Using tilt hydrometer during mash to monitor SG and temp

[fun4stuff]

Has anyone else done this?

i am thinking it would be helpful for BIAB.

Tilt website says it can withstand temps up to 185 deg F and that for every 10 deg above 100 deg F you subtract 0.001 to the SG for temp correction.

 

[day_trippr]

I truly doubt that thing is going to float "normally" in a mash...

Cheers!

 

[fun4stuff]

I truly doubt that thing is going to float "normally" in a mash...

Cheers!

Full volume BIAB! Same thing as removing wort and placing in a graduated cylinder with a floating glass hydrometer.

 

[doug293cz]

The electronics and materials in the Tilt may withstand temps to 185F, but I wouldn't feel comfortable about a battery at that temp. Also, higher temps shorten the lifetime of electronics, even if they work fine at the higher temp.

I also don't think it will read properly in a thick mash (i.e. less than about 3" - 4" of free liquid above grain bed), and in a thin mash (free liquid) the wort above the grain will likely be lower SG than wort in the grain bed because diffusion takes time. Recirculation with thin mashes would probably work ok.

Brew on

 

[day_trippr]

I recirculate during the mash and suspect a Tilt would get shoved around too much for stable readings.
But, wth, it's not my $$, so if the OP gives it a try be sure to take pics

Cheers!

 

[fun4stuff]

I suspect prolonged heat would not be the best thing for the battery as Doug said. I will still probably drop in for a moment toward end of mash after stirring. Although it’s probably no more accurate than my refractometer. I don’t recirculate since I’m doing BIAB and mill my own grains.

I’ll try and take pics. I suspect it will be same SG as would be measured by removing some and measuring in a graduated cylinder.

 

[Kickass]

Same thing as removing wort and placing in a graduated cylinder with a floating glass hydrometer.

I can’t see how this would remotely work. I don’t own a tilt but imagine it needs a liquid medium to read accurate gravity (temp is another story). Put a fist full of soggy grain in your graduated cylinder then drop your hydrometer in, think it’d be accurate?

 

[fun4stuff]

I can’t see how this would remotely work. I don’t own a tilt but imagine it needs a liquid medium to read accurate gravity (temp is another story). Put a fist full of soggy grain in your graduated cylinder then drop your hydrometer in, think it’d be accurate?

Have you ever done full volume BIAB? It’s a very thin mash. All grain is in the bag and eventually settles to bottom.

have you ever measured your preboil SG?

 

[Kickass]

Have you ever done full volume BIAB? It’s a very thin mash. All grain is in the bag and eventually settles to bottom.

have you ever measured your preboil SG?

That’s fair. I have not done full boil BIAB. I guess I had a mental model that supported a split volume mash and sparge. If there’s enough space between the grains, I suppose it’ll float unimpeded.

I had to laugh because it came off like, do you even lift, bro? Anyway, I do measure PBSG.

 

[CodeSection]

I suspect prolonged heat would not be the best thing for the battery as Doug said. I will still probably drop in for a moment toward end of mash after stirring. Although it’s probably no more accurate than my refractometer. I don’t recirculate since I’m doing BIAB and mill my own grains.

I’ll try and take pics. I suspect it will be same SG as would be measured by removing some and measuring in a graduated cylinder.

Even though I own a Tilt, I use a hydrometer and refractometer to measure pre-boil SG. Personally, I see no benefit to subject the Tilt with its components to the heat. Especially when there is an alternative available (like your refractometer).

With that said, it is your unit to use as you like. If you develop issues after using it regularly in the mash, it only costs $140 to buy another one if needed.

Seeing that you seem to want to try it, do so for awhile on multiple batches and let us know what eventually occurs so as others can avoid repeating it if it turns out to be a mistake. Who knows, you may be on to something.

 

[fun4stuff]

That’s fair. I have not done full boil BIAB. I guess I had a mental model that supported a split volume mash and sparge. If there’s enough space between the grains, I suppose it’ll float unimpeded.

I had to laugh because it came off like, do you even lift, bro? Anyway, I do measure PBSG.

haha. Do you even BIAB bro?!?

 

[fun4stuff]

Even though I own a Tilt, I use a hydrometer and refractometer to measure pre-boil SG. Personally, I see no benefit to subject the Tilt with its components to the heat. Especially when there is an alternative available (like your refractometer).

With that said, it is your unit to use as you like. If you develop issues after using it regularly in the mash, it only costs $140 to buy another one if needed.

Seeing that you seem to want to try it, do so for awhile on multiple batches and let us know what eventually occurs so as others can avoid repeating it if it turns out to be a mistake. Who knows, you may be on to something.

Since the company promotes using it up to 185 deg F and gives you instructions on how to correct the SG for these temps (even using 160 deg F as a specific example), a short dip in a mash of 150s is not an issue. In the unlikely event it killed the tilt, I’d warranty it. With that said, prolonged exposure to these temps is not the best for battery health. You’d probably average a few more $$ in battery replacements over 6 yrs.

I’ve been a long proponent of refractometers. Back when i started using them people on this forum thought they couldn’t be used post fermentation. But I think it’d be cool to watch SG climb wirelessly without having to unwrap everything. It would still require stirring the mash to distribute the sugars throughout the mash. I don’t think there’s a big issue here though... as people have shown, measuring SG of wort in pot and SG of wort squeezed from the bag is about the same.

edit:
Storage temp for the tilt battery is up to 140 deg F. 150s is probably pushing it, but not by much. Operating temp range therefore probably extends higher than 140.

https://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/cr123A_1300.pdf

 

[CodeSection]

Since the company promotes using it up to 185 deg F.....

.... But I think it’d be cool to watch SG climb wirelessly without having to unwrap everything. It would still require stirring the mash to distribute the sugars throughout the mash. I don’t think there’s a big issue here ...

edit: Storage temp for the tilt battery is up to 140 deg F. 150s is probably pushing it, but not by much. https://www.batteryspace.com/prod-specs/cr123A_1300.pdf

Then go for it!

 

[Baglorious]

I tried this... once.

I wasn't worried about the gravity, I just wanted a handy way to get temp readings from inside my cooler.

It was long enough ago that I can't remember exactly how it went, but can remember that I didn't bother to try it a second time. If I remember correctly, the temps were changing amd spiking with pretty wild variance, to the point that it didn't provide any useful info.

No ill effects to the tilt, though.

P.S. - it didn't have similar spikes or variances in normal temp wort, or when dropping down to cold crashing.

P.P.S. - i don't think there is harm in trying, personally. But in the 1-2 years and 20 batches since I tried this, I think there are several better options, depending on your process. Nothing wrong with a decent instant-read thermometer and a refractometer. I bought fairly inexpensive refractometer... works well with a few drops of wort. And it is worth shelling out $$$ for a good thermapen... as you'll clearly want to use it for all the barbeque you should make to accompany your homebrew!

 

[fun4stuff]

I tried this... once.

I wasn't worried about the gravity, I just wanted a handy way to get temp readings from inside my cooler.

It was long enough ago that I can't remember exactly how it went, but can remember that I didn't bother to try it a second time. If I remember correctly, the temps were changing amd spiking with pretty wild variance, to the point that it didn't provide any useful info.

No ill effects to the tilt, though.

P.S. - it didn't have similar spikes or variances in normal temp wort, or when dropping down to cold crashing.

P.P.S. - i don't think there is harm in trying, personally. But in the 1-2 years and 20 batches since I tried this, I think there are several better options, depending on your process. Nothing wrong with a decent instant-read thermometer and a refractometer. I bought fairly inexpensive refractometer... works well with a few drops of wort. And it is worth shelling out $$$ for a good thermapen... as you'll clearly want to use it for all the barbeque you should make to accompany your homebrew!

Cool, i thought there had to be someone who had tried it. Weird about the temp fluctuations. Do you have a pump?


Yeah, i have a couple thermopens that i use a lot for bbq/smoking and brewing. I also have a thermometer with like a 6ft waterproof probe which is what i usually use during the mash. I always double check things with my thermopens or confirminitially since it’s instant read.

I like refractometers. In all honesty, it probably will be what I’ll continue to use. At least for the preboil. I’ll report back after this next brew.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

ATC refractometer for the win here. Save the tilt for ferm.

 

[fun4stuff]

https://imgur.com/gallery/piMqu5K

Posted some pics and a video so you can how the tilt is floating in the mash.

Threw it in a few different times. I like it more than my refractometer because i can instantly get SG. I don’t have to go to a website to calculate SG from brix. It’s also auto logged in the tilt app.

It’s not great for monitoring temp during the mash. It takes awhile for it to reach the temp and temp does not seem accurate compared to my other thermometers. I probably have to calibrate it...