Test Equipment

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Portable Refractometers
Refractometers come in case with instructions.
Portable Refractometers with ATC must be nulled in a room at 68°F. They are nulled at the factory and can be used without recalibration (nulling). Refractometers without ATC are nulled at the temperature they are used.
Model
Range
Accuracy
ATC
Price
R32ATC
0-32 Brix
±0.2
50°-86°F
$49
R32
0-32 Brix
±0.2
no
$39

Brix Refractometers measure the sugar content of grapes. They cannot measure the sugar content once fermentation has begun due to the presence of alcohol. A hydrometer is used once fermentation has begun.
What Does ATC on a refractometer mean?


Ebulliometer $550
Chrome-Plated with Longer 10" Thermometer/Scale for greater precision.
Precision % alcohol determination.
Accurate up to 1000 meter (3300 ft) elevation.
Padded attache case included. Chrome-plated brass.
Accepted by Treasury Dept. Nearly as precise as distillation but much easier. Alcohol burner included.
Method based on boiling point difference between pure water and wine. Two step process--first use distilled water to set zero point, then boil wine. Thermometer scale reads % alcohol directly.
Note on sweet wines. Sugar will cause error in reading. Therefore, sweet wines should be diluted for accurate readings.
Replacement Ebulliometer thermometer/arm $250

Ebulliometer Instructions
"Spirit" is the fuel. This simply refers to alcohol such as methanol available at Home Depot, ... Usually called denatured alcohol.
Simple instructions. Put water in boiler (below thermometer) up to the first ring (one pipette). Fill condensing column with ice water. Boil. Mercury will settle near far end of arm. Align "0" of scale of with end of mercury. Lock down scale. Repeat with wine--be sure to add ice water to condensing column. Reading will be in % alcohol. Reading will be low if there is any sugar in wine. To get more accurate reading, dilute wine by 50% and repeat. Do further dilutions if needed.

Stainless Steel Bimetal Thermometers

These thermometers have 304 stainless steel case, bezel, and stems. Reset screw for calibration. Dual scale (F an C). Accuracy is 1.5%.

Click here to understand NPT pipe thread sizes

Model
Face
Range
Stem
Back Connection
Price
Notes
T-1/2-250-2
2.5"
0-250 F
-20-120 C
2"

1/2" MPT

Thread into 1/2" coupling or 3/4" thermowell (with 1/2" internal threads).

$10
1/4" stem diameter
T-1/2-125-4
3"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
4"
$13
T-1/2-250-18
5"
0-250 F
-20-120 C
18"
$35
.315" stem diameter
T-1/2-125-36
5"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
36"
$35
Must thermometers
1/2" stem diameter
T-1/2-125-48
5"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
48"
$35
T-1/2-125-60
5"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
60"
$35
T-1/2-125-72
5"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
72"
$40
T-1/2-125-96
5"
25-125 F
-5-50 C
96"
$40
T-1/4-250-4
3"
0-250 F
-20-120 C
4"

1/4" MPT

Thread into 1/4" coupling or 1/2" thermowell (with 1/4" internal threads).

$12
1/4" stem diameter
T-1/4-250-12
4"
0-250 F
-20-120 C
12"
$19
T-1/4-250-18
4"
0-250 F
-20-120 C
18"
$24

S/S Gas Filled Capillary Thermometer with 8 ft of capillary.

Gas Capillary Thermometers are for remote sensing (for example remote panel installations). Because it is gas filled, it is not subject to indicator error due to room temperature variations along the capillary. 304 stainless steel. Reset screw for calibration. Dual scale (F an C). 5/16" stem diameter. Accuracy is 1.5%.

Use with a 3/4" NPT Thermowell.

Capillary thermometers cannot be immersed directly in liquid—at least not above the junction of the stem and capillary. Use with a thermowell.
GCT8
3" Face
25-125 F
-5-50 C
8" stem
1/2' MPT
$20
8 ft of capillary

Thermowells
304 Stainless Steel
Click here to understand NPT pipe thread sizes

Model
TriClamp x internal threads
(TC x FNPT)
Stem Length
(accepts thermometer up to this stem length)
Price
Thermowell-TC-4

1.5" TriClamp x 1/2" Female NPT internal threads

These thermowells attach to a 1.5" (or 1") TriClamp ferrule. Use 1/2" NPT thermometers.
4"
$28
Thermowell-TC-9
9"
$39
 

External Threads x Internal Threads
(MNPT x FNPT)

   
Thermowell-3/4-9

3/4" Male NPT
(1/2" Female NPT internal threads)

These thermowells screw into 3/4" couplings. Use 1/2" NPT thermometers.
9"
$34
Thermowell-3/4-18
18"
$54
Thermowell-1/2-6

1/2" Male NPT
(1/4" Female NPT internal threads)

These thermowells screw into 1/2" couplings. Use 1/4" NPT thermometers.
6"
$12
Thermowell-1/2-9
9"
$22
Thermowell-1/2-12
12"
$29
Thermowell-1/2-18
18"
$49

 

 

The following notes DO NOT apply to the digital refractometer. The notes apply to all hand held portable refractometers.
1. The hand-held portable refractometer has no electronic components. It does not measure temperature. The compensation is achieved through simple optical elements.
2. It is the temperature of the portable refractometer (which is the ambient temperature) that is important, not the temperature of the sample. In fact, the sample temperature is the refractometer temperature because a drop of sample quickly attains the refractometer temperature.
3. The Portable Hand Held Refractometer is calibrated (nulled) at the mfg. You do not need to adjust it. If you ever need to null it, it is essential that the refractometer with ATC be nulled at 68 F (20 C). [Nulled means setting zero point with a drop of distilled water. This is done by turning the small screw on the top of the unit.] For example, I nulled a refractometer with ATC at 77 F and had an error of about 10% at 25 Brix. I then nulled the same unit at 68 F and the error was zero. Our units are nulled correctly by the manufacturer and should not need to be adjusted. If you need to renull the unit, you will need to get as close to 68F as possible. I have found that anywhere between 66-70 F gives very good accuracy. Also, bear in mind that you must accurately determine the temperature, i.e, you must have an accurate thermometer.