Dilution not adding up

[Corps012588]

Hiya guys.
I've stripped some wash and ended up with 9ltrs of 50%
The calculator said I should end up with 16ltrs when cut back to 30%
I've ended up with 12ltrs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What on earth is on with that?!!!!!

[John51]

My calcs say 15L @ 30%.

9L @ 50% = 4.5L pure.

4.5 divided by 0.3 = 15


I have had my dilutions be out but not by as much as you. I'm guessing that my alcometer is out. Either at the higher %, lower % or both.

[Corps012588]

Thank you.

I'm using alcotec 48
10kg sugar
Water enough to get 14%
Allowing 2 weeks for fermentation
Running it through my airstill on a stripping run
And that is where it starts going strange.
I normally average 1ltr till the output is at 20%
Then water back to 30% and never get much back.
If I'm right I'm going to end up with about 5ltrs of 40%
This run and that's waaaaaaaaay low compared to a
Just a normal 25ltr result I read about on here!
I just can't work it out.

[chill]

I've had that happen too. It might be that the fermentation stalled rather than completed. Or you might have something in the wash that is eating the sugar or the alcohol (e.g. acetobacter).

[Corps012588]

Hiya chill.
I don't think it's stalling as the hydro is almost sinking.
Now about the bacteria eating all my sugar, how do I go about stopping the little blighters
If that's what's happening?
Thank you

[Easydrinker]

I have read this post,and the replies several times,to try and understand before responding.
9 litres of 50%,diluted to 30% yields 15 litres.Simples.
If your numbers don't match,then suspect the Alcometer,or the volumetric measure that you are using,or even your own measurements (I habitually do all this measuring stuff late at night with a drink at hand!)
It doesn't matter what ingredients you used.
Math is math.
Now,if you are forward projecting from the expected % of your wash,then you are asking a different question.
HTH
Robert.

[Almanac]

Standard manual dilution calculator works as follows;

((Current ABV % Divided by Target ABV%) Minus 1) Multiplied by 129 this will give you the correct amount of water to add to the spirit to achieve the Target ABV

In your case ((50 Divided by 30) Minus 1) Multiplied by 129 = 5.999 rounded to 6 plus 9 Lt of Current ABV spirit equals 15Lt final volume.

Check the Alcometer in water which should read 0 ABV if it's damaged it will miss the zero mark.

AM

[Corps012588]

That's great. Thanks aidan.
Great to see your still around