Hanna Instruments HI 96811 User manual

Instruction Manual
HI 96811
Refractometer for
Sucrose in Wine and
Grape Products
Measurements

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION .................................................... 2
GENERAL DESCRIPTION ............................................................ 3
SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................ 3
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION ....................................................... 4
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION ....................................................... 5
DISPLAY ELEMENTS .................................................................. 6
MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES ..................................................... 6
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE ....................................................... 7
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE ..................................................... 8
MAKING A STANDARD % BRIX SOLUTION ............................... 9
TO CHANGE TEMPERATURE UNIT .............................................. 9
BATTERY REPLACEMENT ......................................................... 10
WARRANTY.............................................................................. 10
ERROR MESSAGES ................................................................... 11
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Each HI 96811 instrument is supplied with:
• 9 V battery
• Instruction manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS

3
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The HI 96811 Digital Wine Refractometer is rugged portable, water
resistant devices that benefit from Hanna’s years of experience as a
manufacturer of analytical instruments. Hanna offers five related wine
refractometers to fill the differing requirements found in the industry. All
are equally valid ways to measure the sugar content of grape or must
samples in the field or winery.
The HI 96811 is optical instruments that are based on the measurement
of the refractive index of a solution. The measurement of refractive index
is simple and quick and provides the vintner a standard accepted
method for sugar content analysis. Samples are measured after a simple
user calibration with deionized or distilled water. Within seconds the
instrument measures the refractive index of the grape. These digital
refractometers eliminate the uncertainty associated with mechanical
refractometers and are easily portable for measurements in the field.
Temperature(in°Cor°F)isdisplayedsimultaneouslywiththemeasurement
on the large dual level display along with icons for Low Power and other
helpfulmessage codes.
Key features include:
•Dual-levelLCD
•Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)
•Easy setup and storage
•Battery operation with Low Power indicator (BEPS)
•Automatically turns off after 3 minutes of non-use
•Single-point calibration with distilled or deionized water
•Waterproof models offers IP65 waterproof protection
•Quick,preciseresultsreadingsaredisplayedinapproximately1.5seconds
•Small sample size as small as 2 metric drops.
SPECIFICATIONS
Range: 0 to 50 %Brix / 0 to 80 °C (32 to 176 °F)
Resolution: 0.1 %Brix / 0.1 °C (0.1 °F)
Accuracy: ± 0.2 %Brix / ± 0.3 °C (±0.5 °F)
Temperature Compensation: Automatic between10 and40 °C (50- 104°F)
Measurement Time: Approximately 1.5 seconds
Minimum Sample Volume: 100 µL (cover prism totally)
Light Source: Yellow LED
Sample Cell: SS ring and flint glass prism
Case Material: ABS
Enclosure Rating: IP 65

4
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The %Brix determination is made by measuring the refractive index of
asolution. RefractiveIndex is anoptical characteristicof a substanceand
the number of dissolved particles in it. Refractive Index is defined as the
ratio of the speed of light in empty space to the speed of light in the
substance. A result of this property is that light will “bend”, or change
direction,whenittravelsthroughasubstanceofdifferent refractiveindex.
This is called refraction.
When passing from a material with a higher to lower refractive index,
there is a critical angle at which an incoming beam of light can no longer
refract, but will instead be reflected off the interface. The critical angle
can be used to easily calculate the refractive index according to the
equation:
sin (θcritical) = n2/ n1
Where n2is the refractive index of the lower-density medium; n1is the
refractive index of the higher-density medium.
In the HI 96811, light from an LED passes through a prism in contact
with the sample. An image sensor determines the critical angle at which
the light is no longer refracted through the sample.
Battery Type / Life: 1 x 9V / 5000 readings
Auto-Off: After 3 minutes of non-use
Dimensions: 19.2(W) x 10.2(D) x 6.7(H) cm
Mass: 420 g

5
8. Battery Cover
9. Battery Compartment
TOP VIEW
BOTTOM
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
2. Secondary Display
3. Primary Display
4. READ Key (User Measurement)
5. ZERO Key (User Calibration)
6. ON/OFF
7. Stainless Steel Sample Well and Prism
The HI 96811 converts the refractive index of the sample to sucrose
concentration in units of percent by weight, %Brix (also referred to as
°Brix). The conversion used is based on the ICUMSA Methods Book
(InternationalCommissionforUniformMethodsofSugarAnalysis).Since
themajorityofsugaringrapejuiceisfructoseandglucoseandnotsucrose,
the reading is sometimes referred to as “Apparent Brix”.

6
DISPLAY ELEMENTS
MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES
•Handle instrument carefully. Do not drop.
•Do not immerse instrument under water.
•Donot spray water toany part ofinstrument except the“sample well”
located over the prism.
•The instrument is intended to measure Wine and Grape products. Do
not expose instrument or prism to solvents that will damage it. This
includes most organic solvents and extremely hot or cold solutions.
•Particulate matter in a sample may scratch the prism. Absorb sample
withasofttissueandrinsesamplewellwithdeionizedordistilledwater
between samples.
•Use plastic pipettes to transfer all solutions. Do not use metallic tools
such as needles, spoons or tweezers as these will scratch the prism.
•Toreducetheeffectsofevaporationorabsorptionofwaterwhentaking
readings over a period of time, the prism and sample well can be
covered with plastic wrap.
1. Battery (blinks when low battery condition detected)
2. Primary Display (displays measurement and error messages)
3. Measurement in Progress Tag
4. SETUP: Factory Calibration Tag
5. CAL: Calibration Tag
6. Measurement Unit
7. Automatic Temperature Compensation
(blinks when temperature exceeds 10-40 °C / 50-104 °F range)
8. Temperature Units
9. Secondary Display (displays temperature measurements; when
blinking, temperature has exceeded operation range: 0-80 °C / 32-
176 °F)

7
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
Calibration should be performed daily, before measurements are
made, when the battery has been replaced, between a long series of
measurements, or if environmental changes have occurred since the
last calibration.
1. Press the ON/OFF key, then release. Two instrument test screens
will be displayed briefly; all LCD segmentsfollowed by the percentage
of remaining battery life. When LCD displays dashes, the instrument
is ready.
2. Using a plastic pipette, fill the sample well with distilled or
deionized water. Make sure the prism is completely covered.
Note:If the ZERO sample is subject to intense light such as sunlight
or another strong source, cover the sample well with your hand
or other shade during the calibration.
3. Press the ZERO key. If no error messages appear, your unit is
calibrated. (For a description of ERROR MESSAGES see page 11).
Note:The 0.0 screen will remain until a sample is measured or the
power is turned off.
4. Gently absorb the ZERO water standard with a soft tissue. Use
care not to scratch the prism surface. Dry the surface completely.
The instrument is ready for sample measurement.
Note:If the instrument is turned off the calibration will not be lost.

8
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
Verify the instrument has been calibrated before taking measurements.
1. Wipe off prism surface located at the bottom of the sample well.
Make sure the prism and sample well are completely dry.
2. Using a plastic pipette, drip sample onto the prism surface. Fill
the well completely.
Note:If the temperature of the sample differs significantly from the
temperature of the instrument, wait approximately 1 minute
to allow thermal equilibration.
3. Press the READ key. The result is displayed in units of % BRIX.
Note:The last measurement value will be displayed until the next
sample is measured or the instrument is turned off. Temperature
will be continuously updated.
Note:The ATC tag blinks and automatic temperature compensation
is disabled if the temperature exceeds the 10-40 °C / 50-104 °F
range.
4. Remove sample from the sample well by absorbing with a soft tissue.
5. Using a plastic pipette, rinse prism and sample well with distilled
or deionized water. Wipe dry. The instrument is ready for the next
sample.

9
MAKING A STANDARD % BRIX SOLUTION
To make a Brix Solution, follow the procedure below:
•Placecontainer(suchasaglassvialordropperbottlethathasacover)
on an analytical balance.
•Tare the balance.
•Tomake an XBRIX solution weigh outX grams ofhigh purity Sucrose
(CAS #: 57-50-1) directly into the container.
•Add distilled or deionized water to the container so the total weight
of the solution is 100g.
•Note:Solutions above 60 %Brix need to be vigorously stirred or
shaken and heated in a water bath. Remove solution from
bath when sucrose has dissolved. The total quantity can be
scaledproportionally for smallercontainers butaccuracymay
besacrificed.
Example with 25 %Brix:
%Brix g Sucrose g Water g Total
25 25.000 75.000 100.000
TO CHANGE TEMPERATURE UNIT
To change the temperature measurement unit from Celsius to Fahrenheit
(or vice versa), follow this procedure.
1.Press and hold the ON/OFF key continuously for approximately
15 seconds. The LCD will display the “all segment” screen followed
by a screen with the model number on the primary display and
the version number on the secondary display. Continue pressing
the ON/OFF key.
2. While continuing to hold the ON/OFF key, press the ZERO key.
The temperature unit will change from °C to °F or vice versa.
15seconds
°C or °F

10
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
To replace the instrument’s battery, follow these steps:
•Make sure the instrument is off.
•Turn instrument upside down and remove the battery cover by
turning it counterclockwise.
•Extract the battery from its location.
•Replace with new 9V battery making certain to observe polarity.
•Insert the back battery cover and fasten it by turning clockwise to
engage.