How to Run a Still with an Electric Controller

This blog provides information for educational purposes only. Read our complete summary for more info.

 

A still can be heated with an electric hot plate, propane, or even over a fire. However, it is best to run stills with an electric heating element and a digital controller. When running a still with an electric heating element and digital controller there is no need to worry about filling a propane tank, open flames, or a hot plate cycling. The best thing about running a still with a controller is the ability to easily dial in the drip rate.

Before move on, a reminder: Brewing beer is legal in every US state. However, distilling alcohol is illegal without a federal fuel alcohol or distilled spirit plant permit as well as relevant state permits. Our distillation equipment is designed for legal uses only and the information in this article is for educational purposes only. Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation.

 

In order to heat a still with an electric heating element you will need a few things.

1) You will need a still - either stainless or copper.
This link has all of our stills.

2) You will need an electric heating element adapter and controller.
This link has our controllers and adapters.

Installing the heating element adapter on one of our stainless stills is extremely easy. Attach the heating element adapter with a tri-clamp and gasket. The full video install is located here.

It is also easy to retrofit our heating element adapter to a copper still with a  copper still heating element adapter kit. The copper adapter kit includes everything you need to add a heating element to a copper still. 

The Clawhammer Supply digital controller is able to run in a set value mode as well as in manual mode. When running a still with a digital controller it is best to run the controller in manual mode. Read the directions on switching the controller to manual mode in this article.

How to Use a Digital PID Controller to Run a Still

  1. Attach the heating element to the still.
  2. Install the thermowell for the temperature sensor in the boiler thermometer location on the still. 
  3. Install the temperature sensor from the Clawhammer Supply controller into the thermowell. The temperature sensor will simply slide into the thermowell. The thermowell is included in our heating element adapter kit.
    1. It is possible to install the temperature probe from the controller in the column thermometer location,  but it is best to install it in the boiler location.
  4. Fill the still with liquid.
  5. Once the still has been filled and everything is securely attached with tri-clamps and gaskets (flour paste for our copper stills) start heating the still. 
  6. Make sure the controller is in manual mode and set the power to 100%. Heat the still at 100% of power until the still starts producing.
  7. Once the still starts producing dial the % of power downwards to match the desired rate of output.
  8. As output slows, increase the % of power (the still will need the power increased a few times during the run to maintain the desired output rate). Always run the still by drip rate and not by temperature.

Benefits of Running a Still with an Electric Heating Element

  • No Open Flame
  • No need to worry about propane.
  • Extremely easy to dial in the drip rate of the still.
  • Replacement heating elements are inexpensive.
  • No cycling of power like with an electric hot plate.
Portrait of Emmet Leahy

Emmet Leahy is the Chief Operating Officer and lead product developer at Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company. He loves the process of developing new equipment for making beer at home just as much as he does using it to brew his own beer. He's also passionate about teaching people how to use distillation equipment to produce distilled water, essential oils, and with the proper permits, fuel alcohol and distilled spirits.

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8 Comments

  • RE
    Comment Author: Rick Elam

    I use your two-tank stainless steel essential oil distiller with 120v heating element. my last two runs delivered about half of previous runs. Good Hydrosol and oil but much less. there seems to be a large amount of water in the plant material after distilling. do i need insulation on the material tank to maintain the temp of the steam through to the condenser? The temp on the material tank is 215 degrees.

  • JB
    Comment Author: John Baker

    Were exactly is the best boiler thermometer location? I’ve got a 5 gallon pot still with an electric heating element, should it be down low by the heating element?

  • A
    Comment Author: Aaron

    Just been blessed with a still , cant wait to make a run !!

  • NB
    Comment Author: Nestor Pe benito

    I am into essential oil extraction. I am currently using direct fire heating method. The size of the distillation still is about 1 meter x 1 meter by 2 meters with acapacity of 600 kg of airdried citronella grass. Is it possible to use electricity to heat this size of still and if so is it practical cost wise as to the cost of power required.

  • N
    Comment Author: Neil

    How does one know when the steam isn’t producing alcohol anymore? Seems like last batch was great in the beginning but started getting watery later in the run.