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Step by Step instructions for using your Still Spirits Turbo 500

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Distilling the recommended wash of 6kg sugar in 25 litres water, will take about 4 hours from start to finish. Please ensure you can give your full attention to operating the T500 Distilling System for this time period. You will need to have:

  • Clock or timer
  • 1 litre calibrated jug
  • 5L Jug or Vessel to collect Alcohol
  • Cooling water supply.

Under normal conditions the water supply will need to be about 500-600mls per minute. If the water temperature is 20°C then the water supply will need to be about 450-500mls per minute. If the tap water is cooler then it will need to be lower and if warmer it should be higher. Step by step instructions are as follows:

  1. Place the boiler body on a firm, level, bench where the waste can discharge into a drain or sink. It is important that the still is vertical and not tilted, otherwise the condensate will not reflux evenly.

  2. Add the wash to the T500 Boiler. The still is designed for a normal 25 litre wash with 23 to 24 litres of cleared wash to be distilled. If you use a larger wash do not fill beyond the maximum level line on the boiler. The wash can sometimes foam when boiling during the distilling process. If it foams it can enter the Column and disrupt the reflux action, reduce Alcohol quality and disrupt temperature control. To help prevent foaming we recommend adding 3ml (capful) of Still Spirits Distilling Conditioner. This reduces the chance of foaming in the boiler and promotes optimum distillation conditions. Also add the reusable Ceramic Boil Enhancers before distilling to avoid surge boiling.

  3. Place the Column and Boiler lid assembly onto the Boiler Base. Ensure you can clearly see the thermometers. Fasten the four clips that hold the lid onto the Boiler. Check the sealing gasket is sitting firmly onto the Boiler with no gaps. 

  4. Fit the Water flow controller to your faucet. Remove the aerator from your faucet. Attach the water flow controller. You may need to use the enclosed adaptor depending on the thread on your faucet. If your faucet does not have an aerator thread, your Still Spirits stockists will be able to supply a push on faucet connector. Connect the water inlet tube to the flow controller Place the Water outlet tube into the sink or drain. Place the Alcohol outlet tube into the collection jug or vessel. Position the outlet of the tube so that it cannot become submerged under the Distillate. 

  5. Connect the power supply and turn on the Boiler. The wash will take 60 - 80 minutes to heat to boiling temperature.

  6. Before the wash begins to boil, turn on the cooling water. Use the clock or timer and the graduated 1 litre jug to adjust the flow to approximately 550mls per minute if cold water is over 25°C. If under this start with 450ml per minute. Once the wash starts boiling, heated vapours will rise into the column and the temperature on the Thermometers will increase quickly. Alcohol will start to flow as the temperature at the top of the Column moves above 70°C.

  7. VERY IMPORTANT Collect and discard the first 50mls of Alcohol that flows. The first 50mls of Alcohol must be collected, separately and discarded. Your fermentation may have produced a very small amount of by-products that will evaporate at a much lower temperature than Ethanol (the alcohol we can consume).

  8. Adjust the water flow to give an outlet water temperature of 55–65°C. Monitor and adjust the water flow throughout the distillation process if needed. Controlling the water outlet temperature is the key user control of the T500’s distillation process. This differs substantially from older technologies in which the user controls cooling water flow to achieve an ideal temperature at the top of the Column. The development work on the T500 showed an ideal water outlet range of 55-65°C. This can be lowered as low as 50°C, which will slow the Alcohol production rate. The outlet temperature can be raised to as high as 65°C, which will make the Alcohol flow faster, but at slightly lower strength and purity. As the distillation process proceeds the alcohol remaining in the wash is reducing, so the reflux ratio automatically rises to compensate and the rate of alcohol flow slows. This slowing is most noticeable after 2 hours of alcohol production. You can confidently keep the Distillation Process running until the Alcohol flow stops. There are no recognisable “tails” from the T500. All the Alcohol produced, except the 50mls of heads, will be high quality.

  9. When the Distillation is finished, turn the Boiler power off and disconnect from the power outlet. Turn off the cooling water supply. The depleted wash left in the Boiler will be dangerously hot. Allow it to cool to a safe temperature before emptying it. Note: The spent wash is rich in nutrients and makes an ideal fertiliser for your garden.

  10. Remove the Column and Boiler lid assembly, and rinse the Boiler of all wash and debris, being careful to retain the Ceramic boil Enhancers for the next distillation run. Rinse the Column by filling with clean water several times to remove any debris carried up by the rising vapours.

    Hint: The Alcohol produced is very high purity, but for complete confidence in the flavour of your finished spirits, filtering through an EZ Filter activated carbon filter will give the final “polish” to your product. 

    MAINTENANCE: If storing the Condenser for an extended period, the thermometers can be turned off by the on/off switch on the back of each.

    Please note: It’s illegal to distil alcohol for consumption in Australia without a license from the Customs & Excise Department.

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