Oh Play Fair! - Hydrometer calibration

[Moley]

In BrewStew's "How To" do your first AG he mentions checking hydrometer calibration, and then to stop sparging at .990, which would be temperature corrected to 1.006

I have two hydrometers, so I just thought I would check them.

Hydrometer A is a Stevenson Reeves which is marked 20°C
It has a fairly long stem, 1.000 to 1.100 measures 67mm.

Hydrometer B came in Young's packaging, no temperature is stated.
It's a shorter, stubby little effort, 1.000 to 1.100 measures 49mm.

I would have thought the longer stemmed Stevenson Reeves would be the more accurate instrument, so kindly explain this:

In our tap water at 20°C hydrometer B (Young's?) reads 1.000
In our tap water at 20°C hydrometer A (SR) reads 1.004

At 30°C hydrometer B (Young's?) reads 0.998

I reckon Hydrometer A reads 1.000 at 32°C, and a reading of .996 at 43°C would seem to confirm that.

Is it usual for them to be this far out, or have I just got a duff one?

 

[Wez]

Silly question - have you given them both a spin to rid them of small bubbles, it's suprising what a difference it can make.

 

[EskiBrew]

I would have thought the longer stemmed Stevenson Reeves would be the more accurate instrument, so kindly explain this:

I would have thought that too :hmm:

Is it usual for them to be this far out, or have I just got a duff one?

It looks like the SR one is out :?

I have two hydrometers, so I just thought I would check them.

You know, a man with one hydrometer knows the specific gravity, a man with two hydrometers needs to drink more beer and not worry about it

I have one hydrometer which I have had since I started brewing 20 odd years ago - never checked it against another. I keep promising myself a refractometer but have not gotten around to it yet...

 

[Wez]

As you know my brew set up is pretty basic but a refractometer is defo my fave piece of kit for the money

 

[EskiBrew]

As you know my brew set up is pretty basic but a refractometer is defo my fave piece of kit for the money

What range does you one cover Wez?

 

[Screwy]

Hydrometers are a PITA, refractometers are the G. O. only a couple of drops required for sampling. Buy one with ATC auto temp correction. my2c

Screwy

 

[Wez]

0 - 32 brix and it works well :thumb:

 

[A T]

I have the same as young Wez and i'm so lazy now i don't even take out the hydrometer anymore except on it's birthday.

 

[Wez]

young Wez

Get in

:party:

 

[EskiBrew]

:lol:
Young Wez and AT have certainly got my eBay finger twitching again :nono:

 

[Moley]

Silly question - have you given them both a spin to rid them of small bubbles, it's suprising what a difference it can make.

Yes, always.

I have another Cooper's Dark which is just about ready for bottling (and I need the bucket back), starting to clear, but if you watch there are little pellets of yeast popping to the surface every now and then.

Wilko / Young's: 1.006
Stevenson Reeves: 1.010

And yes, I'm reading them at the right level.

 

[prolix]

whilst brewing I use my 0-18 refractometer have a 0-32 for monster beers as well.

my hydrometer is used all the time once fermentation starts, when the beer is near ready I have been known to take five or six readings a day, ll in the sake of quality control mind :whistle:

it matters not really as long as the gravity is steady for 24hrs just use the same only all the time

 

[Wez]

I've happily kegged with yeast activity like that. Both of those SG's are low enough IMO

 

[tubby_shaw]

:hmm:
A hydrometer can be easily checked in water at the calibration temp of the hydrometer, how do you calibrate your refractometers ?

 

[A T]

:lol:
Young Wez and AT have certainly got my eBay finger twitching again :nono:

It's only a matter of time anyway :whistle:

 

[EskiBrew]

:hmm:
A hydrometer can be easily checked in water at the calibration temp of the hydrometer, how do you calibrate your refractometers ?

Presumably by dropping some tap water on it and checking it reads 0. I think you can adjust refractometers??

 

[A T]

:hmm:
A hydrometer can be easily checked in water at the calibration temp of the hydrometer, how do you calibrate your refractometers ?

Presumably by dropping some tap water on it and checking it reads 0. I think you can adjust refractometers??

Indeed via the little screw

 

[Wez]

Yep, there is a small adjuster - a drop of 20c water and your away :thumb:

 

[Smod]

Yep, there is a small adjuster - a drop of 20c water and your away :thumb:

Assuming your thermometer is calibrated or it's back round in circles !! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Wez]

gaaaaaahhhhhhhhh


stop it smod :lol: