Brewometer kickstarter thoughts - digital bluetooth hydrometer

BrunDog · Apr 4, 2016

enkamania said:
I sent them an email asking if it would work in a conical fermenter.

It says in the website it will work through stainless. I would assume the range is reduced.

I went ahead and ordered one. Let's see what happens.

enkamania · Apr 5, 2016

BrunDog said:
It says in the website it will work through stainless. I would assume the range is reduced.

I went ahead and ordered one. Let's see what happens.

They told me they have never tried, so if it doesn't work, I can get my money back.

bradleyhunt · Apr 5, 2016

http://brewometer.net/blogs/news/85390148-the-brewometer-works-with-steel-containers

enkamania · Apr 6, 2016

We haven't tested it in a conical fermenter yet (assuming its stainless) but it does work (tested) in a stainless boil kettle with lid and a 5 gallon corny keg. The range is reduced however, to 3-5 feet, vs. 25 feet or so with a glass carboy. If you're not happy with the results with your particular setup, you can return the Brewometer for a refund. Let me know if you have additional questions.

DarkStarNJ · Apr 6, 2016

Can't wait to hear the feedback. Looks awesome.

pepindavid · Apr 6, 2016

Did a "compulsive buy" and pulled the trigger yesterday. The site said three weeks before it ships, and I'm hoping it won't be too long to get to Canada. Well, they already charged my credit card, so hopefully it means they intend to deliver soon.

I'll give an update one I receive it!

BrunDog · Apr 6, 2016

I will be curious how the signal escapes an upright freezer fermentation chamber through a plastic fermenter.

Anyway, the idea of seeing when the SG stops decreasing is pretty exciting. I normally leave my beers in primary for 3-4 weeks, which i keep hearing is too long. I have a feeling this will sell well as long as it works as promised.

tagz · Apr 7, 2016

Is it hard to clean/sanitize?

Newsman · Apr 7, 2016

As soon as someone gets one, please let us know how it works.

I ferment in plastic inside a chest freezer, so it would be nice to know that would work.... hate to spend the money to find it doesn't work, even with a money-back guarantee.

BrunDog · Apr 8, 2016

Got a message mine shipped. Will let you know ASAP!

boat_eggs · Apr 8, 2016

Im glad this tread took off again and really glad these guys were able to go to production despite the kickstarter. If this works with stainless Ill grab a few

Vandulus · Apr 8, 2016

I've long looked at the BrewBug, but balked at the $200 price and the fact it needs to be fitted in the airlock since I use SS BrewTech Brew Buckets. After seeing the Brewometer I said what the hell and pulled the trigger - I like this design much better. I also appreciate that they're color coded so you can use multiple ones at a time. I put my order in on the 5th and am hoping to have one before brewing my next batch in May.

Between not having to worry about broken hydrometers and how much loss my samples incur (~8 oz per sample), this looks like awesome. The only downside is with SS fermenters you're looking at a 3-5' range for the wireless.

I poked around on Amazon looking for a Bluetooth repeater/extender, but couldn't find anything for this purpose. Does anyone have ideas on how to boost the signal?

Newsman · Apr 8, 2016

Vandulus said:
(snip)

Between not having to worry about broken hydrometers and how much loss my samples incur (~8 oz per sample), this looks like awesome. The only downside is with SS fermenters you're looking at a 3-5' range for the wireless.

I poked around on Amazon looking for a Bluetooth repeater/extender, but couldn't find anything for this purpose. Does anyone have ideas on how to boost the signal?

You mean something like these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_box_?k=Bluetooth+extender+

Edit: I think this is likely the best bet... not what it was DESIGNED for, but I think it might work... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00713RSE0/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Newsman · Apr 8, 2016

Something like this might also work

TandemTails · Apr 8, 2016

It might be cheaper and easier just to get a bare-bones android tablet off craigslist and have it sit next to your SS fermenter.

pshankstar · Apr 8, 2016

The geek in me is very interested in this, especially since it is half the cost of the beer bug. I was just looking through their site and I am a little concerned with the setup process.

http://brewometer.net/blogs/news

You have to setup a script within your Google account which I am fine with. My concern comes with this portion:

Select the parameters below to allow anonymous posting to your Google Sheet. In the 'Execute the app as:' drop down menu select 'Me' (this will be your personal gmail account). Under the 'Who has access to the app:' select 'Anyone, even anonymous' Click 'Deploy'.
(Your Brewometer app does not require a username and password to post data.)

I'm just concerned the app runs under my account (executes), yet anyone has access to it. With all the cyber security issues, I see this as a potential way for someone to maliciously being able to manipulate this in a negative way. Call me paranoid, but I cannot help but think this could be an issue. When I say in a negative way, I do not mean they will ruin your beer, but rather gain, expose or exploit your info with Google.

What I would like to see is a way that you can make some changes or configure the device so that you can make this more secure, instead of leaving the access to the app/script to anyone. Especially "anonymous"...

BrunDog · Apr 8, 2016

The Google instructions are only if you want to chart, as far as I can tell. The app does not require that set up. They should ultimately build charts into the app, but one step at a time I would imagine.

Got a shipment notice that mine should arrive tomorrow. Will report back!

bradleyhunt · Apr 8, 2016

What if, in the meantime, you created an EXTRA google account specifically for this? No worries about who sees only your fermentation charts.

pshankstar · Apr 8, 2016

bradleyhunt said:
What if, in the meantime, you created an EXTRA google account specifically for this? No worries about who sees only your fermentation charts.

Not a bad idea. Just another account to create...

TandemTails · Apr 8, 2016

pshankstar said:
The geek in me is very interested in this, especially since it is half the cost of the beer bug. I was just looking through their site and I am a little concerned with the setup process.

http://brewometer.net/blogs/news

You have to setup a script within your Google account which I am fine with. My concern comes with this portion:

Select the parameters below to allow anonymous posting to your Google Sheet. In the 'Execute the app as:' drop down menu select 'Me' (this will be your personal gmail account). Under the 'Who has access to the app:' select 'Anyone, even anonymous' Click 'Deploy'.
(Your Brewometer app does not require a username and password to post data.)

I'm just concerned the app runs under my account (executes), yet anyone has access to it. With all the cyber security issues, I see this as a potential way for someone to maliciously being able to manipulate this in a negative way. Call me paranoid, but I cannot help but think this could be an issue. When I say in a negative way, I do not mean they will ruin your beer, but rather gain, expose or exploit your info with Google.

What I would like to see is a way that you can make some changes or configure the device so that you can make this more secure, instead of leaving the access to the app/script to anyone. Especially "anonymous"...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this looks like you're setting the permission solely for this Google Sheet (and not your entire Google Drive account). If that's the case, i don't really see what the issue is. Some hacker is going to steal your SG readings?

Newsman · Apr 8, 2016

TandemTails said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this looks like you're setting the permission solely for this Google Sheet (and not your entire Google Drive account). If that's the case, i don't really see what the issue is. Some hacker is going to steal your SG readings?

Or put a malicious script in the spreadsheet?

pshankstar · Apr 8, 2016

Newsman said:
Or put a malicious script in the spreadsheet?

This was more along the lines of what I was thinking of... I don't care about the data they could acquire, its what else can they do to the spreadsheet to be malicious.

RiverCityBrewer · Apr 8, 2016

I just ordered one. Very interested in seeing if they go open source or release an API for development. I'd really like to integrate it into my BCS/pi setup.

BeardedBrews · Apr 8, 2016

RiverCityBrewer said:
I just ordered one. Very interested in seeing if they go open source or release an API for development. I'd really like to integrate it into my BCS/pi setup.

I am very curious about these options as well, especially around StrangeBrew. It would be great if we could use the input from this to drive temperature profiles and trigger alarms in a brewery controller!

soulsuit · Apr 8, 2016

I'm interested in this as well because I've recently switched to fermenting 1-1.5 gallon batches in mini kegs. If it works, it'd be better for temp and gravity readings without exposing it to oxygen or wasting any of those precious few drops. I'm curious what the materials are, though. I can't seem to find it listed on their site.

raysmithtx · Apr 9, 2016

BeardedBrews said:
I am very curious about these options as well, especially around StrangeBrew. It would be great if we could use the input from this to drive temperature profiles and trigger alarms in a brewery controller!

I'm not a programmer but there's a lot of Brewometer code on Bithub.

redwing_al · Apr 9, 2016

The beauty of this gadget is that if fills a void that some of us nerds 'need'.

I plan to order one. I'm somewhat savvy using google and I have an old andorid phone laying around. I plan to build a dashboard with charts, graphs, dials and publish the sheet as a web page. Its super simple to do, but I love the fact that I can monitor temperatures and gravity in close to real-time. I want to be notified when temps rise above x when fermenting a pilsner. I want to know the minute fermentation stops so that I can keg. I may even throw this thing in the hot tub to be a nerd about those temperatures. lol..

I have asked the guys on the brewometer page for a sample of data collected over time so that i can play around with some ideas using the data.

If anyone has one and is using it, please share your experience.

My only real concern is the useful life of $120. I'd like to be using the same device in 5 years or better, I don't want $120 be be disposable..

good gadget and I 'need' one! :mug:

BrunDog · Apr 9, 2016

I have a question that just dawned on me. It looks like to change the battery you have to open the case. When you open the case the air pressure inside will change. As a result of that will it's calibration also change? Or is it such a minor difference that it won't matter?

And one more question that I don't think was necessarily answered on the website, or at least I didn't see it. Is the Gravity automatically updated according to the temperature?

redwing_al · Apr 9, 2016

BrunDog said:
I have a question that just dawned on me. It looks like to change the battery you have to open the case. When you open the case the air pressure inside will change. As a result of that will it's calibration also change? Or is it such a minor difference that it won't matter?

And one more question that I don't think was necessarily answered on the website, or at least I didn't see it. Is the Gravity automatically updated according to the temperature?

Good question on changing the battery... I will ask... let everyone know..

BrunDog · Apr 9, 2016

Well, look what arrived!! Surprisingly early, so I suppose I will post the un-boxing pics. The packaging:
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231400.160704.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231417.292644.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231430.876035.jpg

The inside flap opened:
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231453.328932.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231466.064714.jpg

And some pics of the device:
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231752.997919.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231763.881647.jpg

I turned on Bluetooth and it didn't find it. Then, just as it says right in the iOS app... Make sure Bluetooth and location services are turned on. My location services is on but was set to 'Never' for the Bremometer app. I turned it on and off we went! I put it in a pitcher of RO water... Let it settle for a few minutes... And what did it say??
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231908.961014.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460231796.986069.jpg

The temp and SG are SPOT ON!! We have a WINNER at first glance!

Brewometer kickstarter thoughts - digital bluetooth hydrometer

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