Calibrating sight gauge

[h22lude]

For those of you that BIAB in 1 vessel, how did you calibrate your sight gauge? Water volume changes based on temp. It would be easy if I had a specific mash tun that stays with the mash temp range and a BK that stays close to boiling. But what do we do if the 1 vessel is used in different temp ranges.

 

[zefbrew]

Does tempreture affect the reading that drastically that it would actually make a difference?

 

[eric19312]

Good question. I understand at near boiling there is about 4% expansion over room temperature wort.

Would be nice to see a temperature correction factor included in brewing software.

Maybe it is there in other packages but not in Beer Alchemy that I use. I think it could be similar to the way Beer Alchemy records hydrometer readings: you enter temp hydrometer calibrated at (mine is 60F), temp of sample, and hydrometer reading, and software converts that to SG at 60F.

Volumes could work same way. Enter Volume, Temperature and Fermentation Temperature. Software automatically changes volume to volume at fermentation temperature.

 

[zgja2]

If you are full volume mashing calibrate it at room temp or tap water temp (i know it can vary). I did it this way because this is the only time you are actually adding water to the vessel is at room temp. Yes it will be a bit off at pre boil and during boil but you will be able to mentally adjust

 

[Arminius757]

Im pretty sure there is a simple calculation you can do... its a basic expansion but yes you are right that there is an expansion. I dont quite see this as too much of an issue though, Im pretty sure that the expansion only really happens when the wort gets boiled. From the directions I have seen, most people just use room temperature water to get their measurements. I ordered a sight gage kit from Brewing Hardware and it didnt mention using anything other than water to calibrate.

 

[broadbill]

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

 

[phug]

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

um, there's what, 128 oz in a gallon? I'm canadian, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong, so, by that math. 5 gal x 4% is .2 Gal * 128 oz = 25.6 oz

 

[eric19312]

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

I think it is 26 oz out of 5 gallons.

Whether that is enough to matter to you probably depends on your brewing style.

 

[phug]

Quote:


Originally Posted by broadbill View Post

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

um, there's what, 128 oz in a gallon? I'm canadian, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong, so, by that math. 5 gal x 4% is .2 Gal * 128 oz = 25.6 oz

and that's 750 ml ish

 

[h22lude]

If you are full volume mashing calibrate it at room temp or tap water temp (i know it can vary). I did it this way because this is the only time you are actually adding water to the vessel is at room temp. Yes it will be a bit off at pre boil and during boil but you will be able to mentally adjust

I don't use it to add water. If I needed to add water I could just measure it from the tap. I use it to take notes and adjust my efficiency for future brews to make sure I hit OG.

Im pretty sure there is a simple calculation you can do... its a basic expansion but yes you are right that there is an expansion. I dont quite see this as too much of an issue though, Im pretty sure that the expansion only really happens when the wort gets boiled. From the directions I have seen, most people just use room temperature water to get their measurements. I ordered a sight gage kit from Brewing Hardware and it didnt mention using anything other than water to calibrate.

Using room temp will definitely make your pre-boil reading off. Not a huge deal but it could affect calculations for future brews if you don't adjust the reading. I'm sure there are calculators online. I just like being able to look at something and not have to worry about calculations but I don't think that is possible with this since readings are different at different temps, unless I had two sight gauges but that is overboard.

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

As others said, .2 gallons isn't 3.2oz. If it was 3.2oz I wouldn't worry about it either. .2 gallons isn't a huge difference but it is a difference and enough to make a difference in your ending volume which could affect gravity.

 

[Biscuits]

if you use the @pricelessbiab calculator, it has the calculations for liquid expansion.

 

[broadbill]

Quote:


Originally Posted by broadbill View Post

4% expansion in 5 gallons is 0.2 gallon or 3.2 oz. I'm not working at that level of accuracy in my setup.

um, there's what, 128 oz in a gallon? I'm canadian, so feel free to tell me I'm wrong, so, by that math. 5 gal x 4% is .2 Gal * 128 oz = 25.6 oz

and that's 750 ml ish

yep, my bad

 

[1MadScientist]

The BIABacus handles all three temperature ranges, ambient, strike and boil.

To calibrate my kettle, I initially used this link; http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_water.htm , and then made one mark on my sight glass at my maximum capacity. From there I use the BIABacus on brew day.

 

[h22lude]

The BIABacus handles all three temperature ranges, ambient, strike and boil.

To calibrate my kettle, I initially used this link; http://www.simetric.co.uk/si_water.htm , and then made one mark on my sight glass at my maximum capacity. From there I use the BIABacus on brew day.

Where do yo uget BIABacus? I can't find it anywhere on BIABrewer

 

[1MadScientist]

Where do yo uget BIABacus? I can't find it anywhere on BIABrewer

Are you a registered user? Once your are, bookmark this; http://biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1869#p25993

 

[1MadScientist]

Are you a registered user? Once your are, bookmark this; http://biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1869#p25993

Your first post is on this thread ; http://biabrewer.info/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=119#p411