Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

So got a little copperhead reflux cm still, similar style to t500
With running it properly I can normally get 93-94% in about 4-5hr
For a 25l wash
Tonight it took dam near 7hr on a 10% ftv wash and it's looking like only 92-93%
Same level on power control, similar water temp in, out and flow rate, same packing or again close enough too

Got me stumped, just use this little still for playing around, thought I had it sorted
Any ideas

Are you sure abv in the wash was accurate?

This is one of the reasons a boiler thermo is a good idear,after several runs I noticed the temp it starts boiling at is perpotional to the amount of alcohol in it .cheers hillzabilly ;-)

:text-+1: I have also found my rum seems to puke at the same temp each time also bout 105c.

Yes there a chance the an of wash is wrong by, but it would be the same error rate as normal as in, I have read and calculated the same since day dot and o lay first time I have had a problem
Also if it is wrong I can't imagine we are talking way out, I would think a couple pints difference might add half an hour max kind of thing

When you say the water temp out was similar to a normal run, how similar? Was it colder than normal? If so maybe you didn't have quite enough power/ reflux happening. I found on my old boka (I know it’s a different still) if I didn't have enough power on it just wouldn't settle down the temp, the takeoff and abv would be all over the place. It was only a matter of a few extra volts to get it sorted.

Not sure if this is your problem but it’s something to try I guess.

From memory it was less then a degree normal is low10, ''tis was high 9 incoming

Ah shit didn't realize it made so much difference I just figured as long as my outlet temp was the same for power going in should be sweet

Bloody shitty fiddly little stills

Haha all stills have a sweet spot, you've just gotta find it. I don't know much about your still so I can't give 100% solid advice but I do know if theres not enough vapour reaching the reflux condencer due to low power there will be bugger all condensate to collect and or return back down the colomn to mix back with the upcoming vapour. That's how reflux's work, by cycling the alc up and down the colomn, cleaning the spirit. Not enough cycles means lower abv less clean product. Does that make sence?

yeah cheers mate