Not an expert...I also just finished building the same valve refluxed still. I am using electricity and a pid controller w/4500 watt low density element. I was also concerned with the plans not having a cap for the condensor along with the few turns of the coil that they suggest. I made a double wrapped coil, first around a 1 1/2 inch pipe and then again around a 2 inch pipe. I have not yet done a water run but plan to next week sometime (weather i.e. hurricanes permitting -- Florida resident...).

"i used 20 feet of 1/4 inch, stretched it out and filled with salt. i had to get up on the roof to ensure that it was good and packed. from that point, i got a piece of 1 1/2 inch pvc pipe, about two feet long. i stuck one end ( let's call this the inlet) of the copper inside the pipe (again about 1 1/2 to 2 feet) then start wrapping the copper around the outside of the pipe, covering a portion of your inlet, to your desired length (for me it was about 14 turns) covering up . when you do this, you should have a coil wrapped around your piece (inlet) of straight copper coming through the middle of your coil.

Then get a piece of 2 inch pvc ( about two feet) and slide it over your first coil and continue wrapping back towards the inlet and cut to desired length (this would be your outlet). once your done you have several options;

1) you can bend the inlet and outlet ends over the top of your condensor so that you can easily remove and do not need to drill holes in your condenser shell.
2) you can cut to length and drill two holes in your condenser shell and fit two 90 degree compression fittings to connect to your inlet and outlet hoses.

i chose the latter for my set up but, i still have to get some piping insulation (foam) to insulate the column and will then strap my inlet and outlet tubing to it with tie straps to keep them in place.


Yes, any shared info is good stuff...how long before you water test yours?"