hydrometer calibration

dadonoflaw · 09-19-2006, 11:32 AM

how do u calibrate a hydrometer?

***Rob*** · 09-20-2006, 03:25 PM

are you referring to a float or a swing arm hydrometer.
i have only used swing arm hydrometers, and to my knowledge they are not calibrateable, not are they terrible accurate anyways.. what you might want to look at is a refractometer, these are calibrateable, and very accurate.

pballafreak · 09-20-2006, 05:14 PM

The only way I know to calibrate a hydrometer would be to find someone who has a refractometer, and test some water against each other, and make your own markings on you hydrometer. I havent tried this so I dont know how effective it is though.

***Rob*** · 09-20-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pballafreak

The only way I know to calibrate a hydrometer would be to find someone who has a refractometer, and test some water against each other, and make your own markings on you hydrometer. I havent tried this so I dont know how effective it is though.

pballafreak

to Talkingreef

i would like to say, this is great to identify how accurate your hydrometer is, but is not a calibration, calibration would involve identifying the variance and then tuning the instrument to be accurate. i am not aware of anyway to perform that adjustment

dadonoflaw · 09-20-2006, 07:20 PM

thank you for your help

***Rob*** · 09-21-2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dadonoflaw

thank you for your help

no problem, if you need anything else, please let us know

**CarmieJo** · 09-21-2006, 09:36 PM

Hi pballafreak.

to TR.

JayBeDriften · 09-21-2006, 10:53 PM

Please do yourself a favor and return the hydrometer to the store if possible and purchase a Refractometer from Marine Depot for $50.00 takes a simply 2 second calibration and the accuracy will be more beneficial then taking chances with the hydrometer. Trust me I ran my hydrometer over with my car. :-)

gwen_o_lyn · 10-04-2006, 08:21 PM

Mark- Welcome to TR!!

fat walrus · 10-05-2006, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pballafreak

The only way I know to calibrate a hydrometer would be to find someone who has a refractometer, and test some water against each other, and make your own markings on you hydrometer. I havent tried this so I dont know how effective it is though.

I use both refractometer and swing-arm hydrometers. I use the refractometer to calibrate and to sometimes double check my hydrometers. Once you know how much of a variation that the hydrometer has, it works fine.

BTW, welcome to TR

dadonoflaw · 10-05-2006, 09:24 PM

well i got a refractometer. how do i calibrate that? i need distilled water or something?

***Rob*** · 10-06-2006, 10:31 AM

yes, use distilled or RO water.

place a few drops on the lens as indicated.
it should read right at the bottom line 1.00

if not, you should have a small screw in the side to adjust it to 1.00

veriann · 10-07-2006, 07:14 AM

well, the wicked ways of the swing arm are numbered and replaced with a telescope thats able to see mars's ice caps

dadonoflaw · 10-07-2006, 03:02 PM

thanx everyone the refractometer is working. my hydrometer was saying 1.026 but it was actually 1.030 so another believer.