Using VST outside temperature range
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So, it's winter here, and because electric heat is stupid, I just put on a sweater and keep my place at about 50-55f (about 10c-13c)
My VST does not like this. Outright refuses to measure anything outside it's temperature range, the low end of which is about 59f (15c). I'd rather not waste a lot of unnecessary energy just to use my VST, so does anyone know a way around this? Am I just going to have to get a small space heater to blast directly on the VST?
My VST does not like this. Outright refuses to measure anything outside it's temperature range, the low end of which is about 59f (15c). I'd rather not waste a lot of unnecessary energy just to use my VST, so does anyone know a way around this? Am I just going to have to get a small space heater to blast directly on the VST?
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According to the documentation the VST has temperature compensation but the lower limit is 15°C. And for best results distilled water calibration should be performed within 2°C of the temperature that samples are tested at, which should also be the same temperature as the VST itself. At least if accuracy is a concern.
I've got my sample containers, recipes, and procedure laid out. I was going to brew, filter, fill the containers, and ship them to you tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest. Should I hold off on that until summer?
The guy I sent samples to before tested all the samples I sent him at 20.0±0.5°C.
I've got my sample containers, recipes, and procedure laid out. I was going to brew, filter, fill the containers, and ship them to you tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest. Should I hold off on that until summer?
The guy I sent samples to before tested all the samples I sent him at 20.0±0.5°C.
- TomC
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What's the deviation outside of 15°?
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There is no deviation outside 15c. It just outright refuses to measure the sample at all.
I've no problem bringing the temperature up for a few hours for testing a batch of samples when accuracy is most important for an experiment like that. I just don't want to do it every single day for multiple measurements hours apart. I don't especially want to need to adjust the thermostat in advance of every single brew and can't reasonably keep it 15+c in here all day.
So preference #1 would be just turn off the limit and accept it's not quite as accurate as it would be a little warmer. And preference #2 being heating the area immediately around it without wasting energy heating the whole place.
Edit: Eh, I'll just keep it warmer for now. Not that big a deal anyway.
I've no problem bringing the temperature up for a few hours for testing a batch of samples when accuracy is most important for an experiment like that. I just don't want to do it every single day for multiple measurements hours apart. I don't especially want to need to adjust the thermostat in advance of every single brew and can't reasonably keep it 15+c in here all day.
So preference #1 would be just turn off the limit and accept it's not quite as accurate as it would be a little warmer. And preference #2 being heating the area immediately around it without wasting energy heating the whole place.
Edit: Eh, I'll just keep it warmer for now. Not that big a deal anyway.
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Do you have a large enough pocket to put it in? Store it and a small dropper bottle of water in your pockets for a bit!
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- yakster
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Maybe you could place a heat lamp over a work area for your measurements.
-Chris
LMWDP # 272
LMWDP # 272
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We keep our house at ambient temperature too so if I had a VST I'd have the same problem.
You want to have the refractometer and the samples all at a nice stable temperature. So a heat lamp sounds like a dicey solution unless you just want some number and don't mind if the accuracy is compromised.
Could you heat a smaller space instead of your entire house? Maybe a closet? Or maybe some kind of see-through box with a Peltier plate in it? The guy who tested my samples five years ago used one of those plates for the samples. I don't know what he did with the VST itself. Where he lived it was sub-freezing that time of year so he surely had his house heated.
One advantage to weighing dehydrated samples -- the ambient temperature doesn't matter.
You want to have the refractometer and the samples all at a nice stable temperature. So a heat lamp sounds like a dicey solution unless you just want some number and don't mind if the accuracy is compromised.
Could you heat a smaller space instead of your entire house? Maybe a closet? Or maybe some kind of see-through box with a Peltier plate in it? The guy who tested my samples five years ago used one of those plates for the samples. I don't know what he did with the VST itself. Where he lived it was sub-freezing that time of year so he surely had his house heated.
One advantage to weighing dehydrated samples -- the ambient temperature doesn't matter.