bbearbrew
Member
Hi,
Could not find a thread that addressed my specific questions (sorry if there is one).
Apologize for long-winded post, but want to provide as much info as possible.
New to forum and brewing in general. I've brewed 6 batches (extract) at this point and trusted my hydrometer for measuing SG.
With last two started doing partial mash (steeping prior to that). As I've moved along I wanted to get better at taking my readings, measurements, etc. (to make OG adjustments post mash when adding extract to the boil).
To that point I acquired a refractometer. I assumed I could check/calibrate against my hydrometer (which I always assumed was accurate).
Reading on this and other forums I see that is not the case and you need to understand if there is a correction that is needed for both hydrometer and refractometer.
I found the following regarding calibration:
Using distilled water, take a reading with hydrometer (60 degrees) - should be 1.0
Mine read 1.0
Using same water I calibrated refractometer to read same
Found a "recipe" for calibrating - Prepare solution of 28 g table sugar and 176 g water and re-measure. Should be 1.048 SG
Hydrometer read 1.058
Refractometer read 1.055
Found another "recipe" for calibrating - 6 oz water and 1 oz sugar should yield 1.061 SG
Hydromoter read 1.071
Refractometer read 1.069
Note: when making the sugar solution I just added the sugar to the water and stirred until sugar was dissolved (no heat or anything).
At this point it seems that both the hydrometer and refractomoter are "off' only on the upper range by the same amount. It seems strange that "both" are off on the upper measurement by the same amount (0.010).
To be honest, I'm getting beffuddled by all the numbers and would appreciate any help I can get.
Did I calibrate correctly?
Am I worrying too much about .010 difference?
I then measured the brew I was doing (extract with steeping grains, no mashing):
Hydrometer - 1.070
Refractomoter - 1.067
Do I assume my actual OG is 1.060-1.057 (target gravity for the extract I brewed was 1.063)
While I do take RDWHAHB to heart would like to understand these basics before I move on. It may very well be this is the nature of the beast (accuracy of equipment) given these are not lab grade instruments.
Thanks for you thoughts, advice or guidance!
Could not find a thread that addressed my specific questions (sorry if there is one).
Apologize for long-winded post, but want to provide as much info as possible.
New to forum and brewing in general. I've brewed 6 batches (extract) at this point and trusted my hydrometer for measuing SG.
With last two started doing partial mash (steeping prior to that). As I've moved along I wanted to get better at taking my readings, measurements, etc. (to make OG adjustments post mash when adding extract to the boil).
To that point I acquired a refractometer. I assumed I could check/calibrate against my hydrometer (which I always assumed was accurate).
Reading on this and other forums I see that is not the case and you need to understand if there is a correction that is needed for both hydrometer and refractometer.
I found the following regarding calibration:
Using distilled water, take a reading with hydrometer (60 degrees) - should be 1.0
Mine read 1.0
Using same water I calibrated refractometer to read same
Found a "recipe" for calibrating - Prepare solution of 28 g table sugar and 176 g water and re-measure. Should be 1.048 SG
Hydrometer read 1.058
Refractometer read 1.055
Found another "recipe" for calibrating - 6 oz water and 1 oz sugar should yield 1.061 SG
Hydromoter read 1.071
Refractometer read 1.069
Note: when making the sugar solution I just added the sugar to the water and stirred until sugar was dissolved (no heat or anything).
At this point it seems that both the hydrometer and refractomoter are "off' only on the upper range by the same amount. It seems strange that "both" are off on the upper measurement by the same amount (0.010).
To be honest, I'm getting beffuddled by all the numbers and would appreciate any help I can get.
Did I calibrate correctly?
Am I worrying too much about .010 difference?
I then measured the brew I was doing (extract with steeping grains, no mashing):
Hydrometer - 1.070
Refractomoter - 1.067
Do I assume my actual OG is 1.060-1.057 (target gravity for the extract I brewed was 1.063)
While I do take RDWHAHB to heart would like to understand these basics before I move on. It may very well be this is the nature of the beast (accuracy of equipment) given these are not lab grade instruments.
Thanks for you thoughts, advice or guidance!