Is my refractometer broken or just a bad unit?

[wsj]

I decided to stop wasting valauble worth and get me a refractometer
This is what I got http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1015-RSG-100A ... 1309942561

I calibrated it with destilled water and then measured wort that was at OG1012 (mesured with hydrometer) thsi refractometer shows 1026.
Any ideas what is wrong?

[Kev888]

When you say worth, do you mean wort that is nearing the end of fermentation? Refractometers don't work directly when there is alcohol present, you need to compensate for that and there is some debate about exactly how best to do so. Another possibility is that one of the readings (most likely the hydrometer) may not have been compensated for temperature?

Cheers
Kev

[NobbyIPA]

I decided to stop wasting valauble worth and get me a refractometer
This is what I got http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1015-RSG-100A ... 1309942561

I calibrated it with destilled water and then measured wort that was at OG1012 (mesured with hydrometer) thsi refractometer shows 1026.
Any ideas what is wrong?

??


as i do not know your original brix but by what you wrote
i reccon this is near on

if your refractometer is reading about 6 brix after ferment which shows on the refractometer 1.024
after calculation works out around 4.4%ABV

you need to know your original brix prior and after ferment to work it out

USE THIS

http://www.northernbrewer.com/refractometer-calculator/

[wsj]

[quote="Kev888"]When you say worth, do you mean wort that is nearing the end of fermentation? Refractometers don't work directly when there is alcohol present, you need to compensate for that and there is some debate about exactly how best to do so. Another possibility is that one of the readings (most likely the hydrometer) may not have been compensated for temperature?

Cheers
Kev[/quote]

Thank you for the correction. English is not my first language
Hydrometer measurement is/was compensated for temperature.
I was measuring fermenting wort or to be more precise - beer. I did not know, that there is a problem using refractometer with beer or anything that contains alcohol.

[wsj]

I was looking at the refractometer's right side SG column and this shows 1026. BRIX shows 6,3.
I have no idea what the original Brix was because I did not have the refractometer then.

[Mr. Dripping]

You can work out the brix (roughly) from the OG.

[edonald774]

Hey WSJ

you will need to use one of the calculators available to work it out once fermentation has begun.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/refractometer-calculator/

[wsj]

Thank you. You guys are the best

Cheers!