Tilt readings...after calibration

[Peebee]

The RAPT pill can be calibrated on the Pill itself ... I believe? It also supports WiFi.

Reasons why the battery on those Pill devices don't last long.

I use a Raspberry Pi with the free software supplied, configure only that device, and then use a mobile phone, computer, Raspberry Pi, etc. to read the output via the wired network ... anywhere in the world if you want. The Tilt powers its connectivity with low-powered Bluetooth only as far as the Raspberry Pi. which then passes it on to the wired network as a Web app.

 

[refect]

Answer: No!

Tilts only send raw data. They are "factory calibrated" so the data is making some sense to what reads it, but it's your client software (be it on a mobile phone, computer, Raspberry Pi, etc.) that does the translating and can be calibrated. Calibrate the client software on one device you use and unless you copy the calibration to any other device you use, it will return a different result.

Delete the calibration on your errant device (be it a mobile phone, computer, Raspberry Pi, etc.) and create it again (or copy it from a device that has been set up right).

You cannot make a Tilt read data you think you send it. It transmits ... it does not receive. You cannot mess up the configuration on the Tilt itself (without more likely trashing it). You can randomly change it a bit by changing the battery (redistributes weight). Stop trying to change the Tilt itself ... it won't be interested!

This makes sense. I wonder if deleting the app and reinstalling it would help then? I'll also try the battery. I didn't think it was bad because it was only a few months from when I bought it, but who knows how long the battery had been sitting in it prior. Maybe I'll try these things and give the tilt another go. Like I said, temperature was dead on when I first used it and OG and FG readings were pretty damn close to to my refractometer/hydrometer.. As time went on the gravity and temperature readings were way off, so I stopped using it since calibrating and adjusting other parts seemed to make it worse.

 

[bwible]

Make sure that the battery is not drained. That has been the source of most of my problems with the tilt.

Mine needs a battery right now

 

[robint]

Is this wifi or bluetooth ? BT surely it has a phone app?

BTW AFAIK this wont work inside a stainless vessel

 

[jerrylotto]

Is this wifi or bluetooth ? BT surely it has a phone app?

BTW AFAIK this wont work inside a stainless vessel

They make a repeater that goes outside the vessel and boosts the signal.

 

[refect]

Is this wifi or bluetooth ? BT surely it has a phone app?

BTW AFAIK this wont work inside a stainless vessel

Mine worked in a stainless vessel just fine before I stopped using it because it got all wonky with the readings and calibration. I could actually get a reading on my phone from my stainless vessel even when I was downstairs directly under the room that my FV was in. I can't say for other fermenters, but this was in an stainless anvil bucket fermenter. I never tried it in my jacketed unitank that has a much thicker stainless wall, so I can't say the same for that one. It never gave connection issues in my anvil bucket fermenter, though.

 

[robint]

Did you have the lid off?

 

[refect]

Did you have the lid off?

Lid was always on and latched shut.

 

[Airborneguy]

Mine work inside stainless.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Jumping over a lot of comments here. Initially I thought this was the coolest thing ever. However it soon just became a puzzle. Now, I just watch to see when it stabilizes.
I know this is heresy among a lot of you folks, but I really don’t care what my OG or FG is; I just want a good beer. And, if I am off in one place or the other, I’m not gonna fight it, but just go with it. I want this to be a hobby I enjoy,not a job.

 

[hotbeer]

Jumping over a lot of comments here. Initially I thought this was the coolest thing ever. However it soon just became a puzzle. Now, I just watch to see when it stabilizes.
I know this is heresy among a lot of you folks, but I really don’t care what my OG or FG is; I just want a good beer. And, if I am off in one place or the other, I’m not gonna fight it, but just go with it. I want this to be a hobby I enjoy,not a job.

Since you aren't the OP and it seems you are puzzled about your Tilt, it might help to actually state what your issue is.

Though again, since you aren't the OP, IMO, you should ask in a new thread. That way when other comments are added, it'll be more obvious which issue they are addressing.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Since you aren't the OP and it seems you are puzzled about your Tilt, it might help to actually state what your issue is.

Though again, since you aren't the OP, IMO, you should ask in a new thread. That way when other comments are added, it'll be more obvious which issue they are addressing.

 

[refect]

Jumping over a lot of comments here. Initially I thought this was the coolest thing ever. However it soon just became a puzzle. Now, I just watch to see when it stabilizes.
I know this is heresy among a lot of you folks, but I really don’t care what my OG or FG is; I just want a good beer. And, if I am off in one place or the other, I’m not gonna fight it, but just go with it. I want this to be a hobby I enjoy,not a job.

I'll agree with you on this, even though I am one who tracks everything in my process. However, if things don't fall in place, I don't stress it and just let it ride. The beer still ends up great and I just take notes for next time around to try and achieve what I am after.

I do feel gravity is good to track even if your not worrying about it. Mainly to know when fermentation is complete and if it may have stalled. Also, so you can get an estimate on your abv and know what you are in for when drinking the beer.

The issue I found with the tilt is that mine never does seem to stabilize and just jumps all over the place, up and down. It was great in the beginning, but after a few batches starting doing this. When it does stabilize it will give me a crazy reading. I haven't used it in a while and just stick using my hydrometer.

 

[jschein]

Is this wifi or bluetooth ? BT surely it has a phone app?

BTW AFAIK this wont work inside a stainless vessel

Both of mine work in stainless fermenters. What kind of SS fermenter do you have that your tilt doesn’t work for you?

 

[Gary25]

I have a couple of stainless steel Blichmann conicals and my Tilt Minis work fine, even transmit through my glass door refrigerator fermentation chambers (within 6 feet of the fermenters). That said, I did my first pressure fermentation and the Tilt lost contact. I moved the iPad it transmits to on top of the fridge and the closer proximity restored communication.

I guess signals find their way better through an airlock vs a spunding valve!

 

[robint]

strange, seems to confound the laws of physics to me - every heard of a Faraday cage and why the waves dont come thru your microwave glass door?

Did you have the lid off the top of the fermenter vessel?

When my tilt arrives in a few days I will test this out and revert here

 

[mashdar]

strange, seems to confound the laws of physics to me - every heard of a Faraday cage and why the waves dont come thru your microwave glass door?

Did you have the lid off the top of the fermenter vessel?

When my tilt arrives in a few days I will test this out and revert here

It's been ages since I've done any math with shielding, but perhaps the fact that the vessel is not a uniform sphere plays in?

Also, at RF frequencies, the metal is not a perfect conductor, and transmission characteristics probably let it act as an antenna.
Edit: Re microwave ovens, since it's non-ionizing, you really just want to keep power in for efficiency reasons, and to avoid heating up the errant eyeball

But I'm just throwing theory at empirical results!

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I would note that it seems that the reading device can have an impact. I use my old Galaxy S7 for my tilt readings. With that phone I can often get readings through my stainless fermenter and chest freezer, but sometimes I have to place the phone inside the chamber. With my current Galaxy A-52 I can get readings much further away (I just tried and got a reading a good 10 ft away from the chamber).

If it makes a difference, my stainless fermenter has a rubber stopper with a blow off tube. That could let out some signals vs a fully sealed stainless fermenter.

 

[PCABrewing]

Also, at RF frequencies, the metal is not a perfect conductor, and transmission characteristics probably let it act as an antenna.

Interesting to ponder.
I doubt that the body of a stainless fermenter is resonant at the frequency of the tilt, it would be way too long, no?
I think you are dependent on reflection.

 

[PCABrewing]

It would be interesting to see if grounding a stainless fermenter would have any effect on signal strength at a given distance.

 

[mashdar]

Interesting to ponder.
I doubt that the body of a stainless fermenter is resonant at the frequency of the tilt, it would be way too long, no?
I think you are dependent on reflection.

The typical fermenter is a complex enough shape, I bet you can find a spot for 2.4GHz waves somewhere.

 

[PCABrewing]

The typical fermenter is a complex enough shape, I bet you can find a spot for 2.4GHz waves somewhere.

Yeah I was thinking one of the fittings might work as a wave guide. Wouldn't that be cool.
Only problem is you'd need a technicians license to setup your fermenter.

 

[doogster]

My tilt used to align with my refractometer and hydrometer no issues... FG was also in alignment (with the hydrometer). Found my battery was dead when I went to use it this last batch. Replaced the battery, calibrated in water, and then put it in the fermenter... it read 10 points HIGHER than my hydrometer. Don't know if the battery caused that difference... but I just added another calibration point to match the hydrometer reading... all good for now. Hope it sticks.

 

[robint]

Welt I got a Tilt but couldnt make it communicate with my pc nor my phone, returned to seller as faulty. I can see it being a problem for yeast with lots of krausen. Not sure if its needed other than a £30 boys toy? You may need to be skilled with IT and wifi IP address etc. Its not simple like a BT app with android. A decent multicoloured hydrometer is essential

 

[doogster]

I can see it being a problem for yeast with lots of krausen

Good point, my current fermentation is with S-04, and its got my Tilt readings a bit wonky. I recall this happening in the past and looked back and sure enough... it was with previous uses of S-04. That yeast is a beast.

 

[doogster]

Good point, my current fermentation is with S-04, and its got my Tilt readings a bit wonky. I recall this happening in the past and looked back and sure enough... it was with previous uses of S-04. That yeast is a beast.

This happens…

 

[Peebee]

That's disgusting! I'd be well fed up if my cat did that on my Tilt.

 

[Flushot22]

My RaptPill runs .09-.1 low and I'm too lazy to attempt to calibrate it, but I love it for showing ferm temps and showing me when fermentation is finished.