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Author Topic: TDS Meter  (Read 3547 times)

Offline 69franx

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #15 on: November 09, 2015, 04:48:33 pm »
I'm so disappointed. I followed one of Jon's links about a year ago and bought a meter but it's not blue! I feel so alienated, somebody please include me!
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline 69franx

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #16 on: November 09, 2015, 04:51:05 pm »
Mine is a HM TDS-4/TDS-4TM
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline brewday

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #17 on: November 09, 2015, 04:52:09 pm »
I'm so disappointed. I followed one of Jon's links about a year ago and bought a meter but it's not blue! I feel so alienated, somebody please include me!

I think that's why they make ScotchBlue tape!

Offline 69franx

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #18 on: November 09, 2015, 04:53:37 pm »
Thanks brewday! I just want to belong
Frank L.
Fermenting: Nothing (ugh!)
Conditioning: Nothing (UGH!)
In keg: Nothing (Double UGH!)
In the works:  House IPA, Dark Mild, Ballantine Ale clone(still trying to work this one into the schedule)

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #19 on: November 09, 2015, 04:56:14 pm »
Probably a lot like the famous Blue Coleman Extreme - just not the same. Operates on a whole 'nother level.  ;)
Jon H.

Offline Stevie

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #20 on: November 09, 2015, 04:57:25 pm »

I'm so disappointed. I followed one of Jon's links about a year ago and bought a meter but it's not blue! I feel so alienated, somebody please include me!

I think that's why they make ScotchBlue tape!
Nice try, but it's transparent blue.

Offline millstone

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #21 on: November 12, 2015, 06:30:14 am »
Not to sound way stupid, but as a homebrewer, how does a TDS meter help me?

thanks

tom

Offline Phil_M

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #22 on: November 12, 2015, 06:33:06 am »
To check and see how pure your RO water is. With my RO system TDS will also be an indicator for when I need to replace the membrane.
Corn is a fine adjunct in beer.

And don't buy stale beer.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #23 on: November 12, 2015, 06:42:50 am »
If you are one of those lucky ones that use tap water to brew, a TDS meter can be an dictation of a change in the water due to seasonal changes or other causes.
Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #24 on: November 12, 2015, 06:45:09 am »
To check and see how pure your RO water is. With my RO system TDS will also be an indicator for when I need to replace the membrane.

+1.  RO water is only as good as the maintenance on the machine . A machine with a membrane not replaced when needed will put out water much higher in dissolved solids than would be considered RO water. Helps to know before you use it, hence the TDS meter.
Jon H.

Offline millstone

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #25 on: November 12, 2015, 06:55:29 am »
If you are one of those lucky ones that use tap water to brew, a TDS meter can be an dictation of a change in the water due to seasonal changes or other causes.

Thanks  hopfenundmalz, I'm very lucky to use lake Michigan water, so if there is changes seasonally, how do you fix a problem. Fixing the pH is starting to make sense to me, so is there a "TDS for Dummies" document that can get me to better understand?

Thanks everyone for your reply's

tom

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: TDS Meter
« Reply #26 on: November 12, 2015, 07:10:50 am »
If you are one of those lucky ones that use tap water to brew, a TDS meter can be an dictation of a change in the water due to seasonal changes or other causes.

Thanks  hopfenundmalz, I'm very lucky to use lake Michigan water, so if there is changes seasonally, how do you fix a problem. Fixing the pH is starting to make sense to me, so is there a "TDS for Dummies" document that can get me to better understand?

Thanks everyone for your reply's

tom
There is some variation in Lake Huron water that I have seen but it is not major. You might find monthly reports online for your Lake Michigan sourced utility.

TDS tells you what the amount is, but not what makes it up. I get RO water from 3 sources depending on a few things, the ranges I have seen are 3-7 ppm, 20-30 ppm, and 40-45 ppm. The last is cheap, and I use it for hoppy ales that will have a lot of salts added. The first is great for lagers that I am really trying to nail the style, but it is the most expensive.

Jeff Rankert
AHA Lifetime Member
BJCP National
Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!