2 year old broke my hydrometer - I think it's time to upgrade.

[Special Hops]

So my hydrometer was sitting in the dish drying rack after use and my daughter come up and starts playing with it and breaks it.

So I think it's time to upgrade to a refractometer. I have read the various "refractometer" issues and the concensus seems to point to operator error.

Now my questions. What to get?

What is the difference between the $30 e-bay specials and the $70+ dollar models available? Is it worth double the cost or will the $30 one do the job just fine.

Any recommendations on manufacturer, model and your experiences would be appreciated.

 

[samc]

You really need to have a Hydro even if you go with a refractometer. I purchased of the the ebay special ones which seem to be the same as the LHBS ones I've seen.

btw - anything you leave within reach of a two year old is the same as you breaking it. glad that she did not get hurt by the glass!

 

[stevo155]

I haven't used my hydrometer since I got my refractometer. You need to do some calculation when measuring fermenting wort, but with Beersmith or the excel spreadsheet from Morebeer, it's not an issue.

I got mine from ebay a couple years ago for $25 and it works fine. Make sure the one you get has temp. adjustment ( ATC ). Calibrate it with distilled water from time to time ( or before each batch like me ).

Some more expensive models out there have digital readouts and their own light source.

 

[Tall_Yotie]

I would still keep a hydro around for doing FG measurements and the like, as I hear it does not work as well with alcohol in it. Great for OG and runnings for all grain batches though, helps with calculating conversion and efficiency.

I have a refractometer, got it off ebay from a seller in China, and it works just fine.

 

[Covert]

I got the $25 Chinese one off of Ebay and I've never looked back. You just need a couple of drops to do the measurements.

 

[Special Hops]

Thanks guys for the responses.

You really need to have a Hydro even if you go with a refractometer. I purchased of the the ebay special ones which seem to be the same as the LHBS ones I've seen.

btw - anything you leave within reach of a two year old is the same as you breaking it. glad that she did not get hurt by the glass!

Yeah I should have known better. She can;t reach the drying rack but she was climbing on something else and got up there.

I got the $25 Chinese one off of Ebay and I've never looked back. You just need a couple of drops to do the measurements.

Great - sounds like the cheapo's work just fine.

I use Brewpal on the IPod touch and that has a built in alcohol correction factor. Hopefully it's close enough to get me a decent final gravity reading. I just need to know when the beer is done. Don;t car too much about the actual number.