Calibrating Refractometer everyday?

[jbailey52]

I am using a 1.026 calibration solution to calibrate, and it is off .05 everyday... where as my old swing hydrometer is dead on everyday..... anyone know why or whats up? Why should I have to be calibrating this everyday?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by jbailey52 http:///t/394507/calibrating-refractometer-everyday#post_3511316
I am using a 1.026 calibration solution to calibrate, and it is off .05 everyday... where as my old swing hydrometer is dead on everyday..... anyone know why or whats up? Why should I have to be calibrating this everyday?
My refractometer is dead on everytime. I calibrated it once....every time I check it, it's dead on, I think I have calibrated it twice since I purchased it...going on year one. Maybe it's a defective refractometer, or bad solution.

 

[btldreef]

That's odd. What type of refractometer?

 

[jbailey52]

Its a c scope refractometer... Could is have anything to do with temp? Sometimes the refracto is behind my tank in the garage ( I have an in wall tank so the equipment is in garage) and the solution might be warmer in the house or vice versa. I have kept both in the house however and this still seems to happen.

 

[btldreef]

It could be the temp. Float the solution in the tank so that temps are the same. I've had to do this with calibration fluid for refractometers and pH probes

 

[jbailey52]

What About the refractometer itself? Where should this be kept? In my heated office so it's not cold?

 

[jbailey52]

Just an update.. I floated the calibration solution, and it worked perfect.

 

[btldreef]

Glad you got the problem fixed!

 

[jbailey52]

It's funny how my swing arm is on exactly the same and is actually a lot easier and quicker

 

[btldreef]

I have a swing arm that reads dead accurate as well. I also have one that is off my 3. The one that is off was perfect for years.
The problem is that they're inconsistent. Some read perfect, then go bad. Some never read right at all. And some never go bad.