Digital Refractometer For Sugar (% Brix) Analysis In Wine, Must And Juice

The HI96811 is a rugged, portable digital refractometer designed for sugar measurement of wine, juice and must.

The HI96811 reports sugar content as % Brix and has a high accuracy of ±0.2%. The operation of the meter is simplified with only two buttons: one button is to calibrate with distilled or deionized water and the other to take a measurement. All readings are automatically compensated for temperature variations according to the ICUMSA Methods Book standard and displayed within a 1.5 second response time. The sealed flint glass prism and stainless steel well are easy to clean. Just wipe with a soft cloth in preparation for the next sample.

The HI96811 Digital Wine Refractometer converts the refractive index of a wine, juice or must sample to % Brix. This conversion is based on the tables found in the ICUMSA Methods Book (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) that documents the changes in refractive index with temperature for a percent by weight sucrose solution. Since the majority of sugar in grape juice and must is fructose and glucose instead of sucrose, the reading is sometimes referred to as “Apparent Brix”. Typical grapes at harvest will be between 19-24% Brix or degrees Brix (°Bx). The HI96811 is an easy-to-use tool for winemakers for measuring sugar in grapes or must, in the field or in the lab.

The HI96811 takes measurements based on a sample’s refractive index. Refractive index is a measurement of how light behaves as it passes through the sample. Depending on the sample’s composition, light will refract and reflect differently. By measuring this activity with a linear image sensor, the sample’s refractive index can be assessed and used to determine its physical properties such as concentration and density. In addition to the linear image sensor, the HI96811 uses an LED light, prism and lens to make measurement possible.

Variations in temperature will affect the accuracy of refractometry readings, so the use of temperature compensation is highly recommended for reliable results. The HI96811 contains a built-in temperature sensor and is programmed with temperature compensation algorithms in accordance with the ICUMSA Methods Book Standard for a percent by weight sucrose solution.

Features

• One-point calibration    Calibrate with distilled or deionized water
• Small sample size    Sample size can be as small as 2 metric drops (100 μl)
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)    Samples automatically compensated for temperature variations
• Quick, accurate results    Readings are displayed in approximately 1.5 seconds
• Dual-level LCD    The dual-level LCD displays % Brix and temperature readings simultaneously
• Stainless steel sample well    Easy to clean and corrosion-resistant
• Battery indicators    Battery percent level remaining at startup and low battery indicator
• Automatic shut-off    To conserve battery life the meter shuts off automatically after three minutes of non-use
• IP65 water resistant protection    Water resistant ABS plastic casing designed to perform under laboratory and field conditions