drips
Steady drip
Twisted stream
As much as I can get

For my set up those settings correspond roughly to
300 watts
500 watts
750-1000
After that I just crank it up to full and collect for feints

Oh and lets have few pictures of your rig on the thread if you haven't posted them already

Posted: **Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:44 am**

Thank you all so much for the replies! A simple yet elegant solution to measured power output using a V. regulator - you can't ask for more! Saves me a bit of guess work marking out my output streams on my blank dial on my sacrificials

Just purchased one for £8 off ebay. Sweet. Great tip there of which i'm totally grateful. That's why I like this forum - everyone's friendly and very helpful

I shall post a photo of my set up when I get a chance. I'm quite chuffed with the results after my deep clean/leak test run (needed a bit of re-soldering lol)!

StillSmart

Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?

Re: Stripping run at the full 2000W power?