Silk, thanks for the response, yes the plates have a small amount of action. Generally empty but there are some small bubbles coming through when the plates are bypassed, on liquid maybe 1 mm thick or less. I think the 10" column has so much area the vapor wants to go through, vs the 1" bypass it just puts too much through the bubbler area regardless of it all being open. The dephlag I had completely off, it was direct plumbed, easy to shut off. No trickle I have now changed it to come off of the product condenser as Paul instructed me to do. Can't wait to see if that helps. But for sure, passive reflux is happening.
Stumpy, I am using precision IRS hydrometers from nova tech, and I am temp correcting with an expensive certified thermometer. I know its nuts, I can't believe it either. Makes me want to try and run it slow to see if I can get it to make vodka.
Paul, I'm glad you have the class to warn the vendor, but since I haven't heard back from him on any of my questions, concerns, and issues since I installed it, ill just go ahead and say I bought the still from Olympic distillers out of Washington. To be fair I have received advice from the factory in china, but to be candid the language barrier makes things too difficult. And its always a three day delay or so to get an answer. That doesn't help when your electrician is standing there wondering what to do, getting paid by the hour.
Still Holler, I think It might be big. To be honest I don't know. When I ran a 15 gallon pot I had 2 " column, so the jump made sense to me moving to a 100 gallon pot, but maybe I am mistaken.
Does anyone think given the problems I am having keeping the ABV down that vodka is a possibility with this pot? Run all six plates, run it three times to clean the flavor. Pot Charge of 30-35% for final run? I never thought I could do vodka on this still, but from mash I'm hitting 92% on the fores, 87 through the hearts.
Thanks Guys!
Keith