Why plaato vs gravity reading...?

[Rob2010SS]

Why do some people refer to gravity using plaato readings and some use just typical gravity readings (1.0XX)? What's the difference or why would one prefer plaato? Is there anything special to it or is it like 'why does the US use inches and the rest of the world uses millimeters'.

EDIT: By the analogy, I mean is it a personal preference type of thing...?

 

[brownni5]

I think you've got it there - Plato is better recognized around the world, like the metric system. Read an interview with a craft Brewer - they refer to Plato and struggle with converting to gravity. I learned gravity, so personally, that is what I go with. Dealing with decimal points either way, but not starting with "ten- (insert number found after the 0 or 1 after the decimal point here...)."

I always find myself thinking "now what's 12.7 multiplied by 4?"

 

[kh54s10]

I read on another thread a couple of people in China saying that they cannot get Gravity hydrometers there. They can only get Plato ones. They have to order gravity ones from other countries.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Plato is the standard professionally, and makes for easier conversion as it directly refers to weight of extract, making efficiency and raw material use easier to calculate.

Much modern brewing science literature is also in Plato.

Both have their place though.

 

[bracconiere]

because when you spin a triple scale hydrometer in the cylinder plato seems to always be the scale that's facing you! even when you actually want to know the SG...

 

[Rob2010SS]

because when you spin a triple scale hydrometer in the cylinder plato seems to always be the scale that's facing you! even when you actually want to know the SG...

Lol! That's hilarious. I always have that problem. Trying to walk in circles around the hydrometer to see what it says.

 

[Rob2010SS]

Plato is the standard professionally, and makes for easier conversion as it directly refers to weight of extract, making efficiency and raw material use easier to calculate.

Much modern brewing science literature is also in Plato.

Both have their place though.

Interesting. I think i'll have to learn plato readings just to be able to know both.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Interesting. I think i'll have to learn plato readings just to be able to know both.

They're not hard. Chop off the 1.0 part and divide by 4 (ie 1.032 is 8°P). It's accurate up until about 1.060 (15°P I believe is about 1.061 but that's top of my head) and they drift further from there.

Different readings are like different languages. You need to be able to think in them. If you're just gonna translate in your head every time, just stick to what you know and use a calculator when you can't.

 

[whovous]

because when you spin a triple scale hydrometer in the cylinder plato seems to always be the scale that's facing you! even when you actually want to know the SG...

It doesn't seem to matter how many times you spin it, either. It always comes up Plato!

 

[bracconiere]

It doesn't seem to matter how many times you spin it, either. It always comes up Plato!

yeah and you can try and rotate the cylinder too! still plato....the cylinder moves, but the hydrometer doesn't....

 

[BobBailey]

because when you spin a triple scale hydrometer in the cylinder plato seems to always be the scale that's facing you! even when you actually want to know the SG...

And if Brix is facing you, it's the same a Plato out to 3 decimal points. That gives you some pretty good odds of a good reading the first time

 

[Northern_Brewer]

is it like 'why does the US use inches and the rest of the world uses millimeters'.

Kind of - gravity is the British way and Plato is the Central European way; the German influence in American brewing and the dominance of lager brewing in general means that Plato has spread more than gravity.

 

[jack13]

yeah and you can try and rotate the cylinder too! still plato....the cylinder moves, but the hydrometer doesn't....

Yep...but I never let that stop me from trying anyway.