Any refractometer experts?

[brobox]

Originally Posted by swberry

I remember the “sludge” thread. Read through it with great interest. Basically I did start to get some of that about two months after I stopped running the diesel burner and ran electric only. When I realized that turning off the diesel burner was the only thing I changed since the black/sludge began I removed the expansion tank and cleaned thoroughly and replaced and then started running the diesel burner 100% of the time. That was exactly two months ago and so far no sign of black/sludge. My fluid is 100% clear and green.

Yep! Century Fluid make no sense and in my opinion is not consistent. Why should it work one way and not the other?

[swberry]

Here is a better view of what the century fluid looks like after 8 months of continuous use. You can see particles in the fluid that turn it a darker color which aqua hot says is normal. The particles are suspended in the fluid and are not building up as black sludge like they were when I was running on electric only.

[Thor 37GT]

I think you have the wrong refractometer. When you look into mine it looks like what is in the aqua hot manual.

[757driver]

Sid,

Don’t adjust your fluid concentration. Your problem is that the refractometer that you are using is incorrect. That refractometer is for beer and wine not glycol.

[whem2fish]

Ok I see your in DFW what percentage are supposed to have I'm at Grand Prairie airport I have 2 refractomers it appears you have water or your upper lense is not touching

[swberry]

Yes you are absolutely correct!! I see that now. Glad I posted this and you guys straightened me out. I will follow up on this when I get me new refractometer. Thanks again!!

[swberry]

Good reason to start brewing beer I guess. [emoji41]

[fcbbob15]

Looks like wrong refractometer to me also. I have used refractometers for 35 years in the beverage industry. The one you have is what i would use to check frozen beverage and fountain drinks. It doesn't read high enough for your application. Looks like it's reading 30%.

[rogelling]

It seems to me your system fluid is off the scale because sg is too high not too low. Distilled water reads at 0 so blue is at bottom, too high sg you get all white.

Also that refractometer is for determining sugar content of grape juice when testing grapes for ripeness. Red grapes are picked about brix 19 while whites and sweeter reds go to 26.

[Gary.Jones]

Sid

publish a link to the correct refractometer when you figure out the right one.

Gary

[Thor 37GT]

This is the one I bought.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B073Q...r+glycol&psc=1

[swberry]

I wanted to bring this thread back to life because I think I have the correct refractometer now and I took a reading today and wanted to run it by those in the know. First of all here is the reading;



So help me out here. Reading up the propylene scale I come to a temperature of -43 at the blue line. But wait.... aqua hot says we are looking for a ratio in percentage and not a temperature. They instruct to adjust the solution to between 35-50 percent of using the century green fluid. I don’t see that on the scale.

I read through some instructions from aqua hot on this and I found a chart (sorry couldn’t figure out how to post it), but the chart basically gives you the percentage of the solution based on the temperature reading from the refractometer. Based on my temperature reading of -43 I think that puts me quite a bit above the 50% glycol Mark and I will need to add distilled water to this.

The chart is called the propylene glycol based anti freeze protection chart. I couldn’t get it posted or I would have, but it is easy to get via google search. Let me know if I am going down the right path here with this, but it does appear to me that my system needs more water and not glycol like I thought originally with the wrong refractometer. I will of course follow up with aqua hot tomorrow and send them pictures of my reading and get their opinion, but wanted to post here as well.

I know many of you have run aqua hot systems for years and are well versed in this, but this is new to me and I know there are others who could benefit from this lesson I am learning. The aqua hot literature does indeed stress the importance of having the ratio correct.

[fcbbob15]

Still the wrong refractometer. But what you have tells you what temperature you are protected to. -43 degrees.

[brobox]

The link Thor provide has the % scale. https://www.amazon.com/Refractometer...2&sr=8-2-spons

Using the picture on Amazon -43 is about 52%. I don't know why making a copy of the photo on Amazon wouldn't work to use with your meter.