Hello, what are peoples thoughts on using a digital hydrometer? I have always wanted to use one myself for the purpose of automation, but was immediately put off by the price of commercially available units. I have seen the Beer Bug out there, which seems like an interesting concept, but a little clunky looking. It is considerably cheaper than commercially available digital hydrometers, but probably has the trade off of lower reliability/robustness, accuracy and perhaps annoying to sanitise.
I have been developing an ultrasound based density meter (hydrometer) in my spare time for a bit of fun (Electronic engineer by day). The sensor will be a solid state component. Importantly, it would be easy to sanitise and would be robust. The sensor itself would float inside the fermenter, so should have minimal impact on your standard equipment. It would of course be wireless too.
I am still in the early stages of development, and am at the stage of building a simplified prototype to verify the modelling I have done for the sensor. If the technology proves successful I may be interested in turning it into a product for home brewers, but the question is what is the max people would pay for a digital hydrometer aimed at the home brew market? This would ultimately be the go/no go for further development as a product. I will continue making one for myself regardless.
Cheers guys
I have been developing an ultrasound based density meter (hydrometer) in my spare time for a bit of fun (Electronic engineer by day). The sensor will be a solid state component. Importantly, it would be easy to sanitise and would be robust. The sensor itself would float inside the fermenter, so should have minimal impact on your standard equipment. It would of course be wireless too.
I am still in the early stages of development, and am at the stage of building a simplified prototype to verify the modelling I have done for the sensor. If the technology proves successful I may be interested in turning it into a product for home brewers, but the question is what is the max people would pay for a digital hydrometer aimed at the home brew market? This would ultimately be the go/no go for further development as a product. I will continue making one for myself regardless.
Cheers guys