Should a Sap Hydrometer read Zero in plain water ?

[PA TAPPER]

Should a Sap Hydrometer read Zero in plain water ?

Found out a few days ago that my 2 month old CDL brand "State Certified" and serial numbered sap hydrometer reads Minus .4 % in plain water .... What's with that ? Red line in glass lies up with Zero so I'm thinking paper scale did not move ....... Are my real sugar percentages .4% higher than the scale reads ? .....

[Russell Lampron]

Hydrometer readings are temperature dependent. Was the test water as cold as your sap would normally be? If it was warmer that could explain it. The cold test line on a syrup hydrometer is way down the scale compared to the hot test line.

[PA TAPPER]

Hydrometer readings are temperature dependent. Was the test water as cold as your sap would normally be?

Plain water tested was warmer than sap temp. I will check again using cold water. Thank You !

[wnybassman]

I'm guessing you'd want to use distilled water as well. Not sure if minerals/chemicals/etc. would affect readings or not.

[PA TAPPER]

I just realized that all the sap I have been testing was drawn off my pre-heater drain tube. Sap drawn off at that point is normally 80 - 100 degrees. That may explain my low sugar content readings. Live and learn ! :)

[lpakiz]

I think my sap hydrometers specify 38*F. Check on the instrument and see if it says anything about temp of sap.

[Sugarmaker]

I have one that reads 1 % high. Thought I had 3.5% sap for a while:)
Regards,
Chris

[Russell Lampron]

I'm guessing you'd want to use distilled water as well. Not sure if minerals/chemicals/etc. would affect readings or not.

The mineral content wouldn't make much difference if any. We test our syrup hot right out of the draw off and the minerals are even more concentrated at that point.