Re: [EE] Measuring increasing mass over a 1/2 day period

Is the container transparent? I would be tempted to use a reflective
optical sensor set up using a calibrated mass of water. That could give you
a warning when it is close to the limit, and if you need greater accuracy
then the scales come into effect.

Does the container have a flexible pipe from the condenser? That would
allow you to lift the container to put the scales underneath at the
critical time.


On Thu, 12 Mar 2026 at 22:31, Chuck Olson <[email protected]> wrote:

> Sergio -
>
> Thanks, that seems fairly easy to do - I'll have to think about it.
>
> The timeout is usually 2 minutes but can be increased to 5 minutes.
>
> If I could get around the initial heating period where nothing is
> collected, roughly 1.5 hours, possibly the increase in mass would keep
> the scale alive ?  I will have to try it.
>
> Chuck
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 4:45 PM smplx <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 12 Mar 2026, Chuck Olson wrote:
> >
> > > The mass in question would start at 263 grams (container mass) and
> > > increase over 11+ hours to 4000+ grams (container mass plus about 1
> > > gallon of water).
> > >
> > > I am trying to measure the distilled water output from a boil of maple
> > > sap.  I use a Still Spirits Air Still.  With the still it's like
> > > making candy blindfolded.  I can't measure the temperature or the
> > > specific gravity of the maple syrup or even see what is happening.
> > >
> > > But I can measure the input maple sap for mass and sugar
> > > concentration.  From that I can calculate the amount of maple syrup I
> > > should be able to get at a concentration of 67 percent sugar by mass.
> > >
> > > I do have a kitchen scale which can handle 6000 grams but the problem
> > > is that it times out and every subsequent powerup the measurement is
> > > zeroed (tare function).  I suppose there are AC powered digital scales
> > > which might stay on for 11+ hours but would the measurements still be
> > > accurate after that time ?
> > >
> > > The only thing I can think of is to wait until near the end of the
> > > boil and then start measuring the mass but that's a hassle trying to
> > > put the scale under the container while the still is continuously
> > > dripping.
> > >
> > > Any ideas ?
> > >
> > > Chuck
> >
> > I guess the scale has a timeout that resets when the weight changes? If
> so
> > you just need to upset the weight periodically so that the scale never
> > times out. Perhaps a solenoid to tap the scale?
> >
> > Regards
> > Sergio
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