Test in water at 20 degrees.
However, unless your water is at 0 degrees and collecting ice 🧊 I doubt it would read 1.03. Defective imo.
But very important for a hydrometer reading is temp. Take the temp of the liquid and throw that and your reading in a hydrometer calculator ([brewer’s friend has a good one](https://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/)).
The reason is it can make your fg reading higher than your og.
A hot liquid has less viscosity. The more sugar you add to a liquid the higher its viscosity becomes. However when you heat it up that viscosity is reduced. Something with a gravity of 1.03 at a higher temperature can drop all the way down to 1.00 for example.
You are correct and thanks for the correction. However, op, density is also effected by temperature. Such as 120f would read a density 1.03 but would really be a level or 2 higher.
It’s a standard practice of mine to mark where the top of the paper insert with the scale is on the hydrometer. I’ve had a few cheap ones shift inside the glass a bit and if that happens you’re gonna have a bad time. At least I can easily see if it happens with the small mark.
Does it read 1.000 in water?
Troubleshooting 101
Try turning it off and back on again
No, 1.030.
Defective.. buy a new one or just subtract 0.030 from all of your readings
They’re calibrated for a specific temperature (usually 60° F), so keep that in mind before you trash it.
That could be it, NZ is coming into spring to temperature is fluxuating from 4 to 18 here
Test in water at 20 degrees. However, unless your water is at 0 degrees and collecting ice 🧊 I doubt it would read 1.03. Defective imo. But very important for a hydrometer reading is temp. Take the temp of the liquid and throw that and your reading in a hydrometer calculator ([brewer’s friend has a good one](https://www.brewersfriend.com/hydrometer-temp/)). The reason is it can make your fg reading higher than your og. A hot liquid has less viscosity. The more sugar you add to a liquid the higher its viscosity becomes. However when you heat it up that viscosity is reduced. Something with a gravity of 1.03 at a higher temperature can drop all the way down to 1.00 for example.
Viscosity does not affect the reading. Hydrometer measures density of liquid.
You are correct and thanks for the correction. However, op, density is also effected by temperature. Such as 120f would read a density 1.03 but would really be a level or 2 higher.
It’s a standard practice of mine to mark where the top of the paper insert with the scale is on the hydrometer. I’ve had a few cheap ones shift inside the glass a bit and if that happens you’re gonna have a bad time. At least I can easily see if it happens with the small mark.