Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

G'day Guys
I followed a link from this site to an article (http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=11265) on another site not too long ago (it's probably on here as well but I haven't been able to find it) by Kiwistiller.
Prior to this I didn't even know the HBS bought still I had was a CM still. I learnt far, far more from this article than I did from the vague instructions that came with it or the few years I have been using it.
I'm now going to take the plunge & try 3 stripping runs & then a spirit run (TPW). I have two washes going now.
I have removed the packing from the column. I assume I still use the bung with the thermometer in it to plug the hole at the top of the column.
I'm hoping I have the water flow tubes in the right place (see pic). I have taken the water jacket outlet tube off & connected it to the top exit of the condenser. I connected the condenser exit tube to where I'd removed the water jacket exit tube, creating a loop in the column where the water jacket connections go.
Two questions:
1. Do I have the cooling water tubes connected correctly? &
2. How much water do I run through the condenser & when do I start it while doing the stripping runs? Do I start with plenty then reduce until the spirit starts to come out?

(Hope these links work, have not done this before).
Many thanks.

You'll have to split your water lines up or won't won't be able to strip - so a valve for jacket condenser and a valve for the product condenser :handgestures-thumbupleft: I started with a similar set up, two valves is handy anyway, even spirit runs...

Start your water when you start to see your temp rise and, as you said, start your flow reasonably high and back it off when temp settles...

Thanks for the reply punchy21
The old brain cells are all but gone & as such I don't follow.
The water jacket's not really needed for a stripping run is it?
Just water into bottom of condenser & out the top of the condenser?

Quoted from Kiwistillers article:
"To detune, rip out your packing (the scrubbers, marbles, or whatever is in the column), and change the hoses around so that water is still going to the condenser (the offset bit where the distillate comes out), but not to the reflux jacket on the column. remember to always put cold water in at the bottom of the condenser. So, now you have a pot still, a clear path from pot to condenser allowing for minimal reflux. I'd take a photo of the hose set up but I've gotten rid of my CM now... maybe someone else can add one?"

What sort of valves are you talking about & where do they go?

Many thanks.

Gad .They way you have done your water lines is fine for a strip.You are just using the product condenser and the reflux condenser is doing nothing.

I added 2 valves into my setup to control water flow to each condenser rather than one for both...

And yeah take the scrubbers out to strip...

Thanks Yummyrum
All systems go then, can't wait.

Thanks punchy, with u now.

As for how much water for a strip run, you only need enough to condense your distillate. I would start off with a good amount of water flow, too much is better than not enough. Once you start collecting, turn the water flow down until your distillate is coming out at 25-35oC. This will ensure you condense all your ethanol vapor and will use minimal water.

Thanks Dominator, I'll do that.
Cheers all, thank u for the help.
:text-thankyoublue: