Refractometer re-visited

[Honk]

I bought a cheapie off ebay as well. It's pretty accurate off the bat compared to the hydrometer, so I use it for OG, and then tap off a dribble when I think it's done to check. The conversion default on brewers friend seems pretty accurate for me, which I checked by comparing against the hydrometer. I don't bother with the hydrometer now as a half percent difference in abv is not something I could detect or indeed even worry about.

This sums up my approach too, I also find the refractometer easier to read.

 

[PhilBrew]

Hi GerritT

Put the kettle on ... That water is pure. Use it for calibration.

... sorry, should have been more precise ... I didn't mean that calibration, I meant the wort correction factor (link) re-calibration ... at least I think of that as a calibration. Is there a different word for that, "re-factoring" maybe

Anyways, with my refractometer (an eBay cheapie) different worts seem to need different correction factors, so it's been relegated from taking "meaningful" measurements, and its only function is to test for gravity stability ... but it's fine for that

Cheers, PhilB

 

[David Woods]

Just had a panic - an earlier post asked me to check the fridge temp just in case - and it suddenly come to me that as I have the probe taped to the bin covered with insulation that I am obviously measuring the liquid temp not the ambient fridge temp - this is 15.2 c

is this ok or should I raise the temp - the brew seems to be doing ok if taking a bit long to finish.

A little off topic but does anyone know how to set the font when posting replies to be the same without have to change it every time - not keen on Times Roman!

 

[David Woods]

Just had a panic - an earlier post asked me to check the fridge temp just in case - and it suddenly come to me that as I have the probe taped to the bin covered with insulation that I am obviously measuring the liquid temp not the ambient fridge temp - this is 15.2 c

is this ok or should I raise the temp - the brew seems to be doing ok if taking a bit long to finish.

A little off topic but does anyone know how to set the font when posting replies to be the same without have to change it every time - not keen on Times Roman!

Sorry done it again - wrong topic - I really must pay attention!

 

[GerritT]

Hi GerritT
... sorry, should have been more precise ... I didn't mean that calibration, I meant the wort correction factor (link) re-calibration ... at least I think of that as a calibration. Is there a different word for that, "re-factoring" maybe

Anyways, with my refractometer (an eBay cheapie) different worts seem to need different correction factors, so it's been relegated from taking "meaningful" measurements, and its only function is to test for gravity stability ... but it's fine for that

Cheers, PhilB

Well I'll be...

never used it, and the brewmaster that taught classes in homebrewing neither, or any of the other microbrewers I know.

 

[aamcle]

RI isn't the way to go, it's more of less Ok for sugar solutions and solutions were the dominant component is sugar but pretty much worthless on solutions with little sugar and containing an unknown quantity of ethanol.

If you want to follow the fermentation you need either a Tilt or an iSpindle, I have an iSpindle it was fun the first time I used it and it generated a lot of information including the time when I would consider the fermentation finished. If your trying to push batches through your fermenter as fast as you possibly can then 'finishing day' is important even essential information if your not then not so much.

I give them 14 days and check the SG if it's at my expected finishing gravity I bottle, I've never had a bottle bomb and because I make sure I pitch enough yeast into a temperature controlled fermentation I very rarely find that 14 days is not long enough.

My 2 pence worth :-

pitch plenty of good yeast.
control the temperature
BE PATIENT!!

Aamcle

 

[RichK]

I have a cheap refractometer & find it's a useful bit of kit to have in the toolbox. Where I've tested against a hydrometer, I've got "good enough" (for me) correlation between the results. For an ABV calculation, I use "BrixCalc" (android). You do need to note & keep the original value though. I just find it easier & quicker to use than a hydrometer in a jar but still use the latter from time to time as a reference.

 

[David Woods]

I have a cheap refractometer & find it's a useful bit of kit to have in the toolbox. Where I've tested against a hydrometer, I've got "good enough" (for me) correlation between the results. For an ABV calculation, I use "BrixCalc" (android). You do need to note & keep the original value though. I just find it easier & quicker to use than a hydrometer in a jar but still use the latter from time to time as a reference.

Hi, I have looked for BrixCalc did you mean Brix Calculator? as this is the only Brix Android app I see there - or am I not looking properly!!

Cheers

 

[DavidDetroit]

@David Woods
If someone's already said this then "plus one" to your idea.
You can put a hydrometer directly in the fermenter at the beginning just before pitching to get OG. Then if you leave it alone for two or three weeks, you can check it the same way with a sanitized hydrometer two days in a row to make sure it's stable/finished. No jar need and far fewer incursions in this method so less exposure to air.
If I know the FG and it's three weeks later and I hit it that number, I go right into bottling. I'm not recommending this; it's just what I do and there are a few things to know if someone does it this way.
I recommend checking at least twice at the end.

 

[David Woods]

Hi David, thanks for the comments - I did think about doing this but was very nervous about keep opening the lid to let the bugs in - I take my sample from the tap - but also in my last brew the foam head was so huge it would have meant I wouldn't have been be able to see the hydrometer! May consider this on the next brew!

Thanks for your input

 

[RichK]

Hi, I have looked for BrixCalc did you mean Brix Calculator? as this is the only Brix Android app I see there - or am I not looking properly!!

Cheers

this one

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.manning.brixcalc

 

[David Woods]

For some weird reason this wont install on any of my Android devices - incompatible! emailed the author to see why - strange.

 

[David Woods]

So I decided to give the refractometer a go - I checked the calibration - spot on and did a reading - 7 Brix - I then found this site https://brucrafter.com/convert-brix-to-sg/ where they have a converter allowing for alchohol and the reading was 1.016 - so I then did a hydro reading which was 1.020 - so a fair bit out.

Is this what you would expect? maybe there is a better site for conversion. No matter as I said I am only using it to check for stable reading. Just would be interested in comments. Cheers