Essencia Carbon Filter

by **Opus 27** » Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:47 pm

I have just replaced the carbon filter on my Essencia. Just for the hell of it I've removed the plastic spider with the filter gauze from the top of the used one. Now I'm no chemist but what appears to be inside is normal activated carbon, so I'm thinking when the new one I've fitted is exhausted it may be worth trying a home refill. No doubt manufacturers and retailers reading this post will give me a reason why I should'nt but I will any way. I'll post the results as and when I do it but it will be a little while as I have to put at least 45 Litres through the new cartridge first.
Opus 27

by **marc83** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:02 am

Will be opening one up when i replace mine this week Opus.Wondered whether it could just be refilled with activated carbon.I dont see why not.

by **Opus 27** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:55 am

The only problem I see in the long term is the fibre pad at the top and bottom as they are bonded and you have to assume they will eventualy get a bit clogged with carbon dust. Probably though a bit of work with a scalple and a coffee filter may solve this.
Opus 27

by **marc83** » Fri Jul 02, 2010 12:21 pm

nd if not,if it can be refilled 2-3 times would still be cheaper.Heading to the brew shop tomorrow to pick up my new filter,got a shitload of spirit that needs filtering!

by **marc83** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 4:07 pm

Replaced my carbon filter yesterday,could have bought a few essences or yeasts for that price!!haha,oh well,anyway,took a while to start,after priming,thought i would put through a half litre of old neutral to get rid of the residual water inside from the priming,Overnight bugger me it didnt go through!!!!Had a bit of a read up,and it usually advises to once primed to put 3L(or to fill above ceramic filter)of water to make sure is working correctly first.....AHHHHHH....so i topped it off with some neutral above the ceramic filter,and bugger me,shes now filtering!!!!Going to let this lot filter,then test Alc %,then put the 10L or so i have through.BTW this is the first time i have replaced this filter.Kept me old one,goin to cut it open sometime,and think about refilling it.

by **Opus 27** » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:15 pm

Primed my replacement cartridge by filling the bottom with previously filtered spirit and then filled the top with new stuff left it over-night then pulled of what was in the bottom and kept it to chuck back in the top. Worked fine and that way I didn\'t run the risk of diluting my 40% ABV with priming water.
Opus 27

by **Opus 27** » Wed Jul 21, 2010 11:44 pm

The instructions say "DON'T OVER TIGHTEN" the carbon cartridge. I Did!!! and the thread snapped on a new cartridge. I would of said I screwed it firmly to seat the "O Ring" but ping it snapped so be warned.
Opus 27

by **marc83** » Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:04 am

A bit of the thread must be stuffed on mine,as the cartridge will kind of drop one thread on only one side,sorry if thats confusing,needs to be carefully sat back into place otherwise it drops slightly,hasnt affected the performance of it,but i must have just about overtightened it.So yes it must be looked out for.

by **Ronbo** » Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:21 pm

Thought you guys might be interested in my experiment. I just replaced my Essencia filter.

Like Opus, I removed the top of the old filter to see what\'s in there. Looked just like extruded carbon to me. Anyway poured it all into a coffee filter and poured loads of tap water through it to flush it out. Then put the lot into a pan of water and boiled it on the hob for about 40 mins. Lots of oily scum came out which was poured away. Back into the coffee filter and flushed any remaining scum out with tap water.

Then into a stainless steel Balti dish which was placed in the turbo oven at 160C for an hour.

Came out dry and smelled just fine. Will refill the cartridge and try when this present one has been used.

Ciao.

by **Opus 27** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 2:30 pm

Refilled mine two weeks ago with Alcotec carbon. Put 18 litres at 45% through. Worked fine. I think I should get at least 4 refills out of a Â£4.00 bag of Alcotec.
Opus 27

by **marc83** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:04 pm

im glad i have held onto my \"old\" carbon filter.will try and refill it before i have to replace mine the next time.

by **Ronbo** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:49 pm

Hi Opus,

Are the bags of carbon the 1.7 Litre ones, cause I can\'t find any cheaper than about Â£5.00 plus postage. I appreciate that if you can refill the cartridge about 4 times for a quid, then it is hardly worth the bother of flushing out the old stuff!

Ronbo.

by **Ronbo** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:51 pm

That should have read \'4 times for a quid each time!\'

by **Bottleofrum** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:08 am

Hey guys , been a long time since I have been on here, (work).

While I have been away my essencia carbon filter has been left on its own,

untouched for 3 months, I have only used it once, do you think I should change

the parts inside to be on the safe side or do you think this will be fine??

Thanks again.
BOR

by **Opus 27** » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:27 pm

Three moths old, depends if it was left with anything in it. I left my with it submerged in spirit for a few weeks and it didn\'t smell right so I binned the carbon and soaked the ceramic in RO water for 24 hours. Now as I\'m refilling the carbon I wait untill I have about 18 litres at 45% and filter the lot and then throw the carbon.

As for price on Alcotec Carbon mine may be nearer Â£5.00 than Â£4.00 as I didn\'t note how many pence came after the pounds. I don\'t pay P&P as my local HB shop gets it in on as required basis for me. I\'m a great believer in supporting local buisiness, they need a living to.
Opus 27