Refractometers

[Glot]

Has anyone had any experience or feedback about the super cheap refractometers?

 

[seamad]

If by super cheap you are referring to the ones sold on alibaba and the like then yes, I've had a couple ( dropped and broken ) and they work fine. Pretty well never use a hydro anymore, just now and a gain to verify readings on the refrac.

 

[Glot]

I see some for about $22. Wondering how accurate they are. I have heard somewhere you can get a different reading each time with the same solution.

 

[trevgale]

I've got one the $50ish ones and couldn't be happier with it. It lets me easily take reading during sparging, pre-boil as well as all the way through fermentation, letting me graph the progress of fermentation. (yes, I'm en engineer ). I'm not sure if the one I have is the same as the really cheap ones, with a slightly better case or better quality but for $50 it one of my best brewing purchases.

 

[seamad]

The ones I have cost about the same and work fine. They have ATC ( auto temp compensation ) but only to about 30C, so you need to cool wort down before taking a reading. I've found the best way to cool is suck up wort in 5ml syringe and leave to cool. Putting a drop or 2 hot on the glass and blowing it to cool down can cause probs because of evaporating.

 

[trevgale]

I basically do the same thing when taking hot samples. I use an eye dropper to get the sample put it on the refractometer (with ATC), I then leave it for a couple of minutes to cool, you can watch the SG increase, typically by a few points.