First likker run with PID-electikity still. Part 1
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- Опубліковано 25 жов 2017
- Firing up the PID controlled electric HWC still with about half a charge of wash.
Watching the very fast spike (faster than my 50L gas potstill) then squeezing out all the foreshots nice and slow before messing around a bit with the first 5 litre jug out.
Miniature goat, kids had for a pet (Hammer). He would scratch his horns cross chair legs, end of doors, corner of refrigerator, cabinet doors, bed post, ect. Very intelligent. Just wanted loved. Boy was it aggravating. Pets
Yeah, I kept worrying about the thermocouple wire. I'd trip over that for sure. Happy to see it was an easy fix:-)>
Yeah - you saw it coming too huh? lol
I thought to myself early on "now make sure you don't trip over that thermocouple - that would be bad..."
The thermocouple prongs just pulled out of the terminals (they weren't done up vise-like tight. Could have been worse.
Where are you getting those glass blue jars with flip top bottle tops. Can't find those in U.S. save my life.
Heya Milkman, hows it going!
You refering to the gallon-jugs with the Grolsch-style swing caps?
I bought a few of them second hand off the NZ equivalent of a craigs list quite a while ago.
No idea where to start looking Stateside, ... maybe craigslist or ebay?
They hold 4-5 litres (roughly one gallon).
May appear to have a tint in the vid but are clear glass.
Happy Distilling!
ouch, glad it was only the fan
Yeah me too! - definitely an "Oh crap!" moment. :o)
Good-bye my friend! A very good solution with the process control unit. You need to design an autonomous cooling system. My friend designed this from an external air conditioner unit, and installed a pump there for water circulation. Good mood, and new discoveries
Hey there. :o)
Yes, have considered closed cooling loop recycling cooled water ... actually have been looking around at cheap 2nd hand cooling units for a while now.
Like everything, is best not to be in a hurry and eventually something comes your way ...
Happy Distilling!
Have a nice day, my friend. Here are some developments, Russian fans of distillation and rectification, autonomous cooling systems. alkodoma.ru/oborudovanie/avtonomnaya-sistema-ohlazhdeniya-dlya-samogonnogo-apparata.html ,
Hey mate, Been watching your videos, And I'm in love. Just have a question about power.
I'm looking at building a plated column and boiler (I have a crappy 25L T500) and I'm trying to work out power requirements.
If I was to use 2 x 3600w elements do I Need 2 x 15amp breakers? 1 for each element?
I know that Amps * volts = max current, 15amp * 240V = 3600W. No one really explains the power set-up needed in the building, and it is confusing me as I think I'm right but I'm still certain.
Any ways Great Videos, and Greetings from across the water. (Aus)
Hey Ging'.
Glad you like the vids!
Disclaimer (ugnh, I know) ; Not a sparky so don't take what I say as gospel - I have no formal sparky training.
From what I understand, yeah 2x 3600W @ 240V would have you right on the edge tho' (no saftey margin) with a 15amp system - any kind of peak loading and you are over.
You'd need 2 separate 15amp (at very least) breaker circuits that have been set-up as 15amps by a sparky (wider earth plug sockets etc).
I'm lucky in that they already exist in the workshop here.
With my 2x 3000K elements @ 240V I'm just under the 15amp threshold (12.5amps per) - part of the reason I stopped at 3kW each.
If you are running your elements on flex cables from each remote 15amp source, you'll want heavy duty ones - not "hardware store HD cables" - they are often a regular cable with heavier plug - you will actually want heavier flex cable - at least 2.5mm square copper cores.
If you try running small core 10amp flex cables you soon notice them getting very hot.
How big is your boiler you are looking at? Do you really need 2x 3600kW?
One of the things you'll need to consider is that unless you have special low-density 3600kW boiler elements you run the risk of scorching your wash and having that scorched taste transfer across in your distillate.
As it is with the 3kW system I think I'm going to end up running it reigned right back much of the time.
Hey mate, Sorry for late reply.
I am hoping to build a decent sided boiler, 120L or bigger. just trying to source cheap material or scrap is a little hard. The only reason I was looking at a 2 X 3600w setup was more for heating time. turn the boiler on, slowly crank it, then wind it back as the temp starts to hit the sweet spot. I've been looking at my available power sources and I found my only option would be to run the still in the shed on the farm (3 x 15amp available, and plenty of 10am circuit). I'm currently trying to find a good source for some 4" & 2" copper pipe so I can start with a new column. I just hope I can be as lucky as you and find an old hot water tank.
Mate - if your are in farming country you are ground zero for all the best second hand stainless-steel food grade containers!!! :)
Good hunting!
You need to switch/PWM the power after the regulators, not before, it can be done with 2 SSR's, where you probably only have one.
G'day Nimrod, nah - I'm running 2x SSR's, - I made a vid' or 2 showing how I'd laid everything out and built my controller if you want to have a squiz - any input is welcome.
Also looking at just building a simple controller for future use and ditching the PID altogether, running my stills a little more intuitively nowdays and tweaking it based on what's coming out the end of the condenser rather than what's showing on the thermo'/sensor. :o)
I didn't see the build video until now....sorry.
I am guessing that the PWM switching (by the PID controller)of the SSR's is causing power issues of the electronic power regulators.
Not knowing how the Regs work, or are wired, I will guess to make sure that the SSR's are on the load side of the Regs.
If anything, I would get rid of the Regs. and use the PID controller, and SSR combination.
Hearing that bird squawking is annoying
Funny, … she said the same thing about reading your comment! ;oP
Happy Distilling and Merry Christmas.