Bellingham and Stanley Eclipse User manual

S:\mkting\brochure\instruct\wineinst.doc
BELLINGHAM + STANLEY WINE REFRACTOMETER
HOW IT WORKS
The refractive index and the specific gravity of winesand ciders are affected by both the
alcohol and the residual sucrose that it contains, in such a way that if the ‘units’ of the S.G.
reading are subtracted from the refractive index measured on a suitable scale, the
difference (R minus D) is directly related to the alcoholic content, which can be read off from
a table.
Only a few drops of wine are needed to make the refractometer reading, while the S.G. is
measured in the usual way (most serious wine makers possess a hydrometer). The process
takes only a few minutes to carry out, and an accuracy of about 0.5% alcohol can be
obtained using reasonable care in ensuring that both readings are made at the same
temperature.
If the instrument is used with care, and cleaned as recommended after use, it should give
many years of accurate and trouble free service.
USING THE WINE REFRACTOMETER
Equipment required:
Wine refractometer (Eclipse or OPTi models)
Hydrometer or Saccharometer
Hydrometer jar
Pipette or other suitable applicator
Siphon off enough of the finished wine to fill the hydrometer jar to required level, and leave
all the equipment with it in a place free from draughts and direct sunlight for at least an hour
to attain room temperature.
Measure the S.G. as accurately as possible and record.
Ensure that the refractometer prism is clean and then place one or two large drops of wine
on the instrument using a suitable applicator. Take a measurement of the ‘R’ reading and
record either visually using an Eclipse refractometer or automatically using an OPTi
refractometer.
The ABV can then be calculated using the formula below or by using our ABV Calculator
located on our website at www.bellinghamandstanley.com/mobile

S:\mkting\brochure\instruct\wineinst.doc
EXAMPLE
Light dry table wine
S.G. reading might be 0.993, from which the D reading is minus .007 or -7
units.
Refractometer reading might be 37.
As the D reading is negative (less than 1.000) the (R -D) reading becomes
(R -( -7) which is (R + 7), that is 44.
From the table, find the alcohol content 18.8° proof, or 10.7% v/v.
Sweet dessert wine
S.G. reading 1.015 from which D is 15.
Refractometer reading 72.5.
(R -D) is 57.5.
Alcohol content from table 27.5°proof or 15.7% v/v.
PRECAUTIONS TO IMPROVE ACCURACY
·It is important that both the R and the D readings are taken at the same temperature.
·Handle the refractometer, the hydrometer and the jar as little as possible.
·Make sure that the prism is cleaned and dried between each reading, using a little clean
water at room temperature, and a soft cloth to dry.
·Leave everything for as long as possible between readings to equalise temperature
differences, but without allowing evaporation.
·Make sure the scale of the instrument is in sharp focus before taking readings; adjust the
eyepiece if necessary (Eclipse model only)
·Look at the quality of borderline obtained. Poor sharpness indicates insufficient wine on
the prism, or temperature gradients across the prism, or that the prism was not properly
dried after the last reading (Eclipse model only).
·If in doubt, clean and dry the prism, leave for a while, and repeat measurements from the
start. Measuring the same wine sample twice in quick succession is a useful indication of
the reliance that should be placed on the results obtained.
·The zero of the refractometer can be checked at any time by using distilled water at
20°C. When the R reading should be 15 within ½ a scale division (Eclipse model only).
·Always clean the plastic illuminator plate when cleaning the prism (Eclipse model only).

S:\mkting\brochure\instruct\wineinst.doc
ALCOHOL CONTENT TABLE
R - D
° Proof
%
R - D
° Proof
%
R - D
° Proof
%
40.0
40.5
41.0
41.5
42.0
42.5
43.0
43.5
44.0
44.5
45.0
45.5
46.0
46.5
47.0
47.5
48.0
48.5
49.0
49.5
50.0
50.5
51.0
51.5
52.0
52.5
53.0
53.5
54.0
54.5
16.3
16.6
16.9
17.3
17.6
17.9
18.2
18.5
18.8
19.2
19.5
19.8
20.1
20.5
20.8
21.1
21.4
21.7
22.0
22.4
22.7
23.0
23.3
23.7
24.0
24.4
24.6
24.9
25.2
25.6
9.3
9.5
9.7
9.9
10.1
10.2
10.4
10.6
10.7
10.9
11.1
11.3
11.5
11.7
11.9
12.1
12.3
12.4
12.6
12.8
12.9
13.1
13.3
13.5
13.7
13.9
14.0
14.2
14.4
14.6
55.0
55.5
56.0
56.5
57.0
57.5
58.0
58.5
59.0
59.5
60.0
60.5
61.0
61.5
62.0
62.5
63.0
63.5
64.0
64.5
65.0
65.5
66.0
66.5
67.0
67.5
68.0
68.5
69.0
69.5
25.9
26.2
26.5
26.9
27.2
27.5
27.8
28.1
28.4
28.8
29.1
29.4
29.7
30.1
30.4
30.7
31.0
31.3
31.6
32.0
32.3
32.6
32.9
33.3
33.6
33.9
34.0
34.5
34.8
35.2
14.8
14.9
15.1
15.3
15.5
15.7
15.9
16.0
16.2
16.4
16.6
16.8
17.0
17.2
17.4
17.5
17.7
17.9
18.0
18.2
18.4
18.6
18.8
19.0
19.2
19.4
19.5
19.7
19.9
20.1
70.0
70.5
71.0
71.5
72.0
72.5
73.0
73.5
74.0
74.5
75.0
75.5
76.0
76.5
77.0
77.5
78.0
78.5
79.0
79.5
80.0
80.5
81.0
81.5
82.0
82.5
83.0
83.5
84.0
84.5
35.5
35.8
36.1
36.5
36.8
37.1
37.4
37.8
38.1
38.4
38.7
39.0
39.3
39.7
40.0
40.3
40.6
40.9
41.2
41.6
41.9
42.2
42.5
42.9
43.2
43.5
43.8
44.1
44.4
44.8
20.3
20.4
20.6
20.8
21.0
21.2
21.3
21.6
21.8
21.9
22.1
22.3
22.4
22.6
22.8
23.0
23.2
23.4
23.5
23.8
23.9
24.1
24.3
24.5
24.7
24.8
25.0
25.2
25.4
25.6