Checking for clarity

How would one see at night.

Carrots?

Just kidding. I tried shining a torch through it but not sure what I am looking for. I can see the torch through the wine but still am not sure if it is classed as clear or not. I am pretty new to this.

on the opposite side? Shining a light in my face just makes me blind :-)

I put my bright, 'spotlight' beam of light perpendicular to where I'm looking, and move the beam slowly from top to bottom of the carboy. If I can see the light beam in the wine, then it's got some cloudiness.

Now for the 'more than you ever wanted to know' explanation... Turbidity is the technical term for the clarity or lack thereof in a liquid. And it is measured as the ratio of intensity of the light scattered perpendicular to the beam divided by the intensity of the light which passed through the liquid from the light source to the side opposite of the beam (i.e. on-axis).

Gene

Good idea, thanks

I use a laser pointer ($2.99) to check for clarity. I have never seen a transparent wine that was so dark you couldn't see through it. Cloudy yes, dark, no.

Years ago, when I used a torch, I would look to see if the wine allowed me to clearly distinguish the wire filament in the bulb. The wine may not transmit a lot of light due to its darkness, but if it is clear you should be able to see the filament w/o any haze around it. The degree of fuzziness will tell you how much clarifying still is needed. Bob<

"gene" wrote

A laser is perfect for this. Mine was 2.99 and worth $50....

OK,

I got around to doing this. Shining through the red wine from right to left I can see the beam crossing the wine. If I shine towards myself I can see the light but it is hazy.

The black cherry is a different story. Sh>> A bright light on the opposite side of the carboy is useful. Also siphon >> a

Your cherry seems to be a marvelous light absorber.

Try shine it along a thinner path through the wine... instead of across the diameter?

Top view of DJ: _ . . .-----------.

You definitely need to wait a while longer.

You =should= be able to see the glowing filament of the bulb in the torch. You probably still have some suspended materials.

I guess I will wait a bit longer then. Weird though, the cherry is really dark right to the top and has been standing for about 8 weeks. Hang on a minute.....

....runs upstairs.....

....just checked again. At the neck it is a VERY dark red. If I switch the lights off I can just see the filament through the width of the demijohn. Seems reasonably uniform top to bottom with it being just a little less visible (the torch) near the bottom of the demijohn.

Yes, you are definitely getting there!!!!! :-) The real kicker is when you cannot see the beam =in= the liquid. If you can see it as a line passing through, that means it is illuminating particles still in suspension.

Perhaps 8 weeks is too short of time to expect clarity. 8 months is more like when I would maybe start checking it for clarity.