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2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:05 pm
by schoolofmonkey
I have 2 alcoholometers here which gives completely different readings, the short eBay cheapie one is 10% different than the longer more expensive
Alla (France) Spirit Alcoholometer.
The big one would read 50%, the little one would read 40% in the same test jar, both calibrated to 20c
Which one is right, I figured the better quality one is the best to go off.
I figured one is not weighted correctly.

Alla:
295695588_5752617371449832_6017983924059951480_n.jpg


eBay cheapie
295601613_5752617778116458_4368107472679333498_n.jpg

Re: 2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:18 pm
by bluc
Yea cheap ones are not accurate. $25-$30 ones reasonable accurate +-5abv more than $50 should be eithin 2-3abv. Once oaked it will also be bit more out due to wood sugars... Middle range ones do me for homemade :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: 2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:26 pm
by schoolofmonkey
bluc wrote:Yea cheap ones are not accurate. $25-$30 ones reasonable accurate +-5abv more than $50 should be eithin 2-3abv. Once oaked it will also be bit more out due to wood sugars... Middle range ones do me for homemade :handgestures-thumbupleft:


Yeah I used a essence made rum for the pics hoping it was easier to see
I noticed it when doing a spirit run yesterday (SS malt whiskey kit), measure it as it was coming off the still, they were reading different, so I just went off the Alla (50%) when putting that on proper oak.

I only just got the Alla one, been using the cheapie, guess that's why everything has had a good kick :))

Re: 2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 3:43 pm
by bluc
Yea you can tell yourself its only 40% :laughing-rolling:

Re: 2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Mon Jul 25, 2022 1:56 am
by RC Al
Saw some certified ones @ $80 ea, but they only had a range of 20 abv over each one (need 5!)

Find a fresh bottle of store bought and test them vs that.
I think the cheapie will be weighted pretty close, but the bit of paper will be out, so you need to note how many mm its out, not by how much abv - the scale is not linear

Re: 2 Alcoholometers reading different

PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2022 12:33 pm
by schoolofmonkey
Right so I ended up answering my own question, the little eBay cheapie is out somehow.

Just ran down to the local brewery supplier and picked up a Still Spirits alcoholometer, while slightly smaller than the Alla, it's reading pretty much the same as the Alla (within 1-3%).

WhatsApp Image 2022-07-27 at 11.19.00 AM.jpeg