Dialing it in, part II

I've mentioned this before:

https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2024/02/dialing-it-in.html

Recently I was watching this video by Big Clive:

source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGho4TCdtj8

which is quite interesting - this kind of accurate scale used to be REALLY expensive - fancy instrumentation op-amps and calibration.  But now anyone can get these scales (even with the tariff-tax) at reasonable prices.  The cool kids use them for measuring flour for baking - more accurate than dipping a measuring cup.

But it occurred to me that I could use a digital scale to measure maple syrup with the result of a more consistent starting point for a boil.  I checked the scale I have:

And it can handle 6000 grams maximum which should be more than enough for 4 liters of sap plus a container.  One problem:  I don't have a good container for 4 liters - 4 quarts is no problem but since 4 liters is 7.2 oz. larger, the Rubbermaid pitcher is just a little too small.  I will look at Mann's to see if they have anything larger.

Another thing I didn't consider when measuring volume:

https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-solution.html

is that the volume of sap depends on the temperature.  Assuming it is like water (probably wrong) sap would be densest at about 4C (39.2F)  or about fridge temperature.  If it's colder or warmer the volume increases.  So even if I could measure volume accurately, it wouldn't be as consistent as measuring the mass - 4000 grams is 4000 grams no matter the temp.

Anyway measuring the mass of the sap is now the current course.  The result of the initial "mass" boil was a little high at 67.5 %  but pretty darn close to syrup.

Next task will be to use a scale to monitor the output mass of distilled water - I'm not quite sure how to do that because the Ozeri scale powers down, I will have to see if it can still measure accurately if turned on 11 hours later.  Another thing I've never considered is how much water vapor escapes the still without being condensed to liquid water.  I think this is a low percentage but just how low, it's hard to measure these things accurately :)

Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm