I ran a spirit run today on 4 gals of 30 ABV wash and got 15 pints of output ranging from 91 to 89 ABV at a temp of 173-175. What were you expecting to get? I usually measure the output ABV from the stripping runs and know about what I expect to get as output from the spirit run and am pretty close in my calculations. I retrieved 228 ounces of alcohol from the input. I have the PSII and have run many stripping/spirit runs. What was the result of your stripping run?

I'm using a digital thermometer and usually start seeing output around 140-150. I wonder if maybe the thermometer you're using isn't reading correctly. At what temp did you finally shut the stripping run down? I stop mine (stripping) when the ABV drops below 70 or the temp climbs above 206.

Forget your thermo, run it by heat input, broken stream is a good output for a pot. Temps just confuse you unnecessary which is why your posting this question ;-)

I had my second run on the 28th. I started producing around 158. I backed the flame as low as I could and still maintain a slight flow. I introduced minimal tower cooling and was 160 for an 18 minute pint. Very Exciting. The product started at 180 and dropped to 165 when I stopped. I charcoal filtered it and cut it to 110. My wife thinks I should cut it a bit more. LOL

You're definitely on the right track. Now bump up your energy input a bit more and use a bit more cooling water to maintain the _same_ _slow_ collection rate. This will give you a higher reflux ratio ... and you'll get a higher abv. The trick is to avoid driving your column too hard where things get smeared. You'll eventually find your sweet spot.

The only other thing not to forget: Once you get some steady output at the beginning of your run, open up your cooling water so you get zero output. Then let it sit like that for at least 30 minutes. When you start collecting, your collection rate should be almost painfully slow until your nose tells you things are clean. This will help compress the heads.

Regards,
--JB