 Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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I am planning to order a PSII High Capacity with either the premium 15 gallon kettle. I plan to use 2 electric water heater elements. I have ordered parts to wire up a phase angle controller for the main (lower) element (5500W 240V). The secondary (upper) element will have the same element but connect to 120V (1375W) for a faster heat-up cycle. I can see an advantage placing the elements as low as possible allowing a smaller batch to be distilled. I also realize that some clearance is needed between the element and the kettle bottom to get proper convection currents. I have 2 questions
- How far above the bottom of a kettle should the low element be placed ?
- How much clearance should be allowed between the 2 elements ?
Tig
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 Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Hi Tig,
Send Rick an email thru the BH site. Tell him what you want to do and he will let you know the proper areas to place the npt's for your elements. This is what I did when I ordered mine and they did a great job.
Maddawgs
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
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" Originally Posted by: Maddawgs  Hi Tig,
Send Rick an email thru the BH site. Tell him what you want to do and he will let you know the proper areas to place the npt's for your elements. This is what I did when I ordered mine and they did a great job.
Maddawgs[/QUOTE
+++++++++1+++++++ those folks do this everday and they know where the elements will work best so tell em your ideas and let them handle it.
Atta boy MD, good advise."
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
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Tig, If you want to weld them in your self,and maybe you do if you can "Tig weld" going by your name here you can have Rick just make the holes and have him include the couplings and parts. But they do an excellent job if you don't weld or don't want to mess with it...
Captinjack
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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Originally Posted by: captinjack Tig, If you want to weld them in your self,and maybe you do if you can "Tig weld" going by your name here you can have Rick just make the holes and have him include the couplings and parts. But they do an excellent job if you don't weld or don't want to mess with it...
Captinjack CaptinJack, I can't weld them myself. My plan is to have Rick do it. (I could braze or silver solder them myself but TIG welding is clearly better.) Originally Posted by: Maddawgs Hi Tig,
Send Rick an email thru the BH site. Tell him what you want to do and he will let you know the proper areas to place the npt's for your elements. This is what I did when I ordered mine and they did a great job.
Maddawgs Maddawgs, Rick asked me for a detail drawing of the placement of the fittings. I am looking for the information so I can make the drawing. I will ask him for more advice. Ed
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Hi Tig,
That's odd, They must be pretty busy. This is how mine is set up. From the out side measure up from the bottom 2.5 inches. This will be the center of your first hole. Next follow the outside around to about 30 degrees, then up another 2.5 inches. This will be the center of your second hole. This will give you enough room for longer elements and small (8 gallon) runs. Rick's crew set it up for me. Hope this helps you out.
Maddawgs
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
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IMHO 2 elements are an overkill - 4500w 240v heats my 15gal kettle from room temp to production in 45 min. I built a jumper cable with a 240v recp on one end and a std wall plug on the other. When the temp jumps (it will, it will sit at 30* & then boom - drip dip drip) I unplug from the 240v & using the jumper plug into 120v.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered
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Originally Posted by: ratflinger IMHO 2 elements are an overkill - 4500w 240v heats my 15gal kettle from room temp to production in 45 min. I built a jumper cable with a 240v recp on one end and a std wall plug on the other. When the temp jumps (it will, it will sit at 30* & then boom - drip dip drip) I unplug from the 240v & using the jumper plug into 120v. Hi Rat, I don't have 220 available so I use two 110v 2000 watt elements. One is conrolled by an heavy duty 20 amp rsc. I get about the same heat up time, Once at temp I kill one element and run the other on he rsc for temp control. Maddawgs
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
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"Rick asked me for a detail drawing of the placement of the fittings. I am looking for the information so I can make the drawing. I will ask him for more advice.
You know what, I bet the reason he asked for your own drawing was because once upon a time someone said --oh just put my element where you think it should go......then when they got it home they said to themselves, dammit thats not where I wanted it. There ya go, burned, ya know what I mean????
This guy has taught distilleries to operate so deciding where a heating element should go in a 7-8 gallon boiler is really childs play.
Now if you detail it out and then get it home and say dammit thats not where I wanted it .......well thats what you ordered. I'm sure all ya'll see my drift here.
If you ditto post #6 of Maddawgs back to Rick that should work like a champ when your up and running or should I say up and stillin....IMHO!!!"
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
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Originally Posted by: Maddawgs Hi Rat,
I don't have 220 available so I use two 110v 2000 watt elements. One is conrolled by an heavy duty 20 amp rsc. I get about the same heat up time, Once at temp I kill one element and run the other on he rsc for temp control.
Maddawgs Well that would justify 2 elements alright.
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/15/2012(UTC)
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I currently have access to 240V in my garage. I am planning for the future by including the ability to use 2 120V circuits in the future.
I have ordered the parts to build a phase angle controller and will put it together when the parts arrive from China.
I am still considering the option of starting by building a 1 gallon copper pot still and getting some experience before ordering the PSII-HC. I think I would outgrow the 1 gallon still in a few months but would gain a lot of experience distilling.
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Rank: Senior Member Groups: Registered, Moderator
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you will hate the 1 gallon still when your yield is 8 ounces lol
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Rank: Newbie Groups: Registered
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Originally Posted by: scotty you will hate the 1 gallon still when your yield is 8 ounces lol I ordered a first still and expect delivery Thursday. I decided to start small and simple. I took your advice that 1 gallon is too small and decided to start with a 2.5 gallon pot still from WhiskeyStill.net. I see a larger still with a column in my future but I decided I should start with a pot still. I have a sugar wash and an all grain corn/barley-malt wash fermenting for cleaning and my initial product runs. I will report back after I have tried the still.
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