8
votes
Using Refractometer
They are different but only in the scale the refraction is interpreted.
You can get refractometers with various scales. Specific Gravity, brix, plato, ppm/ppt (saline).
This is a very good question ...
- 18.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Refractometer vs. Hydrometer
They are both very accurate when used correctly.
It's really best to use both
Refractometer is only accurate for OG readings. Benefit is a few drops for sample instead of 100-200ml. This is very ...
- 18.5k
6
votes
Why is my refractometer hard to read?
IMHO answer to this question is that the fluid under test is "opaque"and so the reading line is "diffuse". The opaque nature is usually due to yeast being present and it is better to test a clear(er) ...
- 5,631
5
votes
Accepted
Why is my refractometer hard to read?
I have found that the refractometer line comes out fuzzy if the transparent lip is not flush with the prism. This can be due to particulates which introduce a distance, CO2 in the solution which ...
- 394
4
votes
Refractometer vs. Hydrometer
I haven't used a hydrometer in years. I think they are worthless and you waste a fair amount of beer using one. You can do a very close estimate of your alcohol content by just using only a ...
- 3,012
3
votes
Refractometer vs. Hydrometer
Which of these two tools is more accurate/precise in taking gravity measurements?
Hydrometer. In my experiance.
It could be my cheap refractometer but i've noticed some inaccurate readings and I ...
- 671
3
votes
Specific Gravity: Refractometer and Hydrometer Disagree
The first thing to note is that your refractometer and your hydrometer are measuring different physical attributes of your wort. You need to account for these differences, and additional errors.
...
- 608
2
votes
Using Refractometer
No. The scales are different. The refractometer works on the principle that when a ray of light crosses a boundary (in this case into a fluid), the material refracts the ray under a certain angle. ...
- 3,655
2
votes
Temperature calibration of ºBrix to SG conversion
Conversion from Brix to SG doesn't require temp adjustment.
Only the reading you measure needs to be adjusted for temp. Or better yet zero out your refractometer with distilled water that's the same ...
- 18.5k
2
votes
Temperature calibration of ºBrix to SG conversion
Both Brix and specific gravity are temperature sensitive but the conversion seems to be independent of that fact. That is, if you start with the correct value in Brix, your converted SG value will be ...
- 1,900
2
votes
Refractometer vs. Hydrometer
I recently switched too. One problem I noticed with the smaller sample is that if you pull from the top of the vessle you may get some oils or other less dense particles collected at the top. This ...
- 328
2
votes
Accepted
Method to measure specific gravity above refractometer range?
I believe your idea is correct. I would have recommended exactly the same technique.
- 3,417
2
votes
High final Brix reading, 1.00 SG
Refractometers become less accurate once the yeast has started fermenting the sugars into alcohol. It fails to take into account that there is sugar, alcohol, and water in solution, and only measures ...
- 560
2
votes
Testing before distilling
A final gravity of 1.014 is quite high for a wash intended to be distilled. So off-hand I'd say you've got an incomplete fermentation on your hands. Taste it. Does it still have a residual sweetness? ...
- 2,480
1
vote
Testing before distilling
Really hard to answer this question as there isn't really any information here. It's completely impossible for the anyone to to determine if 30% is possible considering there is no information ...
- 1,773
1
vote
Accepted
Why are these refractometer scales so far off?
Simple. The SG scale is wrong. Only use Brix. A refractometer is incapable of measuring SG. It's an approximation, and in this case especially, it's pretty far off.
Instead of using that SG scale, ...
- 3,417
1
vote
Accepted
Refractometer correction for cider making
I have used the same wort calculators on ciders with some success. True the ingredients are different, but the correction curves should be similar. Personally for beer-wort I use a correction factor ...
- 3,417
1
vote
Accepted
Final gravity too high
If you're measuring FG with a refrac, you need to compensate for alcohol. Alcohol in solution will increase the apparent gravity in a refrac. For this exact reason, I never measure gravity with a ...
- 998
1
vote
Temperature calibration of ºBrix to SG conversion
I believe the answers from @Evil Zymurgist and @thesquaregroot have missed the point. Nowadays, for brewers at least, the SG of a sample is conventionally reported as its density relative to water at ...
- 194
1
vote
Why is my refractometer hard to read?
It's probably fuzzy because the CO², you may try to transfer the beer from a cup to another, about 20 times, to make it go away, then try to read again.
Don't forget to do alcohol correction, using ...
1
vote
Using Refractometer
Refractometer are commonly used to measure sugar in grapes before picking them up to make wine, you need less liquid to get a measurement.
Less common in homebrewing, but also used, just make sure ...
- 4,806
1
vote
Specific Gravity: Refractometer and Hydrometer Disagree
First, refractometers vary, their quality is different from model to model. Temperature range they can work properly is pretty wide, but it's there. Make sure you are not outside it.
Second, with ...
- 3,718
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