Help Please: Atago Refractometer TDS version

[TCR]

Hi,

So we have an Atago Refractometer TDS version. I've noticed that between readings it's jumping around a lot. Sometimes 1.25 then next reading 1.29 and then another reading after. Why is this?

We have been resetting it each time with the water we use, not distilled water. Can anyone explain why distilled water is recommended when in the brew we are not using distilled water, hence the reading will pick up on minerals in the coffee from the water rather than how much coffee is solely extracted from bean?

Thoughts?

 

[Musicphan]

Let the sample and the PAL adjust to the temp... drop your sample... wait 30-45 seconds before measurement. Best practice is to put your sample in another container to cool, then measure. I always tend to get a bit of flux for whatever reason (same with the VTS?). I also watch to make sure I don't overfill..

 

[chast]

The instructions are pretty clear that Atago provides and if followed will give you proper results. They no longer support that model for coffee as they pulled it off the market last year. Low batteries will also make it jump. Try following there instructions and use distilled water and do not over fill

 

[Hankua]

Yes the meter is still available on Ebay and can be seen on the Atago web page.
Ive found the same type of fluctuation with filter coffee, and it may be due to the precision of the meter.
Even two days in a row using the same coffee/prep can result in a .04 reading swing with the 1.0 range.

 

[katina]

Check pm, thanks

 

[TCR]

Check pm, thanks

Hi Katina, can't see a PM?

 

[TCR]

The instructions are pretty clear that Atago provides and if followed will give you proper results. They no longer support that model for coffee as they pulled it off the market last year. Low batteries will also make it jump. Try following there instructions and use distilled water and do not over fill

Yes we have followed all instructions apart from the distilled water. Can you explain why we have to use distilled water? Because if we did, the next reading we take will pick up on the TDS in the mineral water we use, and surely we don't want that?

Batteries are full

 

[TCR]

The instructions are pretty clear that Atago provides and if followed will give you proper results. They no longer support that model for coffee as they pulled it off the market last year. Low batteries will also make it jump. Try following there instructions and use distilled water and do not over fill

Why did they drop the model?

 

[chast]

Distilled water will zero it out. If you use regular water you are comparing different mineral content. Like setting a gram scale to zero. Forgot why they said no more. Unless something has changed in their company. You call them for info.

 

[Hankua]

Distilled water will zero it out. If you use regular water you are comparing different mineral content. Like setting a gram scale to zero. Forgot why they said no more. Unless something has changed in their company. You call them for info.

exactly
The meter uses a known standard for calibration; distilled water. Same situation for a densitometer, calibration is done with distilled water. The meter should also read zero after the calibration procedure as well.