I have been reading around and I cant figure out if I really need sight tubes and thermometers in all the vessels. how do you know how much you've added or collected without guessing? I have done about 3 batches and I want to get more accurate. also will the grain in MT throw off the reading of your tube if the grain bill varies from batch to batch.
do you need sight tube/thermo in all vessels
- Thread starter tch1980
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I use knotches on my spoon and mash paddle to get volumes. Sparge/mash volumes with buckets. No sight glass at all. I only have a thermometer on my HLT. More would be nice but not necessary for my setup.
maida7
Well-Known Member
I make a dip stick for my brew pot and hot liquor pot, with marks at each gallon. It works similar to a sight tube. I like a thermometer on my brew pot simply so I can see what the temp is during cooling with an immersion chiller.
I mash in a cooler, I use a digital thermometer with a wire probe. No sightglass or dipstick for the MLT.
I mash in a cooler, I use a digital thermometer with a wire probe. No sightglass or dipstick for the MLT.
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Thermos yes.
Sight tube in a MLT is asking for a clogged tube unless you can make sure the inlet is below a false bottom.
Sight tube in a MLT is asking for a clogged tube unless you can make sure the inlet is below a false bottom.
kanzimonson
Well-Known Member
Thermometer is nice but for me the added expense is not worth it. I'll just stick with a thermometer that clips to the rim of the kettle.
And I use a yard stick to measure my volume because I figured out the dimensions of my kettle. One inch equals .71 gallons.
And I use a yard stick to measure my volume because I figured out the dimensions of my kettle. One inch equals .71 gallons.
thanks, the less thermometers and sight tubes leaves more $$$ for other gadgets that I could use. never thought of using a paddle or stick but that sure beats the price of fittings and thermometers. thanks guys!
Broncobum
Well-Known Member
I just did my first brew with a bobby m glass/thermo combo on my gravity fed hlt, and it was great to not have to climb the ladder to measure volume/temp. I am going to do a glass only on my kettle just cause i want it.
There's really not much of a case for a sight in a mash tun unless you actually fill that vessel directly from the tap and heat strike water in it. I use my sight and thermometer in the HLT and boil kettle and I find plenty of utility in both.
I would disagree with the MT/LT comments. I put a sight glass on my cooler and it's been invaluable for fly sparging. I put a small o-ring on it and set that at my desired water level. I open the drain valve to the right flow rate, then play with the HLT drain until the level in the sight glass stays at the o-ring. Once the system hits equilibrium it's hands off until sparging is done.
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