This precision optical instrument is designed to help beekeepers accurately measure the sugar concentration and moisture content of honey.

Key Features

• User-Friendly: Easy to focus and calibrate.
• Battery-Free: Uses ambient light only; no power source required.
• Comfortable Design: Cushioned with soft, non-slip rubber.
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC): Features an ATC range of 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F).
• Durable: Built to be long-lasting and reliable.

Instrument Components

1. Daylight Plate: Protects the prism and spreads the sample.
2. Main Prism Assembly: The surface where the honey is placed.
3. Calibration Screw: Used to adjust the reading during calibration.
4. Rubber Grip: Provides a secure and comfortable hold.
5. Focus Adjustment: Rotate to sharpen the scale in the eyepiece.
6. Eyepiece: Look through here to view the scale.

Calibration Procedure

Note: All refractometers are calibrated before shipping, so further calibration is usually not required upon arrival. ¹⁵

1. Protect the Equipment: Calibration oil (dioptric oil) can damage the plastic daylight plate over time. Please keep oil away from the plate as much as possible to avoid cracking or fogging.
2. Prepare the Stone: During calibration, the included calibration stone (reference block) acts as the daylight plate.
3. Apply Oil: Place a small drop of calibration oil on the long-sided surface of the stone.
4. Position the Stone: Open the daylight plate and place the oily side of the stone directly onto the prism surface. Press lightly with your hand so it does not slide.
5. Clean Excess: Wipe away any oil from around the stone with a clean cloth. This is an important step; excess oil can make the scale line blurry.
6. Adjust the Scale: If the blue and white boundary line does not align with the reference reading of 78.8% Brix, rotate the calibration screw until it does.

Standard Usage Instructions

1. Clean: Open the daylight plate and clean the prism using a soft, damp cloth.
2. Apply Sample: Place 2–3 drops of your honey sample on the main prism.
3. Light Source: Hold the daylight plate toward a light source.
4. Focus: Adjust the focus ring until the scale is clear.
5. Read: Take the reading where the blue and white boundary line crosses the graduated scale.

Warning and Maintenance

• Accuracy: For the best results, the prism and the honey sample must be at the same temperature.
• Moisture Protection: Do not expose the instrument to damp conditions or immerse it in water. If the eyepiece becomes foggy, water has entered the body.
• Chemical Safety: Do not measure abrasive or corrosive chemicals.
• Routine Cleaning: Clean the instrument with a soft, damp cloth between every measurement. Failure to do so can lead to inaccurate results or damage to the prism coating.
• Handling: This is a precision optical instrument. Careful handling and storage are required to prevent damage to the internal structure.

Package List

·        1× ATC refractometer

·        1× Mini-screw driver

·        1× Pipettes

·        1× Protective carrying case

·        1× Manual

·        1× Clean cloth

·        1× Honey refractometer calibration oil

·        1× Honey refractometer calibration stone