Hi Dan,

If your FG settled at 1.000, it was probably done. A sugar wash should typically finish lower though. Say somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.995 give or take. An OG of 1.110 is pretty high and will have a PA of about 17%. This is a bit high and is likely why you didn't finish lower ... yeast don't tolerate higher alcohol concentrations very well. There are some types (like champagne yeast) that might do ok. But lower is generally better. For a sugar wash, try keeping your OG around 1.080 or lower (PA around 12%) ... it'll keep your yeast much happier ... and you'll end up with a much cleaner wash.

As for the distillation with your PSII. There are only two things you can control: (1) water flow through your column condenser and (2) power. That's it.

You should be able to knock down all of the vapor with your PSII (zero output). If that's not the case, then it's either not enough water or too much power. Since controlling the flow gave you no control over your take off rate the first thing to check is your how you lined up your cooling lines & valve. Did you have them lined up correctly? Was the pump operating correctly? etc. You can also stuff some copper mesh between the cross tubes ... that will help some.

The second thing you need to check is your power. You may have been driving the column too hard. This is what I think is the most likely culprit. Too much power will generate too much vapor for your column condenser. Consider adding a power controller to your rig (an RSC, Triac, Variac, etc.). You want to be able to achieve full reflux ... at least at the beginning of your run.

In any case, it sounds like you did pretty darned well for a first ferment and first run, so congratulations!

Just one final thought: I ignore the temperature ... I don't think it tells you much more than where you are in your run. Stay focused on your collection rate and power instead ... the things that you can actually control.

Again, congratulations!

Regards,
--JB

I don't think your wash was off. If you started with a lower OG it most likely would have finished a few points lower. But it sounds like you did just fine there. Work on getting control of your take off rate -- which in your case it sounds like being able to control your power.

After the fores, you'll want to be able to achieve full reflux (no output) ... and leave it sit like that for a half hour or so ... maybe more ... you'll figure it out. You're looking to get the components to separate in the column (kind of like what happens with water and oil when you let it sit). Too much power is like shaking the water and oil -- you won't get good separation.

If you're blasting water through and still have output, then you're overwhelming your column condenser, so you have no choice but to reduce your power. I typically run just enough power to get a broken stream (like a string of beads) with my column water completely off. Then just increase water flow until the output stops.

After it sits for a while, back off your cooling water and draw off your heads slowly (drip, drip, drip -- not a trickle) -- you're drawing off the heads. Use your nose to tell you when you're into your hearts. Again, you'll figure it out, but until you get accustomed to the smells, your thermometer can help you out. The temp will rise a bit. Ignore the actual temp but watch for the _change_. After some practice, you'll probably trust your nose more than you're thermometer as every run is a tad different ... and your nose will probably be more accurate.

When you're into the hearts you can reduce your water further & perhaps bump up the power a tad. You'll have to get to know your rig. It'll take several runs, but that's why we do what we do. :-) But you'll notice that a slower take off rate (more reflux) will give you higher abv and a faster take off rate (less reflux) will give you a lower abv ... and this will all depend on what you're trying to accomplish.

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response -- just wanted to emphasize the importance of getting control of your power.

Have fun & be safe!

--JB

Edited by user Sunday, January 11, 2015 2:48:31 PM(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

Hi Scotty, not very long. I realized this error. I only stirred till yeast was mixed in.

d

Helo Dan, I have a PSii with a 2" column on a hot plate. I found that lowering the hot plate to 70 volts(1050 watts) works the best.At 80 volts the flow was faster ut the % fell a bit. At 60 volts it took way to long to run 4-5 m/l min and 15-16 hours. I had Raschig rings and was producing 93-95% at a average flow rate of 12-13 m/l a minute. I have since switched to copper backing and won't go back. My 1st runs I noticed the % fell to 88%. The taste improved nicely. Your wash numbers are pretty much what I get. I start around 1.14-.986 on a 25 lit sugar wash. This gives me 1.140-.986= .154 so (.154 X 129 = 19.86% 25 X 19.86 = 4.97 Liters
) Al though the numbers look good there just numbers. This parrticular run I got 3240 m/l at a average 88%. Oh my mash usually take's 9-10 days, room temp 20C and mash temp last couple of days is 20C. Hope this helps you out Dan,

Dan, I got a roll of copper from Lee Valley. The roll is 25' and it roll up nicely into the column. I'm still new using this method but did fine a improvment. I been thinking of using a inch or so of rings on the bottom and then copper. Also I rolled a few balls of copper and put them around the cooling lines. I ended up getting the hot plate from a Smiley's and build a voltage controller. I used a 15 amp fan varible speed control from an electral supply, $55. Until it burnt out I used a plug in watt meter that give me interesting figures. Power factor/watts/volts/power cost.I check the voltage now with a meter. I have a heat ban that I've used when the wash temp gets below 20C. I found that if the ban is around the 20ish litre mark on the fermentor held good temp around 24C. If I recall the higher up the fermentor the lower the tempeture.Just a tid bit, I use a spread sheet to log the run from mash to jar. So of nice to look over the record's.
Forgot about carbon filtering. I used the funnel and pipe method, its a few hours to run through drip at a time. I found it helped a bit. Lateley I have put carbon in the jar for 10 days and it seems to clean up good,smell/taste. Was told 1 cup carbon per 2 litre bottle, rotate every couple of days for 10 days. I've cleaned the carbon by boiling it, changeing the water a couple of times then air drying on a towel.

Edited by user Saturday, January 24, 2015 12:23:28 PM(UTC)  | Reason: forgot the carbon filtering

Hi Dan, I'm by no means an expert but my guess would be too much heat and pushing the column too hard. The heat thing has been interesting. Recording the different settings, found that 70 volts (1050 watts) seems to be the sweet spot for my unit when using Raschig rings. I once pushed the column to hard and had a raschig ring go through the condenser, too much heat. With only 2 runs with copper using the same settings the proof fell a bit, but the outflow was the same. Before switching to copper,I got information from other members here.The 25' roll I folded it in 1/2 and then rolled/twisting it into the column. The roll was 31" long, the same as my column. I made 5-6 balls and added them around the cooling lines. So in short Dan try turning the heat down, I don't think you would have over packed your column. I assume you bought the one 25' roll for a 2" column. Hope this help's Dan.