Newbie

[BD]

I know you've probably heard this many times but...

Whats the average cost of a DIY 125L processor?

Just doing a bit of research for a possible project.

[Jamesrl]

Welcome to our bio world.

That question is the same as "how long's a piece of string".

It all depends on your budget. The reactor can be a bucket and stick to an all bells and whistles masterpiece.

How much do you want to spend?

[Julian]

Hi BD,

Welcome to the wiki and forum.

I think you already have an inkling as to what the answer is going to be!

It very much depends on you capabilities in plumbing, fabrication, and simple electrics, your access to various bits required for the build, ability to scrounge them, or how lucky you are at bagging bargains on ebay.

Assuming it's a positive answer to most of the above and that you want to build a basic GL type processor you could be looking at £250 -300.

You've made a great start by asking on here rather than going out and buying a commercial unit.  Steer clear of them most are not all they're cracked up to be.  Study the wiki and ask on here before you jump in and you'll get a low cost and most importantly safe processor.

[nigelb]

No such thing as an average cost.

Contact Jamesrl on this forum for all your requirements. You wont be disappointed with the price, or indeed the quality, of what you receive.

I see he's just replied before I did.

Send hima PM

[Dickjotec]

Welcome.
As above but first decide what you want to do. Does the vehicle you plan to use need first class bio or will it be happy with less than perfect.
The best thing you could do is to visit someone near you who makes bio so you understand the process and see how they do it.
I am near worcester but there will be others nearer to you.

[Julian]

Before considering a processor you will need to ensure that you can feed it.  Do you have a supply of oil sorted?

It's becoming increasingly difficult to secure collections ... not impossible, but you may have to work at it.

[nigelb]

If you want to see a jamesrl unit in action or at rest then pop yourself up the M69. You're more than welcome to a visit, a cup of tea and you'll leave my house as many others have with information overload.

[Head Womble]

Hi and welcome.

Pencil yourself in for two or three visits as after the first you'll spend a week or two trying to make sense of things.
It will become clearer on subsequent visits.

[greasemonkey]

If you want it quick, you'll have to pay for it. If you can wait around, and collect parts slowly, when they come up cheap, or free, it'll be cheaper.

[Head Womble]

If you want it quick, you'll have to pay for it. If you can wait around, and collect parts slowly, when they come up cheap, or free, it'll be cheaper.

You have a good point, however it needs to be weighed up against the cost of buying dino (pump diesel) until the first batch is produced, with that in mind a JRL (jamesrl) unit becomes cheaper than you think.
This does depend on if you're running veg at present or not.

[greasemonkey]

If you want it quick, you'll have to pay for it. If you can wait around, and collect parts slowly, when they come up cheap, or free, it'll be cheaper.

You have a good point, however it needs to be weighed up against the cost of buying dino (pump diesel) until the first batch is produced, with that in mind a JRL (jamesrl) unit becomes cheaper than you think.
This does depend on if you're running veg at present or not.

Aye. That's true.

[BD]

Wow thanks for the great response I didn't expect so many replies so quickly!

The project (which isn't a definite yet) would be for an old transit/ ambulance. The plan is to use it to drive around Europe with a processor in the back and make the fuel as we go. Obviously the processor will be taken out and operated outside or used in a trailer so as to reduce the health risks etc. so the oil would come from restaurants etc around different countries.

This is also why I'd need to make it myself and bespoke to ensure I can fix it and can make it appropriate for the scenario e.g. fit in a van/ trailer.

I was expecting that sort of price range up to £500 so thats great to know thanks.

Also thanks for the invitation to visit your processor I will  take you up on it in the new year i expect! Many Thanks!

[greasemonkey]

If I was going to have a mobile plant, I would be looking into cavitation processing. Not really tried and tested yet mind, at least not be us. Depends whether you want the hassle of building and testing it I suppose.

If your talking about and old Transit, pre 2000, smiley face, You do know that they will run on straight veg, don't you?

Certainly your options on what oil you can use increase dramatically when making bio, but then they do with a  heated tank aswell, which would be very simple compared to a mobile processor.

[Jamesrl]

The plan is to use it to drive around Europe with a processor in the back and make the fuel as we go.

Mmmmmmmmmm! A great idea in theory but practical, I ain't too sure.

Aquiring chemicals, power and disposing of the byproducts.

I can't see a campsite allowing you to hold and use toxic/very flammable liquid.

Stick to vegging.

[Julian]

The plan is to use it to drive around Europe with a processor in the back and make the fuel as we go.

Mmmmmmmmmm! A great idea in theory but practical, I ain't too sure.

Aquiring chemicals, power and disposing of the byproducts.

I can't see a campsite allowing you to hold and use toxic/very flammable liquid.

Stick to vegging.

All of what the grumpy old bloke said plus, don't forget the law will be different in different countries ... you may not be able to make road fuel legally in many.