hydrometer question

[sweet willy]

Why does a hydrometer for maple syrup say 211 degrees for the hot test, when syrup is drawn off at 219 for the most part?

[spencer11]

i was thinkin about this to when i was testing this year..i test when it is at about 219 not 211. not sure if this is bad or if it maks a huge difference. but im not sure about why its tested at 211. why is sap tested at 38, and not some other tempature?

spencer

[PerryW]

Syrup cools down quickly when you draw it into the (colder) test cup. I think they figure that the actual temperature will have dropped 7 degrees by the time you fill the cup, lower the hydrometer in and take your reading.

[spencer11]

Syrup cools down quickly when you draw it into the (colder) test cup. I think they figure that the actual temperature will have dropped 7 degrees by the time you fill the cup, lower the hydrometer in and take your reading.
is that why they came out with the accu-cup?

spencer

[sweet willy]

Makes sense about the cold hydro cup, we usually keep the cup right inside of the finish pan while boiling though. I'll have to try cold cup theory next year with a thermometer.

[PerryW]

I store my hydrometer in the test cup filled /w hot sapand resting against the hot float box, but the temp is still probably only 150 F (as opposed to 219)

Either way, cold cup or hot cup. the test cup has a fairly large surface area and cools quickly in room temperature air of the sugarhouse. If it takes 15 or 20 seconds to do the test, i bet even w/ a hot cup, it drops a few degrees.

ALso, there is really only 1/4 Baume between 211 and 219 anyway so the 211 only has to be approximate.