Hi All,
Well I did my first official run this weekend and I think it was a success. The wash I used was the one from my "time to admit defeat and beg for help" thread and it was based on a turbo recipie from Bushy's "yesterday's run" thread. It was 12 gallons, Sg was 1.090 and Fg was .990 (12.9 abv?) and also included the quart od 40% abv from my sacrificial run. From start to finish it took just over 11 hours. (I did stop it at just before 9pm and restarted the next morning, I did not count the second heat up time but I will note that during this second heat up the same process was followed but there were no fores and at 162f to 170f there were onle a few drops of heads.) Heat up time was just about an hour with the lower rsc controlled element set to var high and the top element on. Coolling water flow to the column was set at just a trickle and flow to the liebig was at full open. When the top of the boiler hit 190f (temp probe sitting on boiler cover) I turned off the top element. I monitored column temp as it heated up by placing my hand on it from top to bottom. I think (and I could be wrong) that this gave me a good feel for how the reflux action of the column was working (different alcohols vaporize at different temps with the nasties boiling at lower temps-again I could be wrong). At the point where the upper section started to get warm I turned the rsc to midway on the high setting. When the area just below the cross flow cooling tubes got warm I set the rsc to the divider between high and medium. Fores started at 152f and stopped at 155f (no drips) then I increased colling water to the column for about 10 minutes then set it back to trickle. Heads started at about 160f and went to 168f (no drips) again I set column flow to full for about 15 minutes the set it back to trickle. Right at 172f I started pulling heads at between 90% to 93% (varied thru run) And continued pulling until 176f. Final yeilds were 250ml fores, 250ml heads, 175oz of what I'm calling 92% hearts (cuts were jars 1-4 10oz each, 5-8 20oz each, 9-13 10oz each, 14 5oz), and 2.5 quarts of tails (tails were just under 90% down to 40%). Column temps are mentioned only because that is when product started dripping. My goal was to have low heat to the boiler and a slow drip rate. Cooling flow to the column was increased only to force more reflux and induce better compaction.During the hearts run the drip rate varied from 2-3 per second to a pencil lead sized stream. When I got a stream I lowered the rsc setting eventually ending up at the lower quarter of the low setting (on the light bulb test this setting was flickering or almost no power).
OK let me know what you all think on how I did. I did my best to follow the advice of our experienced members and thank them all for their advice,in various threads. Hope to hear some feedback from you all.
Thanks, Maddawgs

Hi Maddawgs, congrats on a good first run. I like your hands on the tower to observe the vapor movement, kind of "Old School" techniques mixed with new technology.
Good description of a good first run. Keep em coming.

Hi Bushy,
Thanks, I was trying to understand the concept of how reflux works in a tower. Going on the theory that different alcohols boil at different temps so the vapor temps should be close to the same. It took about 25 minutes to heat the column from bottom to top. I'm thinking that this was the vapors thru reflux action working their way up the column and my top of column temp readings kind of prove the theory. All the alcohols starting dripping at just about the right temps with the nasties in the 150f range, heads in the 160f-170f range, hearts at 170f to 175f, and tails right up to 205f. I found it all to be very interesting. One of my next mods is going to be to find some way of monitoring temps at different points up the column. I want to find out if I'm getting true separation during reflux. This wash was from the one you did in your "yesterday's run" thread so I'm pretty happy with the results so far.
Thanks, Maddawgs

I just use an ice chest and when the water starts warming up I put in a frozen gal jug of water and replace with another when that melts. Works well for me with little effort

Well that sounds good to me... Did you get the second pump from Brewhaus...

Man, That sounds like a lot of work or input above and beyond. I'm glad mine doesn't take that much thinkin.

I got a pump from brewhaus and it feel apart and it would not stay back together. I went to Lowes and got two pond pumps and they seem to be doing great. NOT bashing Brewhaus because I but all my supplies from them now since they are in Texas.

Hi Bill,
It is a learning process for me. I gave as much detail as possible for those who are intersted in the PS2HC. Kind of an explanation of how it works and what it can do. Just trying to give info to those who want it.
Maddawgs

I understand that but while it would be running it just kept coming off and then the little propeller would push itself out. Tried to fix mant times and it just kept doing the samething. I never dropped it or anything just put it in a cooler abd left it unril it was not pumping one day. maybeI just got a bad factory unit. Not mad or it hasnt got me to a place to where I will not buy from Brewhaus just saying I didnt have luck with it...thats all

Hi flht01,
Thanks, glad I could be of some help. If you have any questions i would be happy to answer as best as I can.
Maddawgs