MISCO Digital Handheld Refractometer

Refractometer for
Battery & Backup Power

Test battery acid safer and more accurately.

The MISCO digital refractometer is ideal for testing the sulfuric acid concentration, or specific gravity, in lead-acid batteries and backup power systems. Old traditional analog refractometers force you to bring dangerous battery acid up to your face and eyes to take a reading. This risk is virtually eliminated with the MISCO digital refractometer, which is much safer and easier to use.

Measurement of sulfuric acid specific gravity is fast and easy with the MISCO digital refractometer. You need only a drop or two of battery acid for an accurate test. The refractometer is quick, convenient, and simple.

Just place a drop or two of fluid in the stainless steel well and press a button. The refractometer delivers a nearly instantaneous readout of sulfuric acid specific gravity. Nonlinear temperature compensation is automatic and ensures that battery acid is measured accurately. The large backlit LCD display is easily read, even in dim light, and removes the subjectivity associated with interpreting fuzzy boundary lines on analog refractometers.

Pre-Configured Refractometers for Battery and Backup Power

Easy Order: Here are a few of the most popular refractometer models for testing sulfuric acid concentration or specific gravity in lead-acid batteries and backup power systems. If you require different programming, you can mix and match scales through the Flexible Custom Programming section below, or call customer service for assistance:

Flexible Custom Programming Options

MISCO Palm Abbe Digital Refractometers can be custom-programmed with up to 5 scales to your exact specifications. There are two easy online options to create your customized units from hundreds of measurement scales:

“Build Your Own” Tool

  1. Use the Industry, Application and Fluid filters to quickly find your scales.
  2. Click scale boxes to add scales to your device.
  3. Select Accessories
  4. Add To Cart

Order Refractometer by Scale#

  1. Browse the refractometer scale options in the dropdown tabs below and record the scale numbers you want.
  2. Type in your scale numbers on the Order by Scale# page.
  3. Select Accessories
  4. Add To Cart

Sulfuric Acid % w/w

Scale# 117
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 60
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Sulfuric Acid (D113/113°F)

Scale# 783
UoM: Specific Gravity (113°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.399
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D131/131°F)

Scale# 784
UoM: Specific Gravity (131°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.397
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D20/20)

Scale# 118
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.000 to 1.5012
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D30/30)

Scale# 832
UoM: Specific Gravity (D30/30)
Range: 1.00 to 1.491
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D50/50°F)

Scale# 780
UoM: Specific Gravity (50°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.413
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D60/60°F)

Scale# 450
UoM: Specific Gravity (60°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.502
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D77/77°F)

Scale# 781
UoM: Specific Gravity (77°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.405
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D80/80°F)

Scale# 451
UoM: Specific Gravity (80°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.496
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (D95/95°F)

Scale# 782
UoM: Specific Gravity (95°F)
Range: 1.000 to 1.402
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Sulfuric Acid (g/cm3) 20 °C

Scale# 119
UoM: Density (g/cm3) 20 °C
Range: 0.998 to 1.496
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001

Brake Fluid DOT3 % H2O

Scale# 061
UoM: % Water
Range: 0 to 6
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5

Brake Fluid DOT3 Boil °C

Scale# 166
UoM: Boiling Point °C
Range: 118 to 252
Resolution: 1
Precision: 5 ºC

Brake Fluid DOT3 Boil °F

Scale# 062
UoM: Boiling Point °F
Range: 244 to 485
Resolution: 1
Precision: 10 ºF

Brake Fluid DOT3 HT Boil °C

Scale# 167
UoM: Boiling Point °C
Range: 107 to 292
Resolution: 1
Precision: 5 ºC

Brake Fluid DOT3HT % H20

Scale# 063
UoM: % Water
Range: 0 to 6
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5

Brake Fluid DOT3HT Boil °F

Scale# 064
UoM: Boiling Point °F
Range: 225 to 558
Resolution: 1
Precision: 10 ºF

Brake Fluid DOT4 % H20

Scale# 065
UoM: % Water
Range: 0 to 6
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5

Brake Fluid DOT4 Boil °C

Scale# 066
UoM: Boiling Point °C
Range: 143 to 278
Resolution: 1
Precision: 5°C

Brake Fluid DOT4 Boil °F

Scale# 164
UoM: Boiling Point °F
Range: 288 to 532
Resolution: 1
Precision: 10 ºF

Brake Fluid DOT4+ % H20

Scale# 067
UoM: % Water
Range: 0 to 6
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5

Brake Fluid DOT4+ Boil °C

Scale# 068
UoM: Boiling Point °C
Range: 158 to 293
Resolution: 1
Precision: 6°C

Brake Fluid DOT4+ Boil °F

Scale# 165
UoM: Boiling Point °F
Range: 316 to 559
Resolution: 1
Precision: 10 ºF

Urea % w/w

Scale# 185
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 51
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Urea (g/cm3)

Scale# 187
UoM: Density (g/cm3)
Range: 1.000 to 1.1313
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.00029

Urea (mol/Liter)

Scale# 628
UoM: Molarity (mol/Liter)
Range: 0 to 8.6
Resolution: 0.01
Precision: .02

Urea (nD20)

Scale# 629
UoM: Refractive Index (nD)
Range: 1.3330 to 1.4140
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: .0001

Urea (ppt)

Scale# 190
UoM: Parts Per Thousands (ppt)
Range: 0 to 460
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Urea Freeze Point ºC

Scale# 189
UoM: Freeze Point ºC
Range: 0 to -17
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.1

Urea Freeze Point ºF

Scale# 188
UoM: Freeze Point ºF
Range: +32 to 0
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.1

Ethylene Glycol % v/v

Scale# 011
UoM: % v/v
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Ethylene Glycol % w/w

Scale# 012
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Ethylene Glycol (D20/20)

Scale# 015
UoM: Specific Gravity (D 20/20)
Range: 1.0000 to 1.1153
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: 0.0001

Ethylene Glycol (g/cm3)

Scale# 379
UoM: Density (g/cm3)
Range: 0.998 to 1.113
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: 0.0002

Ethylene Glycol Boil °C

Scale# 381
UoM: Boiling Point °C
Range: 100 to 152
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Ethylene Glycol Boil °F

Scale# 380
UoM: Boiling Point °F
Range: 212 to 305
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Ethylene Glycol Freeze °C

Scale# 014
UoM: Freeze Point ºC
Range: 0 to -59
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Ethylene Glycol Freeze °F

Scale# 013
UoM: Freeze Point °F
Range: +32 to -79
Resolution: 1
Precision: 2

PG Freeze °C (GEN)

Scale# 909
UoM: Freeze Point °C
Range: 0 to -51
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

PG Freeze °F (GEN)

Scale# 908
UoM: Freeze Point °F
Range: 32 to -60
Resolution: 1
Precision: 2

Propylene Glycol % v/v

Scale# 006
UoM: % v/v
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol % w/w

Scale# 007
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol % w/w (GEN)

Scale# 907
UoM: % w/w
Range: 0 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.1

Propylene Glycol (D20/20)

Scale# 010
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20)
Range: 1.0000 - 1.0460
Resolution: 0.0001
Precision: 0.0001

Propylene Glycol Freeze °C

Scale# 009
UoM: Freeze Point ºC
Range: 0 to -51
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1

Propylene Glycol Freeze °F

Scale# 008
UoM: Freeze Point °F
Range: +32 to -60
Resolution: 1
Precision: 2

Methanol % v/v <

Scale# 023
UoM: % v/v <
Range: 0 to 45
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5 to 0.8

Methanol % v/v >

Scale# 027
UoM: % v/v >
Range: 84 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5 to 0.2

Methanol % w/w <

Scale# 024
UoM: % w/w <
Range: 0 to 40
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.5 to 0.8

Methanol % w/w >

Scale# 028
UoM: % w/w >
Range: 80 to 100
Resolution: 0.1
Precision: 0.4 to 0.2

Methanol (D20/20) <

Scale# 025
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20) <
Range: 1.000 to 0.935
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001 to 0.005

Methanol (D20/20) >

Scale# 026
UoM: Specific Gravity (D20/20) >
Range: 0.849 to 0.793
Resolution: 0.001
Precision: 0.001 to 0.005

Methanol Freeze °C

Scale# 022
UoM: Freeze Point °C
Range: 0 to -39
Resolution: 1
Precision: 0.5 to 1.7

Methanol Freeze °F

Scale# 021
UoM: Freeze Point °F
Range: +32 to -39
Resolution: 1
Precision: 1 to 3

Refractometer Platform Choices

Inline-Process Refractometer:

The above scales are also available on any MISCO inline process refractometer or concentration sensors. They are made for continuous concentration measurement of process fluids.

MISCO Handheld Digital Refractometer:

MISCO has the most extensive refractometer scale library on the planet. Don't see what you want? Browse by handheld refractometer model or by refractometer application. Or give us a call. We can help!

From our Q&A Forum

Battery Maintenance (4)

Which hand-held digital refractometer would be best for checking specific gravity of industrial battery electrolyte (sulfuric acid and water)? Need a minimum range of 1.100 to 1.350.

The Palm Abbe digital handheld refractometer is the best choice for measuring the specific gravity sulfuric acid based battery electrolyte. The range for the specific gravity scale (D20/20) for this refractometer is from 1.000 to 1.501 so it should more than cover your range of interest.

I have a model 10440 Refractometer. My question is what reading should i get for lead-acid batteries at full charge? I currently am reading from 16 to 26 on two different batteries.

The MISCO 10440VP is a great refractometer for testing the concentration of metalworking fluids but it is the wrong instrument for measuring state of charge of lead-acid batteries.

A better choice would be either the MISCO 7084VP+ Glycol and Battery Tester, a handheld traditional analog refractometer with a scale for reading the specific gravity of battery electrolyte, or, the Palm Abbe digital refractometer with scales for sulfuric acid concentration.

There are several sulfuric acid scales available for the Palm Abbe refractometer including, specific gravity, density, and percent by weight. The range for the specific gravity scale (D20/20) for the MISCO 7084VP+ is 1.00 to 1.400 and the range for the Palm Abbe digital refractometer is from 1.000 to 1.501. The Palm Abbe is an order of magnitude more accurate than the 7084VP+.

Could I use a Refractometer to measure the density of flooded batteries. Density is 1.200-1.260?

We have two great tools for measuring the density of battery electrolyte in flooded batteries. The first is the MISCO 7084VP+ Glycol and Battery Tester. The 7084VP+ is a traditional analog refractometer with a scale for the specific gravity of sulfuric acid from 1.000 to 1.400. There are also a number of scales available for the MISCO Palm Abbe digital refractometer that can measure sulfuric acid density, specific gravity, concentration (% by weight) well beyond your range of interest.

Products:
Glycol and Battery Tester ; Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol,  ; Battery Acid Scales  ; Freeze Point °C  Specific Gravity ; MISCO 7064VP+ Refractometer

Glycol and Battery Tester – Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Battery Acid Scales   Freeze Point °F Specific Gravity  MISCO 7084VP+ Refractometer

Do you have a digital model for reading the specific gravity of lead acid battery?

The Palm Abbe digital refractometer represents the perfect method for measuring the concentration or specific gravity of the sulfuric acid (H2SO4), or state of charge, in a lead-acid battery. There are several sulfuric acid scales available for the Palm Abbe refractometer including, specific gravity, density, percent by weight. Try our Build-Your-Own section. You can choose up to 5 custom scales!