Which refractometer should I buy?

[Gear101]

Basically brix is "26%" of SG, just multiply your brix reading by 4 and add it to 1.0x to get the correct number...perfect?... no, but the software available is so easy that if you want something exact, you can get it

I have a freind that taught me that formula, works everytime.

 

[d_striker]

Losman

Did you try your refractometer out yet? What do you think?

 

[tealio]

So far I have been happy with my Hannah Instruments refractometer. It was a bit more than the other type but enjoy the lab style of it.

Just reads brix and temp, I callibrate it with distilled water each use.

Not sure why it displays the temp because none of the formulas I use seem to need it. It is ATC up to 140f I think.

 

[tealio]

There it is.

 

[ne0t0ky0]

I ran across this interesting bit in the wikipedia article on Brix:

"Many refractometers have built in "Automatic Temperature Compensation" (ATC) which is based on knowledge of the way the refractive index of sucrose changes. For example, the refractive index of a sucrose solution of strength less than 10 °Bx is such that a 1 °C change in temperature would cause the Brix reading to shift by about 0.06 °Bx. Beer, conversely, exhibits a change with temperature about three times this much. It is important, therefore, that users of refractometers either make sure the sample and prism of the instrument are both at very close to 20 °C or, if that is difficult to insure, readings should be taken at 2 temperatures separated by a few degrees, the change per degree noted and the final recorded value referenced to 20°C using the Bx vs. Temp slope information."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brix

I was really interested in the sentence about Beer's refractive index is 3 times higher than suchrose; I'm wondering if they're talking wort here? That seems to point to needing the temperature and the Brix. Anyone do this or just assume that if they have ATC there's no need?

 

[Gear101]

So far I have been happy with my Hannah Instruments refractometer. It was a bit more than the other type but enjoy the lab style of it.

Just reads brix and temp, I callibrate it with distilled water each use.

Not sure why it displays the temp because none of the formulas I use seem to need it. It is ATC up to 140f I think.

Bid daddy warbucks.. LOL

 

[jimmayhugh]

So far I have been happy with my Hannah Instruments refractometer. It was a bit more than the other type but enjoy the lab style of it.

Just reads brix and temp, I callibrate it with distilled water each use.

Not sure why it displays the temp because none of the formulas I use seem to need it. It is ATC up to 140f I think.

I also have one of those, and it's GREAT. :rockin:

Got mine from Amazon.