Your opinions and brand names are much appreciated.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RSG-100ATC-Black-rubber-strip-Brix-Beer-Sugar-Wine-Wort-SG-0-32-Refractometer-/300773268613?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item46077bdc85
Can't beat it for the price and is calibrated correctly 4 beer.
I just got one a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time. I really like it and I'm glad I have one now. It's so easy on brew day! If you're thinking about getting one check out http://brewhardware.com
This is the one I got. Good quality. Plus you'd be supporting BobbyM who is a fellow HBT'er and homebrewer.
I just bought the one from Amazon. When I opened the box 10 days later, inside was a sports bra. So there's that.
rustym said:I just got one a couple of weeks ago and used it for the first time. I really like it and I'm glad I have one now. It's so easy on brew day! If you're thinking about getting one check out http://brewhardware.com
This is the one I got. Good quality. Plus you'd be supporting BobbyM who is a fellow HBT'er and homebrewer.
Ok, I just found the one I have. $22, free shipping from US. I got mine super quick. http://www.ebay.com/itm/RSG-100ATC-...877?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33733a12f5 I see now that it is the RSG 100ATC which has the SG scale issue. I would buy it again though. It's not hard to convert brix to SG.
I got one off ebay also but the one i have apparently has the S.G scale fixed since 20 brix is sitting right at 1.084 s.g.
Ok, I just found the one I have. $22, free shipping from US. I got mine super quick. http://www.ebay.com/itm/RSG-100ATC-...877?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33733a12f5 I see now that it is the RSG 100ATC which has the SG scale issue. I would buy it again though. It's not hard to convert brix to SG.
I calibrated mine with distilled water, then RO water, then tap water, I even spit on the stupid thing and they all read zero! My point being you don't need distilled water to calibrate, unless you have serious issues with your water. I make sure mine is dialed in at zero every time with some water. It reads exactly what my Hydrometer does, but is much more convenient unless taking a F.G. reading. Best $20 I have spent!I agree. I bought mine from Bobby, and when I posted questions about how to use it, guess who answered...?? Bobby from Brew Hardware.
Get the model that has Auto Temp Calibration (ATC) is was under $40.
In addition, I slightly disagree with the comment about checking calibration every 5 brews. Depending on where you brew (outside vs inside) the ambient temperature of the air plays a role in the accuracy of the refractometer.
To calibrate correctly, the distilled water sample and refractometer should both be around 68 degrees F, BUT most important is that they both are the same temperature.
For instance I brewed outside yesterday in northern VT and it was around 48 degrees outside. I brought refractometer and sample outside and let them come to that temperature and then calibrated.
The ATC aspect of the device will "correct" the readings as long as the temperature does not fluctuate much +/- 20 degrees.
TyTanium said:I just bought the one from Amazon. When I opened the box 10 days later, inside was a sports bra. So there's that.
For a typical beer wort, 20 brix would translate to about 1.080. If you were measuring wine must, then 20 brix would translate to about 1.083
-a.
I am not an expert but wort contains maltose. Must contains fructose. Most if not all refractometers are designed to measure the bending of light through fructose. Maltose bends light slightly more or less (not sure which). So, for measuring maltose content you need to make an adjustment to compensate.Brewdiction said:I'm not quite sure how any refractometer can determine wort from must. Can you explain why wort brix -> SG translation differs from must? Also, does anyone own the Brewfractometer mentioned in this thread? I'm all for spending a little more on quality vs buying again after first one breaks. Just wondering if the higher SG, hard case and aluminum body are worth the extra $40. Thanks
I am not an expert but wort contains maltose. Must contains fructose. Most if not all refractometers are designed to measure the bending of light through fructose. Maltose bends light slightly more or less (not sure which). So, for measuring maltose content you need to make an adjustment to compensate.
You are assuming a linear relationship between brix and specific gravity. The relationship as described by the polynomials used to convert from brix to SG is not linear. As such the correction factor is also different for the two scales. It is true there is a correction factor for both but the correction factors are different.Brewdiction said:Thanks ajf. I understand what you are saying. Different sugar solutions will refract the light differently, hence the correction factor described in the linked article. Your comment that a reading of 20 brix will mean different SG depending on the solution just isnt true. Both brix and SG will change together based on your CF adjusted measurement. Is anyone else following my thought process?
This article has a cubic equation to covert from brix to SG. Even that equation is an approximation.alestateyall said:You are assuming a linear relationship between brix and specific gravity. The relationship as described by the polynomials used to convert from brix to SG is not linear. As such the correction factor is also different for the two scales. It is true there is a correction factor for both but the correction factors are different.
Thanks ajf. I understand what you are saying. Different sugar solutions will refract the light differently, hence the correction factor described in the linked article. Your comment that a reading of 20 brix will mean different SG depending on the solution just isnt true. Both brix and SG will change together based on your CF adjusted measurement.
Is anyone else following my thought process?
For a typical beer wort, 20 brix would translate to about 1.080. If you were measuring wine must, then 20 brix would translate to about 1.083
-a.
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