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Dissolved Oxygen Meters-what's the best?

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  • Dissolved Oxygen Meters-what's the best?

    We are looking for some feedback, positive or negative, for some of the available portable dissolved oxygen meters that brewers are using.

    We are currently using Orbispheres, are looking at a Mettler Toledo, and are hoping to hear some feedback from people who use either of these units or something else.

    Thanks,
    Mitch Steele
    mitch.steele@stonebrew.com

  • #2
    Driveway Brew

    Originally posted by Mitch Steele
    We are looking for some feedback, positive or negative, for some of the available portable dissolved oxygen meters that brewers are using.

    We are currently using Orbispheres, are looking at a Mettler Toledo, and are hoping to hear some feedback from people who use either of these units or something else.

    Thanks,
    Mitch Steele
    mitch.steele@stonebrew.com
    Well Mitch
    I heard a story about a Barley Wine you made, and tried to do a second batch w/ the second runnings. I heard that you could have used a bit more O2 in that batch.

    Comment


    • #3
      Orbispheres are fine, but don't forget to use the correct membrane for the product you are measuring DO2 in. They need regular calibration and maintenance - but I guess the the Mettler Toledo ones will as well. No experience of these. I'm not sure how often we do maintenance on the orbies, as it is not within my remit - larger brewery / workload etc etc

      If you use Orbies in line, then pay particular care to the location of the probes. They are bringing some new units out with a certain amount of MIS on them - but haven't any actual reports as yet. I'm not sure of the release date. These new modules can take up to three probes, so if you are really feeling flush and want to use CO2 and N2 probes with them you only need one box.

      I am also interested in anyones experience of Mettler (or other) units.

      Cheers
      dick

      Comment


      • #4
        As Dick mentioned the Orbispheres membranes are range specific. If only one unit in your plant then typically you spec the low range membranes for accuracy at low DO levels and allow for a "rough" number for wort aeration measurements. They are good units but require regualr calibration and membrane changes/maintenance.

        Unfortunately never used Mettler's stuff.

        Also, don't forget Haffmans new stuff. They presented at the MBAA a unit that is very robust with thousands (actually they claim 1million) of measurements with no drift. This is a completely new optic technology for measuring o2. The unit also does CO2 in the same measurement. We have trialed the portable unit and have been happy. Unsure of the volume needed for a measurement and thus unclear if it can be used on small pack measurement.

        Hope this helps.

        Comment


        • #5
          We are currently using a Mettler-Toledo dissolved oxygen metre, hand held, for Checking BBTs and bottles. As of now, (only about 6 months old) no major problems. Again frequent calibrations and we useally repeat the test 2 or 3 times to be more comfortable with the reading.

          We are looking at Anton-Parr for other lab equipment. Anyone have experience with these?

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          • #6
            I have borrowed a Mettler DO meter portable. No problems, handy, frequent calibrations, and comes with a rubber boot around it for protection.

            Can anyone post ball park ranges of DO in the Filter, BBT, Package please...

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            • #7
              Unfortunately, the Haffman photocell DO and CO2 units run about $20,000 new. I like the technology, but it may be too pricey.
              -Mitch

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              • #8
                Mitch,

                I understand that Hanna Instruments is developing a new line of instrumentation designed specifically for the craft brewing industry...in other words, both specialized and affordable. Tim Morse is working with their R&D folks on this. I am not sure if a DO meter is planned, but it might be worth checking in with Tim (lemorse@comcast.net).

                Jim Pericles

                Comment


                • #9
                  Digox DO meter

                  My name is Chris Nimptsch, our company, Profamo Inc, represents a German company called Dr. Thiedig that manufactures both portable and on-line DO meters. These meters compete against the membrane type units made by Orbisphere and Mettler (Ingold). The Digox unit has no membrane which means much less maintenance, easier calibrations and quicker response times. Please contact me if you would like some more details @ 941-379-8155 or chris@profamo.com

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Orbisphere vs. Mettler vs. Haffmans vs. Dr. Thiedig

                    At the last brewery I worked at we had 1 Orbishere which needed calibration roughly 2-4 times a year. If it is rinsed well and stored cold it will last several months between calibrations. It is also quite obvious when it needs it. I knew we wanted another unit and I looked at all the options.
                    Although the Orbisphere is good, I initially thought it was too much and too complex, I later changed my mind. Mettler is great, but if your going to spend the money it is better to get the same unit to save time in calibration, user-friendliness and continuity. If you already have a Mettler, get another one of those. I also looked into Dr. Thiedig, which is very impressive by the way, but again, I thought it better to streamline our equipment and Orbishere pricing was very aggressive.
                    I have also used Haffmans in the past and was always very impressed. The new unit which measures CO2 and O2 is way to complicated, though, and was a huge disappointment. I really wanted it to work because I hate shaking the Zahm Nagel. Even the CO2 reading was all over the map after literally hundreds of test comparisons with a Zahm Nagel, all performed by me. The Zahm Nagel, which I hate with a passion, was more accurate over time and if the user knows what they are doing losses are not as severe. The analog Haffmans is better than the digital in my opinion. The digital version has been totally over designed. The O2 device works optically, if I remember correctly, and was great but only below a certain lever, again I don't remember exactly, maybe 1micro?
                    Anyway, good luck!
                    Dan
                    Application Specialist - Process Instrumentation
                    Brewer & Maltster

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Mettler is a good choice, only suggestion I can make is if you are dosing silica gel, the membrane types may not be a good option.

                      For I.D. Rinks: we keep DO under 0.05ppm for all areas post fermentation.
                      Last edited by ausbrewer1; 05-04-2007, 12:00 AM.

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                      • #12
                        We also use the Orbisphere. The only maintenence required are membrane changes and calibrations. I've found it to be very durable considering how much we use it and how rough we have been with it.
                        Our specs are 50 ppb or less everywhere post fermentation also. Cheers.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by matt
                          We are currently using a Mettler-Toledo dissolved oxygen metre, hand held, for Checking BBTs and bottles. As of now, (only about 6 months old) no major problems. Again frequent calibrations and we useally repeat the test 2 or 3 times to be more comfortable with the reading.

                          We are looking at Anton-Parr for other lab equipment. Anyone have experience with these?

                          I've used (well actually, I've set up) in line Anton paars for alcohol & PG - they seem to be very robust, both in line and off line. I think the instruments are good, but inevitably very expensive
                          dick

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Hi,

                            First, my apologies for picking-up on this thread so late!

                            We service a range of dissolved gas instruments from different manufacturers and for a range of breweries, large and small.

                            As a rule, most of the more commonly-found instruments are good (Orbisphere, Mettler, Digox, etc.) but they all need an element of care and proper use:

                            - Membrane selection, where these are used, is critical to getting good performance - we advise/fit different membranes for different applications, based on extensive knowlege of both the instruments and real-time use (I came from 23 years of brewing QA);

                            - Regular cleaning is vital and all instruments should be flushed-through immediately after use to minimise micro/yeast growth. This will not only hit the response time, but also can give highly erroneous results;

                            - Finally, understanding the results is important. Make sure if you're comparing (or likely to compare) results from different instruments that you take account of their tolerances, either in a production situation or setting specifications.

                            Thanks!
                            Last edited by TL Services; 07-10-2008, 05:59 AM.

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