Plaato airlock?

[Retired teacher]

Any comments, opinions, thoughts about this new airlock? Personally, I can’t spend that kind of money for an airlock but I find the idea intriguing.

PLAATO Airlock V3 - Wireless Hydrometer and Airlock​

Item Number: 43378

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Price:
Sale price$135.00
Stock:
In stockEligible for Fast & Free Delivery

 

[Retired teacher]

Any comments, opinions, thoughts about this new airlock? Personally, I can’t spend that kind of money for an airlock but I find the idea intriguing.

PLAATO Airlock V3 - Wireless Hydrometer and Airlock​

Item Number: 43378

---

Price:
Sale price$135.00
Stock:
In stockEligible for Fast & Free Delivery

Link to Plaato airlock.
https://homebrewing.org/products/pl...AIWbVrkZKxgGp-RSe9u9sO9m4gXYOg2mHVHAM=.Vau8i3

 

[ratflinger]

It's a solution looking for a problem.

 

[cmason1957]

When I read the words about this, I believe I saw that it doesn't measure SG, but estimates it from the CO2 produced. I'll take a daily real measurement over a guesstimate any day. Not to mention how many airlocks and hydrometer I could buy for that dollar amount.

 

[vinny]

Ya, I think ratflinger nailed it. Lets make it simpler by complicating the hell out of it with a ton of algorithms and variables.

Neat!

 

[BigDaveK]

On a related note - last time I was at Costco I saw a wireless coffee cup to keep your drink warm. And a bargain at $115 each!!

My pessimism is active today - historically empires squander resources on frivolous projects/products after they peak.

 

[Raptor99]

On a related note - last time I was at Costco I saw a wireless coffee cup to keep your drink warm. And a bargain at $115 each!!

What a bargain! I think I'll buy 2 or 3!

 

[winemaker81]

@Retired teacher, your question is a good one -- I see some products and wonder if there is an honestly useful reason for buying them. Is there something I'm missing?

In this case? @ratflinger put it best. It causes me to ask the same question as I do of most wireless and/or internet-enabled products -- WHY?

Since I'm a cheap SOB, I also considered that a hydrometer is $9 and each airlock/stopper is $3.50. For $135 USD I can buy 2 hydrometers and 33 airlocks & stoppers.

 

[Retired teacher]

Since I'm a cheap SOB, I also considered that a hydrometer is $9 and each airlock/stopper is $3.50. For $135 USD I can buy 2 hydrometers and 33 airlocks & stoppers.

As fragile as hydrometers are maybe 33 hydrometers and 2 airlocks and stoppers! (Yes, I know the math doesn’t work, but I’m too tired to work it out.)

 

[winemaker81]

As fragile as hydrometers are maybe 33 hydrometers and 2 airlocks and stoppers! (Yes, I know the math doesn’t work, but I’m too tired to work it out.)

Your point is taken!

Oddly enough, I still use the hydrometer I purchased in January 1984. My brother quit winemaking years ago and gave me his hardware, so I have his hydrometer from that era. I suspect hydrometers today are more fragile than they were 40 years ago.