Digital Refractometer Care and Maintenance

A little training can go a long way in keeping your digital refractometer in perfect working order for years to come. Below are our suggestions, guidelines, or, if you prefer, hard and fast laws to share with your employees!

Keep Measuring Surface Clean

The most important piece of information we can give you is, “Keep the Measuring Surface Clean!” It is extremely important to thoroughly clean the refractometer measuring surface after each use to ensure the most accurate readings and to prevent cross-contamination. You can clean the sapphire measuring surface with a wet, soft, clean cloth or paper towel. For the most accurate readings, keep the measuring surface clean and free of residue at all times.

Special Care of Rubber Armor Jacket

If your Palm Abbe is equipped with a Rubber Armor Jacket, you must take special care to ensure that any excessive sample fluid does not leak down and become trapped between the jacket and instrument body. If this happens, pull the instrument from the Rubber Armor and wipe off the fluid before storing. This precaution is especially significant if the Palm Abbe is stored in the rugged waterproof storage case, since the draining fluid will remain trapped in the case. This is even more important if you are testing hazardous or corrosive fluids that could damage the Palm Abbe or leak onto people or other equipment over time.

Use Only One or Two Drops of Sample

You only need one or two drops of fluid to take a measurement. Use a disposable pipette to place the sample on the measuring surface and use the same pipette to suck the sample back up and dispose of it. This will leave very little residue to wipe off. NEVER submerge your instrument or hold it under a stream of fluid or running water.

Important Precautions!

DO NOT Submerge Instrument in Liquids

DO NOT hold instrument under running water..

DO NOT leave instrument in direct sunlight or in a vehicle on a sunny day.

DO NOT subject instrument to temperatures above 50°C (122°F) or less than –10°C (14°F).

DO NOT attempt to repair, modify, or disassemble any portion of the instrument.

DO NOT let liquid fall from instrument onto clothing or other surfaces after taking readings.

DO NOT drop or subject instrument to strong shocks or vibration.

DO NOT use a metal device to transfer samples to the measuring surface.

DO NOT use an instrument unless you have personal knowledge of its calibration.

DO NOT attempt to recharge the batteries that came with the instrument.

DO NOT press the buttons with anything other than a finger.

Note: When storing the instrument for long periods of time, it is advisable to remove the batteries. Use only AAA batteries. Pay close attention to battery polarity when inserting batteries. Reversing the polarity can cause instrument damage.

The entire refractometer may be cleaned with a soft, clean cloth or paper towel, dampened with a mild liquid dish soap and water. The use of solvents or petroleum-based cleaners is not recommended.