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With the advent of electric devices, the procedure for obtaining strong alcohol was simplified: the burning fire was replaced by special heaters.
Nevertheless, many home craftsmen continue to make moonshine the old fashioned way, not trusting modern equipment and finding a lot of shortcomings in it. Let’s try to figure out how justified their fears are.
The principle of operation of the electric moonshine still
The main difference between such a device and the traditional version is the presence of heating elements (heating elements). They are metal tubes made of copper, aluminum or stainless steel, mounted inside the distillation cube.
In order to heat the mash, you only need to plug the device into a socket: no fire is required. Inside the tubular electric heater is a chromium-nickel coil surrounded by a dielectric powder or oil. A similar detail can be seen in old electric kettles or water heaters.
For uniform heat transfer, heating elements are placed at the very bottom of the tank, stepping back from it 5–7 cm.
The power of the heaters can be different depending on the volume of the cube. Such an element, if desired, can be mounted independently in any apparatus with a steamer, by making holes in the tank for it and securely fastening it. For efficient operation, you will need 2 heating elements of different capacities or one adjustable one.
Advantages of an electric moonshine still
Contrary to the assertions of conservative moonshiners, modern equipment has more advantages than disadvantages.
High performance. Distillation with the help of such devices is much faster, which is especially convenient for the first distillation.
The convenience of use. A container with a heating element can be placed directly on the floor, table and in any other convenient place: there is no need to move or lift anything during operation. The device is even taken out into the yard, if it is possible to equip access to electricity there.
Long service life. Due to the absence of contact with fire, the container is not damaged and lasts longer. If the heating element fails, it can be easily replaced.
High quality. Most models with heating elements are equipped with additional electronic devices that allow you to control the properties of the product in the process and get excellent moonshine at the output.
Variation in use. In the absence of electricity, the container can be heated in the traditional way – on a gas stove.
Safety. The absence of fire in the process eliminates the possibility of ignition of alcohol vapors.
Cons of electric moonshine still
Among the main disadvantages of devices with heating elements, experienced moonshiners call a high probability of burning the wort if it is thick. This is especially true for fruit and grain mash. In this case, it can be recommended either to filter the mass well, or to use structures with a water jacket / steam generator. In the latter, the contact of the heater with the mash is excluded, which means that there is no danger of burning. But it is worth considering that such devices are more expensive.
More significant “cons” are:
High cost of electrical equipment.
Significant energy consumption.
There is a risk of short circuit.
As for the costs, they are relative. Many moonshiners, comparing the maintenance costs of traditional gas-powered equipment with electric ones, have come to the conclusion that they are comparable. The same can be said about the risk of fire: such a probability exists, but it is minimal and does not exceed the risks of working with conventional devices.
Recommendations for choosing an electric moonshine still
Home craftsmen with “golden” hands can make an electrical apparatus on their own by installing a heating element inside an existing cube.
If you do not plan to independently install the heating element in the distillation tank, when buying a finished device, you should pay attention to several nuances:
The material from which the cube and the heater body are made. It is better to stop using aluminum containers: they are not only harmful to health, but also fail faster. As for heating elements, it is worth giving preference to parts made of copper or stainless steel, rather than brass.
The number of heating elements. You can take the device with one adjustable heating element or with several unregulated ones. The first option is preferable.
The presence of additional devices: a thermometer, a bubbler, a dry steamer, etc. The presence of built-in accessories will simplify the distillation process and eliminate the need to purchase them separately and attach them to the apparatus.
Electricity consumption. When choosing a suitable device, it is worth focusing on more modern options with low costs. The volume of the cube and the power of the apparatus depend on the specific needs.
Among the popular electrical devices: “Saturn”, “Craftsman”, “Magarych”, etc.
Relevance: 03.02.2019
Tags: Vodka, mash, moonshine, Moonshine stills and accessories