Calculating Mash Efficiency

[rfoushee]

My apologies in advance if this issue has been addressed in the past. I searched the archives and didn't really find any informative answer.

I've been using ProMash for years, and one feature I always use for a brew session is the ability to measure my mash efficiency using my preboil volume.

I've downloaded the demo of BTP 1.5, and after spending a number of hours getting comfortable with the software and it's methods, I find I like it quite a bit.

The one thing I can't figure out how to do though, is calculate my efficiency based on a preboil gravity. I know you can hover over the 'Kettle Volume @ 212) value to get the tooltip for the estimated preboil gravity, and I'm also aware of the analysis tab where I can enter my postboil figures, but again, that's not exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm looking for a method to enter a preboil volume and a gravity reading, and have it calculate the efficiency. Can this be accomplished with BTP?

Thanks!

[slothrob]

Set your preboil volume and adjust the mash efficiency value until the pre-boil volume (from the hover) matches the measured gravity. When the gravity is right, you've calculated your efficiency.

[derfburg21]

This makes no sence, can someone help me out here. Preboil vol is "Kettle Vol @ 212"?

[Legman]

Preboil volume is "Kettle Volume".

Set your preboil volume and adjust the mash efficiency value until the pre-boil volume (from the hover) matches the measured gravity. When the gravity is right, you've calculated your efficiency.

What Slothrob is saying, is to take you mouse pointer and hold it over the "Kettle Volume" and the preboil gravity will pop up.

[slothrob]

Preboil volume is "Kettle Volume".

Set your preboil volume and adjust the mash efficiency value until the pre-boil volume (from the hover) matches the measured gravity. When the gravity is right, you've calculated your efficiency.

What Slothrob is saying, is to take you mouse pointer and hold it over the "Kettle Volume" and the preboil gravity will pop up.

Thanks, Legman. Yeah, I meant... 'until the pre-boil gravity (seen from hovering over the "Kettle Volume") matches the measured gravity'.

It seemed to make sense when I typed it

[Legman]

Slothrob, I knew exactly what you meant. I'm just glad you did say that, 'cause I had never tried that before........and ya know what? My mash efficiency SUCKS!!!

I've gotta get my system dialed in better. I just recently started using a cooler mash tun, so it's all part of the learning process, I suppose.

[slothrob]

Glad to be helpful.
It took me a while to get my efficiency up where I was happy with it. I got a big increase with an improved crush, and a number of smaller incremental increases from improvements like minimizing dead volume and an optimized sparge.

[Legman]

I'm still getting my grains milled at my local HBS. So I can't control that at this point. But X-mas time is coming......I may have to put in for a new grain mill!

[derfburg21]

OK, I'm stupid, still can not make this work.

[derfburg21]

Can someone post a screen cap please?

[derfburg21]

OK, I know for a fact I got a 1.078 Preboil reading. Where does that go and how does that relate to this. My OG reading was 1.039.

[slothrob]

Your pre-boil gravity was 1.078 and your post boil was 1.039?
Something's not right.

If you started with 6.75 gallons at 1.039 and ended with 6 gallons, your final gravity was 1.044.

If your pre-boil gravity was 1.039, then your efficiency of 62.8% would be correct.

[jawbox]

something doesn't make any sense

[Bobby_M]

Are you talking literally about MASH efficiency (how well you covert) or do you mean total preboil mash/lauter efficiency (how well you convert AND extract)? You mention a gravity reading of 1.078 and the only thing I can think of is that you're measuring first runnings gravity.

[jeff]

OK, I know for a fact I got a 1.078 Preboil reading. Where does that go and how does that relate to this. My OG reading was 1.039.

I know this is probably a stupid question, but, did you perhaps have a 10.78 Plato reading rather than a 1.078 gravity reading?