Milwaukee refractometer

[rs1831]

I need advice. I purchased a refractometer and I have been using the steam distilled water to zero the unit and then when I test it against the naslow calibration solution it comes up at 1.027. When I test it against rodi water it comes out to 1.00 s.g. Should I assume that the calibration solution is off?

Best,
Roland

 

[jason2459]

I would use the rodi water to zero it.

 

[Ryan777]

I need advice. I purchased a refractometer and I have been using the steam distilled water to zero the unit and then when I test it against the naslow calibration solution it comes up at 1.027. When I test it against rodi water it comes out to 1.00 s.g. Should I assume that the calibration solution is off?

Best,
Roland

I know your post is many years old!!! But I just purchased the Milwaukee MA887 and this is the same thing that happened to me. The Calibration from the distilled steamed water was set to zero. Then the solution provided read at 1.027 (the bottle says 1.025 from Naslow Chemical LTD). Hmm, I guess I will keep looking to see if it is user error, or a bad bottle.

 

[Pistondog]

Is the solution provided 1.000 sg or other ?
Like the post above says cal with rodi.

 

[Acros]

The naslow calibration solution (1.025) is bad, it always is. It is a know issue at this point. Calibrate with rodi and you are good to go. I had the Milwaukee drift off calibration once in the last 1.5 years. I use two of them.

 

[Ryan777]

The naslow calibration solution (1.025) is bad, it always is. It is a know issue at this point. Calibrate with rodi and you are good to go. I had the Milwaukee drift off calibration once in the last 1.5 years. I use two of them.

I used RODI and it still reads at 1.027. With light and without light it reads 1.027. So either the thing is busted or the salt water mixture provided is at 1.027.

I have read so many posts about the 1.027 I think the solution is not at 1.025. I guess I can get something else to test what they provided.

 

[V A R I A N T]

I used RODI and it still reads at 1.027. With light and without light it reads 1.027. So either the thing is busted or the salt water mixture provided is at 1.027.

I have read so many posts about the 1.027 I think the solution is not at 1.025. I guess I can get something else to test what they provided.

Actually, it is right in line with it's degree of accuracy

Milwaukee MA887 Digital Salinity Refractometer (milwaukeeinstruments.com)

 

[stoney7713]

Well this is odd, my calibration solution is low, like 1.022.

I use steam distilled and checked with RODI, both 0. I've checked with Randy's saltwater solution and it pegs 35ppt exactly. Crossed checked with other calibration solutions, always off by 1ppt or 2ppt or so. Crossed checked with a refractometer etc.

This thing saved so much time and headache.

Just use Randy's recipe to check the calibration every once in awhile, calibrate with steam distilled as the instructions state.

Throw the other solution away.

 

[Acros]

^^ This. Throw the naslow solution away.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Well this is odd, my calibration solution is low, like 1.022.

I use steam distilled and checked with RODI, both 0. I've checked with Randy's saltwater solution and it pegs 35ppt exactly. Crossed checked with other calibration solutions, always off by 1ppt or 2ppt or so. Crossed checked with a refractometer etc.

This thing saved so much time and headache.

Just use Randy's recipe to check the calibration every once in awhile, calibrate with steam distilled as the instructions state.

Throw the other solution away.

You can simply use RODI to calibrate.

There is no technical difference between steam distilled and RODI for the purposes of calibrating a refractometer.

Someone in marketing at Milwaukee obviously wrote the instructions.

 

[Ryan777]

Well that makes me feel better. I will calibrate with RODI and then readings should be good.

 

[Ryan777]

The naslow calibration solution (1.025) is bad, it always is. It is a know issue at this point. Calibrate with rodi and you are good to go. I had the Milwaukee drift off calibration once in the last 1.5 years. I use two of them.

Thank you!