Have you recently bought a Still Spirits Turbo 500 and would like to know how to run it effectively? Maybe you’re an old hand but would like to make sure you are getting the most out of you Turbo 500. This article is designed to help everyone, regardless of where you are on your journey with your T-500, to optimise running the Turbo 500.
1. Ensure your wash has finished fermenting prior to running the Turbo 500
Unfermented sugar in your wash results in less yield. Ensuring the wash has finished fermenting is an important step. Using a hydrometer is the most accurate method of confirming fermentation is complete. With a sanitised hydrometer take a reading of your wash. The hydrometer should read a specific gravity of 990 or below. If your wash hasn’t reached a gravity of 990 leave the wash to continue to ferment and retest at a later date.
2. Ensure your condenser is cleaned regularly
A clean condenser will result in yielding a consistently high-quality neutral spirit. We recommend that the condenser is rinsed after each use as this helps to maintain a clean and effective unit. A deeper clean of the condenser and saddles is recommended every 6-10 runs. Still Spirits recommends “rinse the column with a citric acid mix (2 Tbsp citric acid to 4 L of water) then flush with water 2 or 3 times to get rid of the acid. You can also unpack your column and soak your saddles in a citric acid mix before rinsing them and placing them back into the column again.”
3. Ensure your waterflow is consistent
Irregular waterflow will cause fluctuations in temperature of your T-500. Ultimately this effects the quality of your neutral spirit. Washing machines, dishwashers, flushing of toilets and turning on household taps will all contribute to irregular waterflow. Still Spirit’s Water Flow Regulator is a useful piece of equipment which will help regulate the flow of water regardless of water usage in other areas of the house.
The Turbo 500 is a fantastic still for home distillers. If you are interest in the Turbo 500, check out the T500 bundles available in our online store.