Quality Small Alcoholmeters? Suggestions?

[WithOrWithoutU2]

I am looking to build a parrot. I want it as small as possible to help minimize smearing. As such, I would like to use as small of a Alcoholmeter as possible. I have found some online, but they seem to have poor reviews.

Does anybody have suggestions for a small alcoholmeter that you yourself have had a good experience, or one that has good reviews from others.

Thanks

[Twisted Brick]

In the beginning I built a parrot and it taught me a lot about what comes off my still and when, but after watching the StillIt episode on smearing, changed how I use it. I have largely stopped using it, but when I do, I collect a portion at the first of each jar and pour it into the parrot, take the reading and return the sample to the jar.

For you, it might be easier to just put a drain valve at the bottom of the parrot and buy a good lab alcometer.

[Sunshineer]

I use an HTC 16.00 dollars on ebay two drops your done and it auto corrects temperature.

[WithOrWithoutU2]

I use an HTC 16.00 dollars on ebay two drops your done and it auto corrects temperature.

Sunshinneer....I am not familar what HTC stands for. I have googled etc and can't seem to find it as it relates to measureing ABV. Ifyou are referring to a refractometer, I have one but it only goes up to 80%. For neutrals I would need to go up to 96+

[Sunshineer]

Spend a little more and get the higher scale on they start higher and finish at 100

[Teddysad]

These work well for me and at 18.5cm are shorter than the standard 27cm ones
https://www.banggood.com/Portable-0-100 ... rehouse=CN

[NZChris]

I use an HTC 16.00 dollars on ebay two drops your done and it auto corrects temperature.

What is an HTC?

[Twisted Brick]

What is an HTC?

ATC = Alcohol Test Concentration?

My guess is he meant something like this only for ethanol.

[Tummydoc]

ATC is automatic temperature correction. Even my brix refractometer is marked ATC

[NZChris]

Spend a little more and get the higher scale on they start higher and finish at 100

Where have you seen one?

[Sunshineer]

Last time I was on ebay saw one listed for around fifty dollars. Will try to find it again and post the link.

[NZChris]

I've never seen anything that fits your description there. What was the search for?

[Sunshineer]

Refractormeters

[Birrofilo]

I copy and paste [with some small orthographic corrections] a text that I inserted on a comment on YouTube.

<<
Also, any refractometer can be used as an alcoholmeter. You find the lookout table in the PDF "The Refractive Indices of Ethyl Alcohol and Water Mixtures", by Janina Nowakowska, Loyola University Chicago - Loyola eCommons (Creative Commons license), 1939. You will find a table between alcoholic grade (% vol.) and refractive index at 20°C.
Your refractometer usually doesn't give you the refractive index, but calculates for you the final value (Brix, OG, Alc. % etc.). In any case, for each value your refractometer gives you, there is a corresponding refractive index (which is what your instrument is actually measuring).

I'll try to post here some data with meaningful values:
%ABV - Refractive Index - ° Brix (approx)
0,00 1,33316 0,1 - 0,2
7,61 1,33795 3,4 – 3,5
15,55 1,34362 7,2 – 7,3
24,42 1,34914 10,8 – 10,9
?? 1,35000 11,4
41,51 1,35856 16,8
60,45 1,36336 19,7
66,44 1,36410 20,2
71,23 1,36462 20,5
77,35 1,36476 20,6
82,86 1,36490 20,6 - 20,7
83,55 1,36486 20,6
92,68 1,36370 19,9 – 20,0
96,33 1,36237 19,1

Notice how the refractive index raises from 0,00 %ABV until circa 80%vol, and then decreases! (that's why automatic instruments, alcohol refractometers, only work "up to 80%". Because for values of RI smaller than 1,3648 circa there are two valid solutions. But the distiller knows whether he is at 93% vol or 60% vol, so the distiller basically can use the refrectometer all along the course of the distillation).

As you can see, I don't have the value of ABV corresponding to a °Brix of 11,4. Please somebody give it if possible. If somebody can point to another source, so that this table can be enriched with other data points, that's better.
People with a refractometer (and a still) can easily populate this table with many more values: just take a note of the °Brix value of the single jar, and measure the alcohol content, and write a new line in this table!

The way you use this table is simple: you take a reading of your alcoholic produce, you measure the °Brix that the refractometer gives you, let's say 16,8 °Brix, and you look at the table and that corresponds to 41,51%. Obviously in some cases you do some interpolation, or let's say you know that you are in the interval between this and that value.

If your refractometer gives you the value as relative density (the "original gravity" stuff with 1,xxx) then you convert it into °B and then use this table (or prepare once a fourth column).
In measuring this you DON'T apply any wort correction factor.
>>

I faced this problem myself and I decided not to buy a parrot, even though I am interested in knowing the "istantanous" alcohols content of the produce.

I have a digital refractometer (from the beer side of the hobby) that ultimately should serve me well for this purpose.
Sadly, I'm still in a mess regarding my water connections. When I still I will report here the result of the use of the refractometer as a alcoholmeter.

[dieselduo]

I like the ability of putting it under the output during a run and know where you are with no smearing and the automatic temp control is a nice touch

[NZChris]

When I built my Bokakob, I intended to build a parrot to go with it but when doing the first run, I discovered I didn't need one as the thermometer told me what I needed to know.

You can get mini alcoholometers out of the Ukraine on eBay.

[WithOrWithoutU2]

Last time I was on ebay saw one listed for around fifty dollars. Will try to find it again and post the link.

Sunshineer, If you can find the refractometer that goes up to 100% again, I would be interested in you sharing the link. It would be nice to just take a couple drops to test as you go along.

Thanks

[NZChris]

I suspect there aren't any because the downturn in the Index puts them in the too hard basket for manufacturers.

Make up a cross reference for your Brix refractometer using high abvs checked with a quality alcometer. Clean it with de-mineralized water immediately after every use as the sample will attack any plastic it is in contact with.

[NZChris]

Minis viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73342

[WithOrWithoutU2]

Minis viewtopic.php?f=2&t=73342

Thanks NZ. I bought a couple. Very cheap and if they are accurate they will be one of the cheaper and useful things I have bought.

Side note: I am going to list variations of "small alcoholmenters" in this post. While I indeed did search, there was another thread just with a different variation. Hopefully, with the expanded list it will help others who are the best at searching find this topic.

Mini Alcoholmeter
Small Alcoholmeter
Tiny Alcoholmeter
Jar Size Alcoholmeter
Short Alcoholmeter

[SaltyStaves]

These guys make spirit safe hydrometers that are pretty much in every Scotch distillery in Scotland.
http://www.stevenson-reeves.co.uk/hydro ... alised.htm

Small and accurate, but I don't think they sell to the public.