The Campden Tablet

[calumscott]

oops-a-daisy

 

[bobsbeer]

Well done. :thumb: Now we need a Potassium Sorbate one. :whistle:

 

[calumscott]

Well done. :thumb: Now we need a Potassium Sorbate one. :whistle:

Some other bugger can write that... :lol: Tony?

 

[Algernon]

Thanks for putting that together - I have to say I was put off using them as I noticed they produce H2SO4 and similar fearsome chemicals (not bothered about HCl as it lives in bellies anyway).
I am still a little wary of the tablets though - (having never ACTUALLY seen one, despite a gap-year stint at the place they were invented) I assumed that the tablet must be mainly stabiliser etc with a small amount of active ingredient - has anyone EVER noticed funny flavours or anything from using them? It just feels unnatural putting chemistry sets into my beer, not that I have yet.
I am sure I am making a fuss about nothing, since millions of experienced brewers ALL use them I suspect that the reservations of a third-brew noob are ntohing more than the voice of inexperience.

 

[Gassman]

Nice read and a question after it

One tablet to stabilise 5 litres along with the Potassium Sorbate so would you really have to use 5 campden tablets to stop a 5 litre brew

 

[bunkerbrewer]

Nice addition to the knowledge bank :thumb:

I'd be interested if anyone else has done equivalence sums for powdered sodium metabisulphate and Campden tablets. I researched it ages ago, and now use 1/4 tsp to dechlorinate about 30L of water for beer brewing. Does anyone else do the same, and if so how much do you use?

 

[anthonyUK]

Nice explanation Callum :ugeek:

has anyone EVER noticed funny flavours or anything from using them? It just feels unnatural putting chemistry sets into my beer, not that I have yet.

No but you will if you live in an area where they add a lot of chloramine.
We are only using them to REMOVE additions to the water that are undesirable in brewing :thumb:

 

[calumscott]

Nice explanation Callum :ugeek:

has anyone EVER noticed funny flavours or anything from using them? It just feels unnatural putting chemistry sets into my beer, not that I have yet.

No but you will if you live in an area where they add a lot of chloramine.
We are only using them to REMOVE additions to the water that are undesirable in brewing :thumb:

Spot on Anthony. Most of us don't have pure spring water to brew with (although I know there are some on here who do :mrgreen: ) so we have to deal with what <insert water company here> give us. And that means chlorine species added as disinfectants.

The Campden Tablet turns those compounds into normal stuff that exists in most natural water.

put off using them as I noticed they produce H2SO4 and similar fearsome chemicals

Sulphuric and Sulphurous Acids are pretty tame to be honest, and certainly in the concentrations we're talking about here.

:whistle: I've just noticed a typo...

 

[ScottM]

Good read that, thanks :thumb:. I believe you meant to write 20 gallons instead of 2, when explaining the PPM :)

 

[calumscott]

Good read that, thanks :thumb:. I believe you meant to write 20 gallons instead of 2, when explaining the PPM :)

Nice catch, thanks! Off for another edit...

 

[matjam]

Hi Callum,
Really interesting and useful post.
I think you need to re-do the gallons edit though. 10 gals for 46L .

... one Campden Tablet will treat up to 20 gallons (46 litres). ... in 20 gallons gives 3.75ppm. Just enough for a "worst case" water.

So to dechlorinate a 5gal/23L FV of water prior to putting a brew on, 1 tablet will do the lot ok?

Cheers,
Matt

 

[calumscott]

Ooops... I'll take a look at that later...

 

[Aleman]

My info tells me that one campden tablet will eliminate up to 3ppm chlorine/chloramine in up to 20 US Gallons (17 UK ones ) or 77.5L of water :whistle: :whistle:

Watch those US / UK gallons

 

[calumscott]

Thanks Tony, that saves me working it all out again! :thumb:

 

[Fil]

Great info. all u want 2 know but maybe too timid to ask.. seems ive been over dosing using 2 campden tabs in my hlt..

 

[Wezzel]

Great post. Thanks :-)

 

[calumscott]

Right, numbers fixed. Well spotted matjam and thanks again Tony!

 

[Brewbob]

How long does it take to dechlorinate water? I too have never used them but am interested as you can smell the chlorine, or chloramine round my way. For instance next time I'm going to put a brew on should I fill a sterilized FV the night before and dissolve a tab in it then use that water?

 

[Aleman]

How long does it take to dechlorinate water?

The Campden reaction is pretty much instantaneous.

I put the crushed CT in the mash tun then fill it . . . by the time I'm ready to use it the reaction has happened.

 

[calumscott]

How long does it take to dechlorinate water? I too have never used them but am interested as you can smell the chlorine, or chloramine round my way. For instance next time I'm going to put a brew on should I fill a sterilized FV the night before and dissolve a tab in it then use that water?

As Aleman says, its the best part of instant.

But that's what I do - I fill my pot with a crushed CT the night before then I'm ready to get the burners on first thing in the morning. Takes a half hour off the brewday.