I know this has been asked a million times. Let me describe my situation.
I want to buy a prefabbed processor. I use roughly 40 gallons of diesel a week. I have been saving my pennies for a Biopro 190. I have read almost everything about the biopros that I could find.
I know the plastic tanks get beat up a lot. But in all my "research" the biggest problem seems to be that they come with wrong information and grumpy salesmen with no customer service. So I guess I am saying that my stance on plastic processors has softened. I have read about more problems with appleseeds than with the plastic cone bottoms.
I don't have time to build a processor and I am in the shop a lot so I can run one while I am there. This is why the Biopro is so appealling. I don't know if I am getting cold feet on the biopro or if I have changed my mind in that it might be better to get into biodiesel and then upgrade to a better system after a few years. I have a steady supply from a diner that will meet my needs. It titrates about 4 with NaOH.
So my million dollar question is what processors would you recommend? And which processors would you stay away from?
Thanks in advance!

The BioPro is the only way to go! I researched and researched and made the plunge. I did have some hesitation about that much$ but it is worth every penny. Utah Biodiesel is wonderful as well. When I read all of the work others do to process, my decision is reinforced all over. We have made 250 gallons in about 3 weeks and have not had the first problem. There is no calculating etc. so there is almost no way to screw up! GET THE BIOPRO!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Nekoda:
...
I know the plastic tanks get beat up a lot. But in all my "research" the biggest problem seems to be that they come with wrong information and grumpy salesmen with no customer service. So I guess I am saying that my stance on plastic processors has softened. I have read about more problems with appleseeds than with the plastic cone bottoms.

You need to read about plastic processors here. No way do Appleseeds have more problems.

quote:

Originally posted by Nekoda:
So my million dollar question is what processors would you recommend? And which processors would you stay away from?
Thanks in advance!

Recommend BioPro, it sounds like you know what you want already. Stay away from cheap plastic reactors and PVC plumbing.

And stay away from Cheap pumps that have no overload/over temperature protection

And I would council strongly against installing a Water heater heating element in any container that will contain methanol vapour.

I have to Say this I have owned and operated a appleseed processor for two years make it 3 next month, and I have only replaced my first pump only 2 months ago, andthe replacment that dam cheap pice-a CHIT$ only lasted 4 batches and the main seal died, and bought a new Pump from Graydon and I got it today, and I got the pump up and running in ten menuets, the dam phone kept ringing distracting me. anyway back to the processor the 50 gallon tank is too small, I want a 80 gallon tank next.

The Biopro is best for many reasons.
Consider the possibility that you want to bail out of biodiesel for whatever reason. The Biopro will by far be the easiest to get the most of your money back from.
Plastic you can trash, or sell as wash tanks.
Appleseed, you will be lucky to get 1/2 your investment back (not counting the time you will spend).
You will have the best experience making biodiesel with a Biopro.

Bob

Hello ratski

Is this the pump you bought?
I see that it is a Clear Water Pump like the HF pump.
Does it say it is thermal or over load protected?

quote:

And I would council strongly against installing a Water heater heating element in any container that will contain methanol vapour.

what if you make it a rule to never have juice to the element after the methoxide is added? no problems then, right?

-jc

A safe smart operator is the best Saftey device on the market!
Use you head accordingly, with the chemicals your are using, and you should be fine.

I never leave my stuff running unattended.

Hello Jeff,

It is a bit more complicated than that.
Once you have made your first batch of biodiesel the appleseed reactor will always contain an explosive methanol/air atmosphere.
Some of the reactor explosions have occured days after the reactor was last used.
So you have to insure that the heater is never pluged in when it is uncovered.
I do understand there are people who have never made a mistake and those people would only need to be concerned about equipment failure

So far I am aware of 16 people who could not avoid plugging their heaters in when it was uncovered resulting in a reactor fire/explosion.

So Tilly,

Now the NT pump? OK so how many people have reported fires or even bad capacitors with the NT pump? How many people have reported injuries from any hf or nt pump fires? And how many people have reported injuries from plugging in an appleseed while the element was uncovered?

Was it more than the number of reports of 3rd degree burns while using a drill to mix?

quote:

Originally posted by Pruittx2:
A safe smart operator is the best Saftey device on the market!
Use you head accordingly, with the chemicals your are using, and you should be fine.

Not picking on you Pruit just easiest quote.

How many times has an expensive, inspected, maintained plane flown by a pilot with 100's of hours training and 100's and 100's of hours experience crashed and it's blamed on 'pilot error'?

Accidents happen.

You need to design & build to reduce the chance of them as much as possible.

Learn from other's problems.

Stainless Steel is the best.

Hello Rick

You said the NT clear water pump did not have thermal or overload protection.

Do I understand that as a retailer of Biodiesel production parts who represents himself as an expert in biodiesel production and things electrical, it is your professional and legal personal recommendation that both the NT and HF clear water pumps that were designed to pump clear water and have no overload or over temperature protection are on your list of recommended pumps to use in all stages of biodiesel production?
How do you explain that Jon said that Pumps that have neither internal or external over temperature/over load protection are illegal to plug into a power socket?

You didn't answer my question Tilly.

quote:

Originally posted by RickDaTech:
So Tilly,

Now the NT pump? OK so how many people have reported fires or even bad capacitors with the NT pump? How many people have reported injuries from any hf or nt pump fires? And how many people have reported injuries from plugging in an appleseed while the element was uncovered?

Was it more than the number of reports of 3rd degree burns while using a drill to mix?

Sorry Rick but in this playground I hardly think where you are going with this is going to wash.

My reply would be " How many people have reported coking in their Vehicle's engine from using Veg Fuels?" But in the discussions I have had on this topic, it is unanimous that people feel it should still be warned about at every single possible opportunity like it is now.

This being the case, I can't see the possibility of pump fires/ damage being reported as any sort of argument against urging caution about them when another much discussed Possible problem is harped on about at every possible opportunity and it is clear most people support this.

If the Possible problem with pumps should be dismissed, then a law should be passed that coking is never mentioned again either!!!

BTW, How did you go with the level switches for the heating elements in the processors Rick?
Were you able to find something suitable or develop those to fruition?

So I guess the Biopros are very popular. And they should be as they just look sweet.
Are there any other recommendations for anything other than a Biopro or an appleseed?
Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by DCS:
BTW, How did you go with the level switches for the heating elements in the processors Rick?
Were you able to find something suitable or develop those to fruition?

Here you go:
http://www.murphysmachines.com/float_switch.html

It will fit down through a 3/4 npt fitting. Put a tee on your vent port and there you go!

quote:

Originally posted by Nekoda:
So I guess the Biopros are very popular. And they should be as they just look sweet.
Are there any other recommendations for anything other than a Biopro or an appleseed?
Thanks

Your best value is to build your own system but if you must purchase something pre-made, I'd get one of the Biopro's.
Make sure you get it from Utahbiodieselsupply.com

DCS,

I am not trying to make a case for dismissing the Possible problem with pumps. I am trying to put some perspective on the warning. There are clearly more serious dangers. There are also simple solutions. Are you suggesting that solutions to possible problems or that the real dangers of mixing with a drill should never be mentioned?

In your example of warning people about coking. Is there some law that prevents people from responding with, "I never had any coking problems" or "I'd be more concerned about wet fuel damaging your IP and injectors!" You seem to be suggesting that such a law exists in the case of pumps.

On the topic of switches, I found a workable solution for the Appleturnover. Murphy has come up with a great solution for the standard appleseed here.