Digital refractometer

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guypettigrew
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Digital refractometer

Post by guypettigrew » Sat Sep 14, 2019 1:21 pm

Does anyone use one of these digital refractometers?

Thinking about getting one to replace the hand held optical one currently in use.

Guy

Robwalkeragain
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by Robwalkeragain » Sat Sep 14, 2019 1:57 pm

I haven’t but your post did prompt me to look around out of interest. Looks like the manufacturer is Milwaukee and there are positive brewing based reviews below;

https://www.homebrewfinds.com/2018/01/h ... meter.html

chris2012
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by chris2012 » Sat Sep 14, 2019 2:09 pm

Yeah, I got a digital one, Atago PAL-1 - https://www.atago.net/product/?l=en&f=p ... p#ABS42888 from fleabay

I just calibrate it before using with distilled water

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IPA
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by IPA » Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:33 pm

You can brew a lot of beer for that money !!!
For the record I have several optical refractometers and hydrometers
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin

1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip

It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)

Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)

ingo
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by ingo » Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:50 pm

Yes, I use the Milwakee. Make sure you keep the lens clean. Make sure you cool the wort to room temperature, despite all corrections it does.
Actually, also the temperature correction for the typical optical refractometer is only for environmental temperature, not wort temperature.

Ingo

guypettigrew
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by guypettigrew » Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:06 pm

IPA wrote:
Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:33 pm
You can brew a lot of beer for that money !!!
For the record I have several optical refractometers and hydrometers
Several?! That would drive me mad. I'd spend all the brewday comparing them against each other!

Guy

Ps How much beer could you brew for the cost of your hydrometers and refractometers?

guypettigrew
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by guypettigrew » Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:14 pm

ingo wrote:
Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:50 pm
Yes, I use the Milwakee. Make sure you keep the lens clean. Make sure you cool the wort to room temperature, despite all corrections it does.
Actually, also the temperature correction for the typical optical refractometer is only for environmental temperature, not wort temperature.

Ingo
Hi Ingo

Thanks for the advice about temperature. Are you pleased you bought the Milwaukee? I don't want to buy one and then think it's no better than an optical refractometer.

Guy

ingo
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by ingo » Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:12 pm

Yes, I'm happy with the Milwakee, it's a solid tool and less fragile than a proper set of brew house- and fermentation hydrometers (a set of ludwig-schneider hydrometers would cost a lot more).

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LeeH
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by LeeH » Sun Sep 15, 2019 7:49 am

My cheap amazon optical is just as accurate, I sold my Milwaukee.


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IPA
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Re: Digital refractometer

Post by IPA » Sun Sep 15, 2019 8:31 am

guypettigrew wrote:
Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:06 pm
IPA wrote:
Sat Sep 14, 2019 5:33 pm
You can brew a lot of beer for that money !!!
For the record I have several optical refractometers and hydrometers
Several?! That would drive me mad. I'd spend all the brewday comparing them against each other!

Guy

Ps How much beer could you brew for the cost of your hydrometers and refractometers?
I don't compare one against the other. I have refractometers for brewing and distilling and hydrometers for distilling and brewing. The cost is practically irrelevent and is is recovered in the sales of beer and spirit.
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin

1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip

It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)

Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)

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