BrokenBrew
Well-Known Member
I have a Coleman cooler (not the Xtreme - just a 48 Qt. Chest cooler) that I converted to a MLT. I now have 6 AG batches under my belt and am beginning to get more comfortable with the process.
The previous batches, I found a decent spot for my thermometer's probe so it wouldn't get wet, but wasn't touching the side of the cooler either. I used the same spot every batch. But this last one, out of curiousity, I moved the probe to a new spot. 10 degrees different.
I figured it was just a hot spot in the mash, so I stirred things up. Same result. From the front (where the spigot is) to the middle, there's a 10 degree differential. Then at the very back of the cooler it's about 5 degrees cooler again. I figure I'll just average the temperatures I'm getting, but I'd prefer to get correct readings. BTW, I confirmed the temps with my floating thermometer. Same thing.
Has anyone seen this? For those of you who use chest coolers, is this normal?
One last thing - last batch my efficiency went from an average of 73% to 82. I ran the grain through my LHBS's mill twice, and stirred the mash a bit trying to figure out the temps. I'm assuming it's the double milling, but won't figure that out until this weekend's batch. Either way, I'm pleased my efficiency's improving.
The previous batches, I found a decent spot for my thermometer's probe so it wouldn't get wet, but wasn't touching the side of the cooler either. I used the same spot every batch. But this last one, out of curiousity, I moved the probe to a new spot. 10 degrees different.
I figured it was just a hot spot in the mash, so I stirred things up. Same result. From the front (where the spigot is) to the middle, there's a 10 degree differential. Then at the very back of the cooler it's about 5 degrees cooler again. I figure I'll just average the temperatures I'm getting, but I'd prefer to get correct readings. BTW, I confirmed the temps with my floating thermometer. Same thing.
Has anyone seen this? For those of you who use chest coolers, is this normal?
One last thing - last batch my efficiency went from an average of 73% to 82. I ran the grain through my LHBS's mill twice, and stirred the mash a bit trying to figure out the temps. I'm assuming it's the double milling, but won't figure that out until this weekend's batch. Either way, I'm pleased my efficiency's improving.