Hanna Instruments HI96841 User manual

HI96841
Refractometer for
Beer Measurements
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Thank you for choosing a Hanna Instruments product.
Please read this instruction manual carefully before using
this instrument.
This manual will provide you with the necessary informa‑
tion for correct use of this instrument, as well as a precise
idea of its versatility.
If you need additional technical information, do not
hesitate to e‑mail us at [email protected] or view our
worldwide contact list at www.hannainst.com.
Dear
Customer,
All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited
without the written consent of the copyright owner, Hanna Instruments
Inc., Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 02895, USA.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary Examination ........................................................
General Description................................................................
Specifications........................................................................
Principle of Operation............................................................
Functional Description............................................................
Display Elements...................................................................
Measurement Guidelines ........................................................
Calibration Procedure.............................................................
Measurement Procedure.........................................................
Making a Standard % Brix Solution .......................................
To Change Temperature Unit .................................................
Battery Replacement..............................................................
Error Messages .....................................................................
Accessories............................................................................
4
4
6
9
11
16
5
8
13
10
15
17
18
14

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The HI96841 Digital Beer Refractometer is a rugged portable, water resis‑
tant device that benefits from Hanna Instruments’ years of experience as a
manufacturer of analytical instruments.
The HI96841 is an optical instrument that employs the measurement of
refractive index of a solution. The measurement of refractive index is both
simple and quick and provides the brewer an 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 beer or wort and converts it to °Plato. The HI96841
digital refractometer eliminates the uncertainity associated with mechanical
refractometers and is easily portable for measurements in the field. Tempe‑
rature (in °C or °F) is displayed simultaneously with the measurement on
the large dual level display along with icons for Low Power and other helpful
message codes.
Key features include:
• Dual‑level LCD
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)
• Easy setup and storage
• Battery operation with Low Power indicator (BEPS)
• IP65 Waterproof protection
• Quick, precise results readings are displayed in approximately
1.5 seconds
• Small sample size, as small as 2 metric drops.
Remove the instrument from the packing materials and examine carefully
to ensure no damage has occurred during shipping. If any damage has
occurred, contact your local Hanna Instruments Office.
Each HI96841 instrument is supplied with:
• 9 V battery
• Instruction manual
• Plastic pipette
• Quality certificate
Note: Save all packing material until you are sure that the instrument
functions correctly. A defective instrument must be returned in its
original packing.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONGENERAL DESCRIPTION

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SPECIFICATIONS
Range 0.0 to 30.0 °Plato / 0.0 to 80.0 °C (32.0 to176.0 °F)
Resolution 0.1 °Plato / 0.1 °C (0.1 °F)
Accuracy ± 0.2 °Plato / ± 0.3 °C (±0.5 °F)
Temperature
Compensation
Automatic between 10.0 and 40.0 °C
(50.0 ‑ 104.0 °F)
Measurement Time Approximately 1.5 seconds
Minimum Sample
Volume 100 µL (cover prism totally)
Light Source Yellow LED
Sample Cell Stainless Steel ring and flint glass prism
Case Material ABS
Enclosure Rating IP65
Battery Type / Life 9V / 5000 readings
Auto‑Off After 3 minutes of non‑use
Dimensions 192 x 102 x 69 mm (7.6 x 4.1 x 2.7”)
Mass 350 g (12.3 oz.)

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The °Plato determination is made by measuring the refractive index of a
solution. Refractive Index is an optical characteristic of a substance and 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, when it
travelsthroughasubstanceofdifferentrefractiveindex.Thisiscalledrefraction.
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
Wheren2istherefractiveindexofthelower‑densitymedium;n1istherefractive
index of the higher‑density medium.
In the HI96841, 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.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

7
The °Plato scale is a way to quantify the concentration of sugars and
dissolved solids in wort. It is used as an indicator of the potential alcoholic
strength of a beer. The HI96841 converts the refractive index reading to
°Plato based on the tables maintained by the International Commission
for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis (ICUMSA) and the American Society
of Brewing Chemists (ASBC).
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

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FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
TOP VIEW
9
8
8. Battery Cover
9. Battery Compartment
BOTTOM
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

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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 10.0‑40.0 °C / 50.0‑104.0 °F range)
8. Temperature Units
9. Secondary Display (displays temperature measurements; when blinking,
temperature has exceeded operation range: 0.0‑80.0 °C / 32.0‑176.0 °F
DISPLAY ELEMENTS

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• Handle instrument carefully. Do not drop.
• Do not immerse instrument under water.
• Do not spray water to any part of instrument except the “sample well”
located over the prism.
• The instrument is intended to measure the sugar content of wort in
Brewing process. 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
with a soft tissue and rinse sample well with deionized or distilled water
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.
• To reduce the effects of evaporation or absorption of water when taking
readings over a period of time, the prism and sample well can be covered
with plastic wrap.
MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES

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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 segments followed 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 17).
Note: The 0.0 screen will remain until a sample is measured or the
power is turned off.

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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.
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE

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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 °Plato.
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. The ATC tag blinks and automatic tem-
perature compensation is disabled if the temperature exceeds the
10.0-40.0 °C / 50.0-104.0 °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.
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES

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To make a Brix Solution, follow the procedure below:
•Place container (such as a glass vial or dropper bottle that has a cover)
on an analytical balance.
•Tare the balance.
•To make an X %BRIX solution weigh out X grams of high 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 above60%Brix needto bevigorouslystirred orshaken
and heated in a water bath. Remove solution from bath when sucrose
hasdissolved.Thetotalquantitycanbe scaled proportionallyforsmaller
containers but accuracy may be sacrificed.
Example with 25 %Brix:
%Brix g Sucrose g Water g Total
25 25.000 75.000 100.000
MAKING A STANDARD % BRIX SOLUTION

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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.
15
seconds

16
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.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT

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ERROR MESSAGES
Error Code Description
“Err“ General failure. Cycle power to instrument.
If error persists, contact your local Hanna
Instruments Office.
“LO“ primary
display
Sample exceeds minimum measurement
range.
“HI“ primary
display
Sample exceeds maximum measurement
range.
“LO“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Wrong solution used to zero instrument.
Use deionized or distilled water. Press
ZERO.
“HI“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Wrong solution used to zero instrument.
Use deionized or distilled water. Press
ZERO.
“t LO“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Temperature exceeds ATC low limit
(10.0 °C) during calibration.
“t HI“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Temperature exceeds ATC high limit
(40.0 °C) during calibration.
“Air“ Prism surface insufficiently covered.
“ELt“ Too much external light for measurement.
Cover sample well with hand.
“nLt“ LED light is not detected.
Contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office.
Battery segment
blinking
<5% of battery life is remaining.
Temperature values
are blinking
“0.0°C“or “80.0 °C“
Temperature measurement
out of range (0.0 to 80.0 °C).
ATC segment
blinking
Outside temperature
compensation range
(10.0 to 40.0 °C).
SETUP segment
blinking
Factory calibration lost.
Contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office.

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ACCESSORIES
Code Description
HI4020-11 50% Brix Standard, 10 mL
HI740157P Plastic refilling pipette (20 pcs.)
HI740029P 9V battery (10 pcs.)
MAN96841 05/17

HI96841 is warranted for two years against defects in
workmanship and materials when used for their intended
purpose and maintained according to instructions.
This warranty is limited to repair or replacement free of
charge.
Damage due to accidents, misuse, tampering or lack of
prescribed maintenance is not covered.
If service is required, contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office. If under warranty, report the model number, date
of purchase, serial number and the nature of the problem.
If the repair is not covered by the warranty, you will be
notified of the charges incurred. If the instrument is to be
returned to Hanna Instruments, first obtain a Returned Goods
Authorization number from the Technical Service depart‑
ment and then send it with shipping costs prepaid. When
shipping any instrument, make sure it is properly packed
for complete protection.
To validate your warranty, fill out and return the enclosed
warranty card within 14 days from the date of purchase.
Hanna Instruments reserves the right to modify the design, construction or
appearance of its products without advance notice.
Warranty

Printed in ROMANIA
World
Headquarters
Hanna Instruments Inc.
Highland Industrial Park
584 Park East Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895 USA
www.hannainst.com
Local Office
Hanna Instruments USA
270 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, RI 02917
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e‑mail: [email protected]
MAN96841