5 or 4 plates??

[WoodyD40]

This is why I always say to people, "ask 10 people the same question and you'll get 10 different answers, find what works for you"

Funny you should say that Stig.

Running the next fermentation tonight, and because I have the water flowing slightly faster than last night the start off ABV is higher than last night. I think it's 92%.
I will probably gently dial down water so it's closer to high 80%'s.

With only Subtle changes can make a difference in take off speed and ABV.

[WoodyD40]

One hour later, the abv is sitting at 86% and I’ve collected 2.5 litres.
Better abv than I expected. That’s just by slowing down the take off with slightly more cooling

[TheRealMrMessy]

This is why I always say to people, "ask 10 people the same question and you'll get 10 different answers, find what works for you"

Funny you should say that Stig.

Running the next fermentation tonight, and because I have the water flowing slightly faster than last night the start off ABV is higher than last night. I think it's 92%.
I will probably gently dial down water so it's closer to high 80%'s.

With only Subtle changes can make a difference in take off speed and ABV.

I just like that you are using a parrot on a reflux run at all Woody ;-). Just for you Stiggy, with your 10 different answer comment: I find 3-4 the sweet spot for brown spirits so far. I also like the theory of using it in reflux mode to compress the heads, turn off the reflux condenser and shift to pot still mode to get more flavour over - gonna try that next year with some bourbon. 4 plates is the only one I paid attention to on offtake abv, and its 90, 91% at 2.5-3ish lph at ~3500w.

Neutral, I add a 250mm packed section plus glass tower with 4 bags of kegland SPP on top of the 4 plates. 95% all day long, 3lph no problem, still got power to spare but and doubt I'm even close to flooding it, but I run out of reflux cooling capacity much higher - coldest the tap water got here in winter was 24c...

[WoodyD40]

I am now 2 hours into this stripping run. 4.5 litres collected (after 4 shots). Parrot is now down to 55%.
I haven’t really changed anything. Just ever so slightly reduced water in the reflux condenser. So it’s going a bit slower tonight for me. But enjoying some of Bryan’s whiskey, and some of my own ouzo. So it’s a good night.

Oh , and Geelong playing, so I’m going into house for updates from swmbo with scores.

[TheRealMrMessy]

Oh never mind my comment on the parrot then, Woody, its a stripping run ;). I don't reflux at all on a strip. Do you find it reducing your overall volume much by refluxing?

I tend to get about 15 litres at about 40%abv from a 60L batch, takes about 3-4hrs from first drips for a strip run. How long's it taking you for about how much? I find the results of 2x 60L strip added to 1x 30L batch is about right for my 70L boiler, comes in around 35% for the spirit run. What's your process knowing we've got pretty similar setups?

[WoodyD40]

As this post is about how many plates …..

I’m only running 3 plates for stripping and then finally for spirit runs.

I’m usually collecting 6.5 litres from a 50 litre boiler fill.
That’s letting my fermentations run about 13 days.
As I collect in 2 seperate containers, not sure sure of final abv.

First 5 litre approx 70 abv.

Last bit about 40 abv.

[kingy]

I just tried a run with more reflux, had the plates fully loaded and take off speed was 2.5-2.7litres an hour over 3 plates with 2 stripped 50 litre batches of a 70%corn 15%wheat and 15% ale malt and about 12 litres of remaining wash.
As the plates where starting to loose liquid as the boiler warmed up i bumped up the water flow. And increased the voltage if required to maintain the speed and keep the plates loaded,The flavour is so much better, the run was so much quicker i tried to push it harder but had to back off a little as there was a very small hint of tails pushing in.
Yea it took some driving but my main cut is definitely going to be bigger and better. I've been nursing this 4 inch to much it seems. Let the baby run.

[bluc]

Any idea how many watts you use kingy?

[kingy]

Any idea how many watts you use kingy?

yea roughly 3600 watts on that run.
I've tried running more power in the past but was collecting slowly around 1.8-2 litres an hour and the cuts where smeared a little. I've done 2 runs recently around 3200- 3600 watts as well and collected around 2.8litres an hour and the cuts have been awesome, I havnt got my head around it or worked out why but for some reason running more power and reflux and collecting slow causes smearing. When collecting fast doesn't?
I've tried so many different ways to run this 4inch still with low and high power and less and more reflux etc, always been scared to collect at a higher rate, did it once and now im converted, ive lost a lot of time running this thing slowly haha. Full speed from now on.

[bluc]

I built mine with a small rc about 80mm between cooling lines from memory and i blow past it with power rather then adjusting needle valve. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[bluc]

I run with similar amount of power.