Temperature controlling the T500

[Arismac]

G’day all. I am wondering if anyone has tried the following by way of cooling the T500 and saving water and if so is there any advice you can offer me please?

Instead of connecting the cooling water to a constantly running tap, would it be possible to use a small pump of say 100l/hr to pump cold water from a 50ltr container through the T500 and then back into the cold water tank. I really have no idea of the amount of water that the “cooling tank” will need to hold or the rate of flow.

I should mention that I do have a Keg King power/temperature controller which I believe I can use to control the T500.

[Kenster]

Arismac, the T500 uses around 3/400lit of water in a single run. The sizes you quoted will heat up too much and not be effective and to compound the problem, the T500 has such a small and reasonably inefficient leibig that you really need to overkill the cooling. You really want to keep your output temp cool as possible. The T500 is a Cooling Management still and the water cooling is extremely important as it is the method by which the still flow/output is controlled, so the variation to power may assist by being able to control the vigour of your boil to some degree but still has limitations. Personally i would doubt if controlling the power would enhance the performance noticeably.

[orcy]

50l isnt enough. You really need at least an ibc.

[db1979]

You could try running your cooling water through a car radiator, I have no experience with the t500 but it works a treat with my 4" bubbler, keeps cooling water temp stable with only about 30 L of water.

[bluc]

Must be something wrong with my setup. I have a vz commodore radiator and 200l drum keg boiler. I cant do back to back with 3600w...

[db1979]

I'm running 2000 W through my boiler, twin fan radiator (no idea what it's off of, $50 at the wreckers). I run each fan off of a 12v transformer, each rated at 300 W. Temp rises a bit at first but then stabilises a bit above ambient and doesn't budge.

[bluc]

Maybe my fans are not good enough..

[db1979]

Mine do blow fuck loads of air.

[Wobblyboot]

I think the power controller would only be useful if u were running as a pot still. I used to use 2 x 200l plastic drums, 1 full and run it into an empty 1. I separated the water lines, the pc stayed cold so that went back into full drum. The new inlet at top had the needle valve on it and that was how i controlled it, it comes out hot and goes into the empty drum. It uses far less water that way. I just used a very small pump from home brew shop.

[Arismac]

OK, thanks everybody. I will do a test run this weekend without a wash, just water in the T500 and report back on temperatures.

[Plumby]

I think the power controller would only be useful if u were running as a pot still.

I run my super reflux still on a power controller and I get excellent results, once up to temp I dial back the power to around 60% and my water runs at a trickle.

[orcy]

A power controller is useful on any small still. Less power means less water required, however run times will increase.

[Plumby]

I have the same run time but have better control of my still using a power controller.

[warramungas]

Must be something wrong with my setup. I have a vz commodore radiator and 200l drum keg boiler. I cant do back to back with 3600w...

There's your problem. Nothing works well in a commodore. :laughing-rolling: :violence-smack:

Sorry, couldn't resist.
Full disclaimer, I did briefly own a dunny door.

[bluc]

Lol :D

[baznkez]

HI ,
I have 2x 200 litre food grade plastic drums , i have tank outlets in bottoms & supply tank has another it top 150 mls down , the bottom outlets have taps connected then hose from supply to 12volt pump which i run of a acdc charger, from supply tank through pump through t500 out back into 2nd storage tank which is also full , then from that rank at bottom is a hose run to top 90dg fitting on supply tank which works of gravity, so it has doubled my cooling water from 200 litres to almost 400

[Wineleader]

HI ,
I have 2x 200 litre food grade plastic drums , i have tank outlets in bottoms & supply tank has another it top 150 mls down , the bottom outlets have taps connected then hose from supply to 12volt pump which i run of a acdc charger, from supply tank through pump through t500 out back into 2nd storage tank which is also full , then from that rank at bottom is a hose run to top 90dg fitting on supply tank which works of gravity, so it has doubled my cooling water from 200 litres to almost 400

I currently run a single 200 litre drum which is managing at the moment probably because it's freezing here in winter.
I will connect up a second drum prior to summer so I would be interested to see a picture of your setup. I can't quite grasp it from your explanation baz. Cheers

[bluc]

Have a pipe between drums to keep water level equal. Pump out of first tank and return it to second easy peasy.