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Author Topic: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?  (Read 4926 times)

Offline Philbrew

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #15 on: June 30, 2015, 02:47:36 pm »
Slightly off topic.  Is the wort correction factor in Sean's calculator the wort's OG ?

No, it's the refractometer reading divided by hydrometer reading for your typical wort.
OK, let me see if I got it.  It's the refractometer reading (in gravity) divided by hydrometer reading (in gravity) of a typical wort before fermentation.  My refractometer reads in brix so I'll have to do some conversion.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #16 on: June 30, 2015, 03:42:44 pm »
Right, except convert the hydrometer reading to °Brix so that you can divide the numbers directly. (Or convert to "points" if that's more comfortable.)
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Offline brewinhard

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #17 on: June 30, 2015, 04:23:10 pm »
If, for whatever reason, you need to take that many samples, you could use a clear plastic wine thief to take the sample, then once you've made your reading, release the sample back into the fermenter (gently, so as to not introduce oxygen). http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/winemaking/wine-equipment/fermtech-wine-thief

That may be effective providing you sanitize the hydrometer, otherwise you are risking infections.  Also sounds like a recipe for oxidation even if being careful. 

Offline Stevie

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #18 on: June 30, 2015, 05:02:46 pm »
If, for whatever reason, you need to take that many samples, you could use a clear plastic wine thief to take the sample, then once you've made your reading, release the sample back into the fermenter (gently, so as to not introduce oxygen). http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/winemaking/wine-equipment/fermtech-wine-thief

That may be effective providing you sanitize the hydrometer, otherwise you are risking infections.  Also sounds like a recipe for oxidation even if being careful.
Yeah, I would avoid this idea myself.

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #19 on: June 30, 2015, 05:34:56 pm »
I've just been factoring in 3-4 samples into my volume when calculating the recipe. This seems to work out fine. I just use my desired ending volume + a few hydrometer samples as my final volume.

Offline bengelbrau

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #20 on: June 30, 2015, 07:00:20 pm »
A question to ask yourself is whether you really need to know the FG. I have given up on that reading as irrelevant for my purposes. I do have a lot of experience, so am sure when fermentation is done.

Offline blackislandbrewer

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #21 on: June 30, 2015, 08:04:16 pm »
If, for whatever reason, you need to take that many samples, you could use a clear plastic wine thief to take the sample, then once you've made your reading, release the sample back into the fermenter (gently, so as to not introduce oxygen). http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/winemaking/wine-equipment/fermtech-wine-thief

That may be effective providing you sanitize the hydrometer, otherwise you are risking infections.  Also sounds like a recipe for oxidation even if being careful. 
In my experience, it has not been a problem, or at least not one the judges can pick up. But it is still a solution.
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Offline erockrph

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Re: Low Volume Hydrometer - Any Ideas?
« Reply #22 on: July 05, 2015, 12:11:42 pm »
Personally, I rarely bother with an FG any more unless I taste something unexpected. I use a refractometer for a reading at the start of the boil and right at pitching just to make sure I don't need to make a gravity adjustment, and that's usually the end of it.
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