Has anyone checked the accuracy and consistency of the built in temperature sensor and readings?
I unpacked the unit, plugged it in and went through the initial setup. The display showed 59.3F. It is winter in MN, but I don't keep my house that cold. I realize the sensor is not intended to measure air temp and I added a gallon of water. Display reads 63.4F. My Thermapen reads 70F and my Thermoworks Smoke reads 70.4F.
This is the second Gen4 I've had and I noticed the same thing on the first one, but because the first one had multiple other issues, I chalked it up to it just being an overall bad unit.To MoreBeer's credit, they made things right by exchanging the first unit.
On the first one, I set up the two point calibration, but that made it accurate at only two temperatures and only at the time I set the calibration. Turning the unit off and back on and the reading would change by 3 degrees.
Absolutely! I received my Gen 4 a month or two ago, and I have noticed a consistent difference of about 7 degrees Fahrenheit. Even at room temperature, it is about 7 degrees lower. I contacted Kegland and they tried to convince me that 7 degrees Fahrenheit is negligible. I vehemently disagreed and told them that at 7 degrees F lower than room temperature, I would definitley be constantly wearing thick sweaters! I have heard about MANY people receiving the Gen 4 version with a difference of about 7 F or even more. I mentioned this to the Kegland people and they tried to convince me that this issue is basically very rare. I'm beginning to think that it is definitley NOT!
Anyways, I did a 2-point calibration, and I HIGHLY recommend that everyone purchasing a Gen 4 unit do the same (this issue did not seem to apply to the 3.i.s versions).
If you have the 35 Liter version, purchase 2 or 3 bags of ice cubes (3 bags is about 20 pounds) and add some very cold water to it. Then do calibration at Point 1 when it stabilizes at freezing temperature. Then remove all the ice and water and add about 25 liters of hot tap water. Then bring it to a boil and hold it there until the Brewzilla temperature stabilizes. Then add the actual temperature to calibration point 2, using an accurate temperature probe thermomenter or your value of boling temperature based on your elevation. My elevation was about 500 feet above sea level, which meant 111.3 degrees F.
By the way, for some reason, the cailbration can only be done in metric units, not Imperial. So you will need to set the Brewzilla to Metric units before you do the calibrations.
If you have any further questions on this process, feel free to ask. I had to do this calibration twice since my Brewzilla went into a "bootloop" just as I entered the second calibration point. I had to reboot the Brewzilla and start all over again since when it reboots the ridiculous factory settings once again take over. Same thing - 7 F degrees difference.
It's been a frustrating process with little understanding from the Kegland people, but I think I have calibrated it so it should now read the proper temperature (I just did this for the second time yesterday). PLEASElet them know that your Brewzilla is also not calibrated peroperly, since they continue to think that it's a very rare occurrence, and don't beleive me that I'm not the only one. I think too few people are willing to "complain" Today, complaining is considered to be negative, whereas I consider it positive since it is the only way that improvements can ever be made.
I have yet to check if turning the unit on and off wil change the calibration that I have set. If it does, I have no problem with complaining once again. If a company is not willing to address concerns from its customers, it is not a company worth supporting. There are other alternative units on the market - Grainfather, Braumeister, etc.