I ordered a Vee Gee refractometer that is on its way. After looking at what I purchased on line the other night, I think I may have screwed up. At the time I placed the order, I did not realize that brand comes in two different scales. I ordered one that is measured from 0-20 brix. The other one I saw is measured 0-30 brix. Looking at a conversion table, 20 brix is near 1.083 S.G. Most of the beer I brew is not a big beer. I figure if I do big beers, I can go back to the hydrometer.
Experienced brewers that use refractometers would you recommend I send the 0-20 brix scale back and re-order the 0-30 brix scale model? Would the 0-20 be easier to read than the 0-30? The old peepers aren’t what they used to be.
Like a pair of binoculars, the refractometer has a focusing ring on it. So you should be able to see the 30 scale just fine.
If you are not going above 1.080 the one you ordered will serve you well.
[quote=“Nighthawk”]Like a pair of binoculars, the refractometer has a focusing ring on it. So you should be able to see the 30 scale just fine.
If you are not going above 1.080 the one you ordered will serve you well.[/quote]
Thank you! I tried to use a refractometer at my friends when he was brewing. I could not see the scale too well with my glasses on. Three of us looked into it, and all three came up with a different reading. Is there another conversion scale to convert brix to a final gravity? I googled that, and found the same conversion table I will use for the O.G. not final gravity, or are they the same?
Try looking at it without your glasses and using the focus ring.
Having alcohol in the sample skews the reading
http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=114865&p=1006294#p1006294
.
There are programs to convert the reading.
http://www.musther.net/vinocalc.html#alcoholcalculation http://www.brewheads.com/refract-currentgrav.php[quote=“Nighthawk”]Try looking at it without your glasses and using the focus ring.
Having alcohol in the sample skews the reading. There are programs to convert the reading.
http://www.musther.net/vinocalc.html#alcoholcalculation http://www.brewheads.com/refract-currentgrav.php[/quote]Just found some conversion calculators on our hosts web page. I think that might be just what I’m looking for! I’ll check out the ones you posted for me.
Thank you! :cheers:
