shwareefer
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My thoughts were definitely based on my own assumptions - optics mounted to metal, metal expands or contracts, optics move with it, reading becomes inaccurate.
Refractometer
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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That may be part of the problem, but that is not the explanation given by refractometer manufacturers of why ATC is needed:
Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)
Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC), Refractometers common information, definitions, Encyclopedia, Refractometer, Pocket refractometer, Handheld refractometer, Palm refractometer, Measuring of the refractive index
shwareefer
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That link is in my favourites, so obviously I read it and saved it once before.
Not to be devil's advocate but considering that we're peering through a sliver of water, it seems to me the water temperature would quickly become the temperature the refractometer is, and as long as the device was consistently the same temperature, the sliver of water and it's temp would become a non factor. Not arguing, just thinking.
Not to be devil's advocate but considering that we're peering through a sliver of water, it seems to me the water temperature would quickly become the temperature the refractometer is, and as long as the device was consistently the same temperature, the sliver of water and it's temp would become a non factor. Not arguing, just thinking.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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That link is in my favourites, so obviously I read it and saved it once before.
Not to be devil's advocate but considering that we're peering through a sliver of water, it seems to me the water temperature would quickly become the temperature the refractometer is, and as long as the device was consistently the same temperature, the sliver of water and it's temp would become a non factor. Not arguing, just thinking.
Yes, that is true. It all rapidly comes to room temp (or the temp of the refractometer since its mass is very high relative to the water).
But room temps vary, hence the need for the ATC. The effect on reported salinity is substantial even from a few degrees difference.
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BeachBumTX
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I actually like glass hydrometers and was disappointed when the local LFS didn't have it.
