Should I Just Trust Bru'n Water?

[bradthebold]

According to Bru'n with my water report(ph 8.2, 105 bicarb), I added 6mL acid to a blonde to get a 5.35pH for my mash. I just got a cheap pH meter, calibrated it, and took a sample at 15mins and it said 5.05pH. At 30 mins, I heated and stirred a little more thoroughly before this sample, but still only got 5.2pH. Just testing my tap water with it, it reads 7.96.

Should I just ignore the cheap meter and trust the water report and Bru'n?

 

[doug293cz]

What was the temperature of the wort sample when you took the pH reading? At mash temps the pH is about 0.35 lower (IIRC) than at room temp. All recommendations for mash pH, and calculated predictions, are for room temperature samples.

Brew on

 

[bradthebold]

I didn't measure the temperature, but it wasn't hot. I put it in an ice bath for a few minutes until it seemed about room temperature.

 

[TimmyWit]

For a while, I measured PH every batch with a Milwaukee meter. But, I found that I was never doing adjustments and Bru N' Water was pretty much spot on. Now, out of laziness, I don't bother with the measurements any more. It's one less step on brew day and one less piece of equipment I have to maintain, calibrate & replace probes. I'm sure others will disagree as it all really depends on preference and how much control you want over your process.

 

[doug293cz]

I didn't measure the temperature, but it wasn't hot. I put it in an ice bath for a few minutes until it seemed about room temperature.

What was your meter calibration procedure?

Brew on

 

[bradthebold]

I followed the instructions. Mix the buffers, place it in the 6.86 buffer and push cal, wait til it stops flashing. Rinse with distilled water, wick dray. Same thing with the 4.00 solution. Then test in the solutions. I did it 3 times until it read the buffer solutions accurately.

I just took a pre-boil sample, grain-free at 79˚F and it was 5.39.