Bubbler question - live

[Sparrow]

So im running my vinegar run right now. It's started bubbling from the top and then worked down. Is that normal? I thought it was vice versa?

I must say it is impressive to watch anyway!

[MacStill]

yeah that's pretty normal mate, sounds like it's working just fine :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sparrow]

Ended up having something odd, the second plate from the bottom wasn't bubbling so I turned the second element back on and it fired up but was pretty well flooded. I don't think the seal was really good though so I'll fiddle with that before my sac run later when it cools down.

Didn't collect much product out of the parrot drain, was only a drip here and there. I think it'll be easier to manage when the power controller gets here.

[Doubleuj]

The vinegar run behaves totally different to a sacrificial (alcohol) run and your eventual spirit runs.
But the plates should load from top to bottom as Mac stated.
Try a sac run to practice on.

[Zak Griffin]

It will always load from the top down mate, the reflux condenser is at the top! Unless your plates are pre-loaded.

[Sparrow]

So I've just come back to clean it after letting it cool down and there's a fair bit of discoloration on the copper plates, particularly on the bottom side of them. Is that Ok?

[Zak Griffin]

That's the idea of the vinegar run mate, give it a good sac run and you should be right.

[EziTasting]

... I think it'll be easier to manage when the power controller gets here.

Mate, I don't run my still with a controller. I use 2 x 2400W elements to get her up to boil the switch the top one off. Then I work the Defleg (RC) in orde to control the reflux and collection rate.
It's crude but works very well. I wanted my $$ to sink into expanding my whisky making gear so didn't bother with the controller... just saying!

[Sparrow]

... I think it'll be easier to manage when the power controller gets here.

Mate, I don't run my still with a controller. I use 2 x 2400W elements to get her up to boil the switch the top one off. Then I work the Defleg (RC) in orde to control the reflux and collection rate.
It's crude but works very well. I wanted my $$ to sink into expanding my whisky making gear so didn't bother with the controller... just saying!

Yeah that's fair and that's my plan for the time being.

Just need to stop a drip that's decided to appear in the dephleg outflow and I'm into the sac run.

[Zak Griffin]

No controller here either. Needle valve on the bottom of the RC, open it up for full reflux and then dial it in to about 1/2 a turn from shut to hold 88% at about 2L/hr. Seems to be the sweet spot for me!

[Sparrow]

I've just had to shut her down, we've got a glass still and the plates keep slipping on the seal and liquid is leaking out. Tried stopping, readjusting twice but just keeps happening.

[Sparrow]

Sorted that, got it in equilibrium for about halfa. Pulled about 250ml fores. Then collected just into a 10l bucket.

Abv started at 90, after about 15 mins it had dropped to nearly 60 and the flow had stopped. The liquid in the parrot was actually dropping. Played with the RC and PC and it's rising again, abv slowly creeping back up

[EziTasting]

It's exciting, isn't it! I remember this time very well...

These are teething times - TAKE HEAPS of NOTEs!! You'll notice a pattern emerging as you do more runs and that's when you'll tweak it and soon none of these issue will bother you again!

[coffe addict]

:text-+1: it feels like your never going to get the thing under control for the first cpl runs and then the penny drops!
Then you can start playing around with input power and take off rates chasing a particular flavour profile which is obviously different for each wash!

[andybear]

No controller here either. Needle valve on the bottom of the RC, open it up for full reflux and then dial it in to about 1/2 a turn from shut to hold 88% at about 2L/hr. Seems to be the sweet spot for me!

That's the exact method I use except I'm only about 1/4 turn open on my needle valve to the RC. And by the time it drops to 86% I can smell tails coming thru and start collecting only for the next run. Is yours the same Zak?

[Zak Griffin]

Pretty much spot on mate!

[RuddyCrazy]

Now I got the needle valve on my bubbler I just need a slight turn to go from full reflux to a nice toothpick stream and thats with the pump working at 50%

[Milky]

No controller here either. Needle valve on the bottom of the RC, open it up for full reflux and then dial it in to about 1/2 a turn from shut to hold 88% at about 2L/hr. Seems to be the sweet spot for me!

Sorry to hijack the thread but could you please pm me Zak on what needle valve you use? I think it's time Bender gets one.