"Hey,

Would an expert please share an in depth explanation about operating the CM still. I have read the The Complete Distiller and other books, spent many hours on this forum as well as Homedistiller.org, and reread what I have already read again. I would appreciate a play by play of operating the PSII HC or some links to threads that you may have saved that would be beneficial to me.

My main inquiry is the actions taken with waterflow at certain temperatures.

""The foreshots begin to appear at about 65-70ºC (149-158ºF) and are again discarded. The quantity of
heads drops to 250-300 ml because the fractionating column produces purer fractions.
Stage 2
When the temperature of the vapor reaches 78-79ºC (172-174ºF), it is time to start collecting the main
product. The temperature will stay stable at this level throughout most of the main run. The product
can contain 90% ethanol if a very low heat setting is maintained and the column is well insulated.""

This is from The Complete Distiller when explaining the operation of a fraction column.

My questions are:

When I start seeing product and turn water to condenser on high for reflux, will the temps be in the 65-70 range?

As I back off on the water to column, is this what changes the vapor temperature?

Shoiuld I be trying to keep the temperature in the 65-70 range until I have the quantity of heads etc.?

Will the temperature at top of column continue to rise if the cooling water is fully open?

I am trying to ask some questions so you can see where my mind is at. The closest I have become to understanding is on graphs but I just can't seem to apply them to the operating procedures.

If you could say something like.....( When you get to this temp do this.......when you get to this temp do that...) it would be extremely helpful to me. I feel like these are questions everyone else already knows but I dont.

Thanks,

B"

I am using propane.

When I start seeing product and turn water to condenser on high for reflux, will the temps be in the 65-70 range?

I too use propane. I crank the flame up pretty good to bring everything up to temperature. In my experience I have noticed that once the temp in the column rises to 100F you have to watch it really close. After a while the temperature will take off very fast. You have to be ready to decrease the burner flame quickly and open the cross tube water flow wide open to get the temp under control, if you don't steam will shoot out the condenser.

Once I get the surge under control I closely observe column temp and my proofing parrot. I adjust the burner flame and cross tube coolant flow to maintain temp and take off rate.


As I back off on the water to column, is this what changes the vapor temperature?

The amount of alcohol & water in the vapor makes the vapor temp change.

Should I be trying to keep the temperature in the 65-70 range until I have the quantity of heads etc.?

I usually start to see fores
160F. As for heads i usually go by the smell and feel.

Will the temperature at top of column continue to rise if the cooling water is fully open?

Eventually the temp will rise depending on the amount of alcohol in the boiler.


I have the standard PSII but the procedure should be the same.

The above is the procedure that I use, there may be others who will offer different advice. The only way to truly "GET IT" is to do it, get to know your rig.

Don't know about the deathwish but wineos will give you a good tastes profile from heads to hearts to tails.

"

I have a psII HC. I cannot keep the foreshots back but once they are extracted, I can keep the temp in the 160's and nothing comes out. The column really doesnt stabilize. The temperature bounces around 3-4 degrees. i.e. 166-170 up and down. I let it do this for 20 minutes and then back off on cooling water. Then the temp locks in around 174-175 and creeps up a tenth every 30 minutes or so. I can keep the vapor temp below 172 though it's just not stable. I'm new so I could be doing something wrong though."

"

By equilibrate do you mean 100% reflux? Mine will equalize once the temperature stays on say 174.4 F. I have actually has the vapor temp drop without touching anything by .1 and .2 degrees over a couple hours. Maybe I am not understanding you correctly. I have not had a 100% reflux without unstable temperatures though."

Scotty - not sure what you're asking or stating. On my 3" HC when the head come up to temp I hit the cooling water hard & drop the temp to say 65* and I've held it there steady for easily 45 min to 1 hour. I then slowly decrease the water until the temp comes up to 78* It will sit there until the tails start coming & then the temp slowly starts to rise. Usually by that time I've got all the drinkin stuff I want & just let it free run up to 90 or so & dump that in the next batch. Never had the rubber bung loosen due to pressure - although at some point I'm sure it would. I also stuff 6 copper scrubbers around the reflux tubes to disperse the cooling more effectively.

mbcapps30 did you get a handle on this? You described my experience exactly and looking for help....

Good info over there... I've only ran 3 washes and understand more than I did when i started for sure. I read till my eyes crossed but feel like i learned more in those 3 runs than all my reading. But to be honest I'm still struggling with reflux - haven't even tried pot still yet.

Would you say the answers given to you above are fairly accurate? See I have not been happy with my results, abv or taste. I'm all over the place temp wise.

Just looking for little direction from someone that has same unit I do so I can lower my learning curve a little - maybe.

(I have my PSII HC on a keg with internal heating - 1500w 120v and 2500w 240v for warm up.)