Using Refractometers with care and maintenance

Refractometers are quite helpful devices that are required for testing and measuring salinity of various solutions. Basically, these devices are required for measuring refractive index of liquids, glasses as well as translucent solid such as gemstones. Liquids basically get tested for different things such as salinity, fluid concentrations, blood proteins, etc. The measurement for the reduced light speed inside a solution, solid object or gaseous environment is known as refractive index. A shadow line would appear within refractometer and can also get created through lenses as well as prisms. The shadow line is viewed through magnifying eye pieces.

Among the most commonly used refractometers is the handheld refractometer. These basically work on the principle of light passing through a prism that has unique characteristics that gets represented through a scale value. There are two different types of handheld refractometers that you can choose from: digital and analog.

Handheld refractometers

 These are some of the most popular ones as these are simple to use and these also don’t require a source of energy for efficient working. The only flaw that you get with these is that sometimes you get false outcomes when these are used outside specific temperature range.

Digital refractometers

Digital refractometers have gained a lot of popularity as these have been simple to use. To use these, you’ve got to deposit juice in well that would let a light emitting diode (LED) for reflecting light through prism. Once you deposit the juice you’ll have to only wait few seconds and you’ll notice outcomes in your LCD screens.

Additionally, with quick results, these refractometers also deliver accurate outcomes. The only concern is that these refractometers are expensive.

Maintaining refractometers

As like any other device, refractometers require care and maintenance. You’ve got to handle these with care as well as maintenance to make them work efficiently. Here are a few tips on how can you take care of these devices.

v  Environment – These devices shouldn’t be exposed to wet conditions. Once you get through after proper analysis of their storage, you’ve got to dry and clean the prism. A sign that you’ve exposed the analog handheld refractometer in the wet environment is field of view cloudiness. While this happens, you can get in touch with a professional technician for appropriate help.

v  Storage – Additionally for ensuring that you should store handheld refractometer in dry places, you also have to ensure that the storage location remains in constant temperature. Research studies show that storing your refractometer in locations where temperature would fluctuate at around 5 degree Fahrenheit, you’ll risk damaging prism as well as optics.

Irrespective of your reason of use, you’ll find these to be quiet common and this would also be available in a variety of price ranges. Before these have to be used you need to follow the instructions of manufacturers for calibrating the new instruments. Calibration is quite vital to get accurate readings. While you’re ready for testing, you should be sure to use fresh sugar samples in blood to get readings that are concerned about fluid concentrations.