Cheap(ish) Brewing equipment

[akr71]

I've found the system to work well enough that I use my real credit card, as opposed to the one we use for Internet purchases (which we have to keep fighting the bank to not raise the credit limit over $500).

I'm not surprised. I don't use TD, but I have the same problem. They finally got the idea when I called to cancel the card - they lowered it back down to $500 and it hasn't happened since.

[Garak]

Sounds more likely that you have spyware/malware on your computer. Unless your running a Mac or Linux, its very likely that your computer is infected with something. Even Macs and Linux boxes are not immune to malware, but just a lot less of a target. Even the best antivirus will miss the latest worms and other malware.

Its very easy to make a worm/virus/trojan that will log all your key presses looking for credit card numbers and passwords, and then transmit them to a hacked server in china somewhere.

Even government IT who have all kinds of security measures in place is constantly playing wack-a-mole with this type of malware.

[akr71]

Edit: This one might have the range I use:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Brix-Refractometer-0 ... 3a636ad4d1

Just bought it, or at least an identical one from the same vendor.

[akr71]

It just arrived today safe and sound.

Two things made me laugh though. It came from King Fuk Street in Honk Kong (what can I say I like base humor) and the packaging. I'll post a pic when I get a chance, but it was in one of those inter-departmental envelopes - the kind where the flap is closed by winding a string around two little paper disks - not tape, no glue - nothing. The hydrometer is in its carrying case, in its little bubble wrap sleeve and all 10 pipettes. I wonder how many curious postal workers opened the envelope between Honk Kong and Amherst?

I have renewed faith in the global postal system.

[akr71]

OK - I finally managed to test this puppy out

After I calibrated it with RO water, I got a reading of 1.016 from a fermenting beer. I checked it against my hydrometer and it read 1.012
OK, I decided to calibrate my hydrometer (not sure why I've never done that before) - RO water gave me a reading of 1.003. So now the 2 are off by only 0.001, which I can live with.