Refractometer

[andysim]

I bought a RSG 32ATC refractometer.

The directions tell you to calibrate it before use so I did using tap water instead of distilled. I checked the temp of the water and it was per the specs. I didn't have to adjust the setting because the factory setting was dead on.

I was kegging two homebrews so I checked the final gravity with two hydrometers and the refractometer.

The first beer was a porter and the FG according to both hydrometers was right around 1013, but the refractometer was about 1034.

I checked a Homebrew pale and got the same crazy results.

I then checked a commercial pale and got similar results as the porter.

Am I doing something wrong or is the refractometer not working correctly?

 

[2Kegger]

Here are a couple of links for converting BRIX:

http://www.brewersfriend.com/brix-converter/ <- this will convert from Brix to OG or from OG to Brix

Getting final gravity is more complicated. Here is a link for that:

http://www.northernbrewer.com/learn/resources/refractometer-calculator/

On this page, use the middle one. Enter the original BRIX and the final BRIX. You can't just take the final reading with your refractometer. It doesn't work that way, unfortunately. I've had pretty good luck with mine using these calculators.

Hope that helps!

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

The alcohol changes the reading on the refractometer. The readings have to be corrected using formulas on online calculators to somewhat accurately measure your post fermentation brix.

 

[nettekdl]

Refractometers do not work properly once there is alcohol in the test solution, there are correction calculators but I have found them to be unreliable personally

 

[andysim]

Thanks

 

[andysim]

3 responses in 5 Minutes. This is why I love this forum