Refractometer Question

[sparklefuzz]

The refractometer arrived. It is a RHS-10ATC. My question is, I've read different things about what I should be calibrating it with, some places say distilled water, other RO/DI.. then there is Calibrating Fluid. Which should I be using?! I'm totally confused!!

 

[andywg]

Ro or RO/DI should be fine.

I don't really see how a calibrating fluid would be much different as to calibrate you want a liquid as close to pure water as possible. You then calibrate it to 0 and so long as this is done at room temperature it should auot-adjust for temperatures a good 10 degrees or so either way.

 

[sparklefuzz]

Ro or RO/DI should be fine.

I don't really see how a calibrating fluid would be much different as to calibrate you want a liquid as close to pure water as possible. You then calibrate it to 0 and so long as this is done at room temperature it should auot-adjust for temperatures a good 10 degrees or so either way.

Thank you.

 

[Opcn]

RO RO/DI and distilled water are almost the same, the difference is not enough to matter to sG at all.

 

[crazyelece]

This has actually been an ongoing and current debate in my local club and on RC. Apparently the calibration fluid at 68 degrees F is where you need to calibrate the refractometers. The exact chemistry is a little beyond me, but we have two local chemistry experts in our club and both have confirmed this. When I calibrated my refractometer with the calibration solution it was off -0.005. I thought I was at 1.025 and in reality am at 1.020.