What size heating element (help!!)

[Thumpa]

Hi all I have a new adittion to the Faimly in the shape of a 180l cooper hws tank that I want to turn into a pot still with a thumper. I have hit a wall because I do not no what size/ wattage electric element to use. Can someone please help me with this problem and thanks in advance.

[Dominator]

The size of you still will ultimatly decide the size of element needed, the larger the still, the more power it will require to run it efficiently. Your element sizes are generally set at 2400W and 3600W. Each 3600W element will require its own dedicated circut with a 15A power point. 2400W elements can be run off a normal power circut but each element should be supplied by a separate circut .

I would think at a minimum you would want 3 x 2400W elements, that would bring 120L of wash to boiling in a bit over an 1hr. I used the calculator on This Page. I set the start temp at 25C, end temp at 90C and boiler efficency at 75 for uninsulated and 90 for an insulated boiler.

[Thumpa]

Thanks mate awesome help. Will definitely keep all posted on build and how I go. Cheers again :happy-partydance:

[Thumpa]

Sorry to bother u dominator but what calculation is that under on that page. I will have a 180l copper boiler with 4" colum reduced to a 2" line into 50l thumper.thanks again

[Dominator]

Click on 'Calcs from RAD14701' on the left of the page. Then scroll down to the 6th calculator from the top, called 'Heating time to temp'.