Digital Refractometer

[kevinsnieder]

I am looking to get a digital refractometer for making syrup and packing it as well we usually make 6,000 gallons or more in a year. I am looking at the hand held Misco hand held PA202 or the Hanna HI96801. has anyone ever used either and which one is better? Thanks, Kevin

[7810hunting]

I have used the PA202 for last several years and I have had no problems with it. I use it to test sugar content of sap as well as testing the brix of finished syrup.

[MISugarDaddy]

We have the Hanna and have used it for three years now. We use it for checking raw sap, RO processed sap, and finished syrup, works great!!! If for any reason I had to replace it, I would replace it with the same unit. I purchased it on eBay, direct from Hanna.
Gary

[MapleMark753]

Frome time to time, we get emails from various manufactures, including Misco, which makes a fine refractometer. I asked them something along the lines of "why buy Misco when others similar cost about 1/3 of the price?" I did get a response, and advised that I'd be sharing their info. So, without comment, here is Misco's info:
Thank you for your feedback. We are aware of other options in refractometers, but only MISCO offers a separate scale for hot maple syrup eliminating the reading drift that plagues other handheld digital refractometers. PLUS our precision is 2-5x more precise due to:

· Sapphire Optics, High Definition 1,024 Element Detector Array (most digitals have 1-200 elements and analog has ONE)

· Stainless Steel Sample Well, Protective Evaporation Cover (many use aluminum and have NO cover plate)

· Many don’t have Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)

• Made and serviced in the USA!



Just showing that you get what you pay for and we have only had one $10.00 price increase in 11 years.



Cordially,

-Michael Caminer
Marketing Group

[S.S.S]

We have used the misco unit 4 years now without any problems and very accurate. When I enter our syrup in contests it is always between 66 and 66.5% brix right where we set it with our misco.

[MapleMark753]

I found a couple articles, one in the Maple Syrup Digest (December 2015 I think), one in the Maple News about Digital Refractometers. Both are also available through the Proctor Research Centers website if you want. The one in the Digest is comparing digital refractometers, the one in the Maple News answers the question about cloudiness in syrup possibly affecting refractometer readings. Many will have seen and read these already, but some may have not, and they have some good info. At least it was good for me..lol...
take care, Mark