Digital refractometer problems
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Digital refractometer problems
A couple of weeks ago I bought a Milwaukee MA884 digital refractometer.
It seems straightforward to use and matched my refractometer when I used it for the first time during a brewday on Sunday.
Today I tried using it to check the gravity of the beer 36 hours into fermentation as I was collecting the yeast. It read 9.4, then I pressed 'read again, and 8.8 showed, then 9.2, then ELT, an abbreviation for excessive light, then AIR, even though the sample was still I the well. The refractometer showed 9.2.
Does anyone on here who has an MA884 know what's going on? I can contact the supplier, but I'd like to get any views first.
Thanks.
Guy
It seems straightforward to use and matched my refractometer when I used it for the first time during a brewday on Sunday.
Today I tried using it to check the gravity of the beer 36 hours into fermentation as I was collecting the yeast. It read 9.4, then I pressed 'read again, and 8.8 showed, then 9.2, then ELT, an abbreviation for excessive light, then AIR, even though the sample was still I the well. The refractometer showed 9.2.
Does anyone on here who has an MA884 know what's going on? I can contact the supplier, but I'd like to get any views first.
Thanks.
Guy
Digital refractometer problems
Are you not supposed to cover it with your hand while testing?
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Last edited by LeeH on Tue Oct 01, 2019 11:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- wally
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
The instructions for my Hanna refract.LeeH wrote:Are you not supposed to cover it with you hand while testing?
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state what LeeH has just said.
Re: Digital refractometer problems
Don't know about digital refractometers but optical ones are not really intended for use once fermentation has started.
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin
1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip
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1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip
It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)
Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
Thanks for the replies.
In a departure from my normal procedures I have just read the instruction booklet!
To my surprise I discovered the refractometer uses an internal LED to direct light through a prism to the sample. Then back through the prism and a lens to a sensor. No need to use external light at all. Very clever!
So, with this in mind, I'll make a cover for the refractometer to completely block any external light out and see how I get on.
As to not using a refractometer during fermentation, my understanding is it's fine as long as one of the online calculators is used to get current SG by relating current Brix to original Brix.
Guy
In a departure from my normal procedures I have just read the instruction booklet!
To my surprise I discovered the refractometer uses an internal LED to direct light through a prism to the sample. Then back through the prism and a lens to a sensor. No need to use external light at all. Very clever!
So, with this in mind, I'll make a cover for the refractometer to completely block any external light out and see how I get on.
As to not using a refractometer during fermentation, my understanding is it's fine as long as one of the online calculators is used to get current SG by relating current Brix to original Brix.
Guy
Re: Digital refractometer problems
I find refractometers very handy on brewdays,in fact I use nothing else, but I have never succeeded with those online calculators during fermentation.guypettigrew wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2019 9:48 amAs to not using a refractometer during fermentation, my understanding is it's fine as long as one of the online calculators is used to get current SG by relating current Brix to original Brix.
Guy
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin
1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip
It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)
Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)
1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip
It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)
Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)
- thepatchworkdoll
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
Totally concur with IPA on this one.
Regards
Patch
Regards
Patch
Digital refractometer problems
I only use mine on brew day. Then use a hydrometer on keg day.
But I’ll try a calculator next time just to see if it’s anywhere close.
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But I’ll try a calculator next time just to see if it’s anywhere close.
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Sabro Single Hop NEIPA 25/02/20 CLICK ME to monitor progress with Brewfather & iSpindel
Re: Digital refractometer problems
I found the scale on my hydrometer quite difficult to read so bought a refractometer for brew day and a finishing hydrometer for the end of fermentation.
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
I use mine all the way through from brew day to FG and it is always as accurate as a standard homebrew hydrometer.I did when I first got the refractometer and was sceptical of it's accuracy use it with the hydrometer,but as the readings where in a point of each other.I put the hydrometer into retirement .
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I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me - Winston Churchill
I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me - Winston Churchill
- Kev888
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
It'll be interesting to hear how it goes now the instruction book has been read. I've found the chinese optical types very useful but my two have been awful for accuracy in almost every aspect, so I won't be trying yet another, hopefully the digital ones might be more consistent.
Kev
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
I've got a cheap optical refractometer but have never got round to using it. I find a hydrometer perfectly adequate. In defense of the refractometer, it is a lot less wasteful of wort, but otherwise, how accurate do you want to be?
Best wishes
Dave
Dave
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
The other advantage of a refractometer, apart from using less wort, is you can get readings from hot wort very easily. If using a hydrometer you need to cool the wort down to 20°C first. A few drops of very hot wort cools down really fast on a hydrometer reading plate.
Guy
Re: Digital refractometer problems
My Amazon bought optical read exactly the same as my Milwaukee digital so I sold it.
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Re: Digital refractometer problems
Having read the instruction booklet (useful things, instructions!) I've contacted the supplier. The refractometer still gives a reading of excess light even when the well is completely covered in a piece of black sorbothane.
The supplier had no quick answer so has contacted Milwaukee for advice.
Lee: yes, it reads the same as my hydrometer, when it reads at all. But requires no squinting through a lens or looking at a sometimes slightly blurry line on the scale.
Plus, very importantly, it's got buttons and is a nice new toy! Or would be, if it worked.
Guy
The supplier had no quick answer so has contacted Milwaukee for advice.
Lee: yes, it reads the same as my hydrometer, when it reads at all. But requires no squinting through a lens or looking at a sometimes slightly blurry line on the scale.
Plus, very importantly, it's got buttons and is a nice new toy! Or would be, if it worked.
Guy