How to Calibrate and Take a Measurement with the BRM-100 Brix Refractometer (IC-BRM-100)

The BRM-100 is a sugar level refractometer that measures Brix from 0 to 32% in various food and beverage products like fruits, vegetables, juices, wine, soft drinks and sugar-containing non-food products like synthetic coolants.

Battery-free, portable and highly accurate (thanks to included temperature compensation), the IC-BRM-100 is the most popular choice for many Instrument Choice customers requiring quick, reliable Brix results on the go.

Figure 1 Watch an Instrument Choice Scientist demonstrate how to calibrate and take a measurement using the BRM-100 Brix Sugar Level Refractometer here.

Materials

1. The IC-BRM-100 Brix Refractometer
2. Cotton cloth
3. The calibration tool
4. Plastic pipette
5. Disposable lint-free tissues
6. Distilled water; and
7. The liquid sample you wish to measure.

Calibration

Regular calibration ensures your meter’s accuracy. Instrument Choice Scientists recommend you perform calibration at least weekly. Calibrating the BRM-100 sugar level refractometer is quick and easy if you follow the seven steps below.

Figure 1 Calibration screw on the BRM-100 sugar level refractometer

1. Wipe down the prism using a soft cloth to remove any dust.
2. Use the plastic pipette to apply 2-3 drops of distilled water to the prism.
3. Close the cover plate. The distilled water should spread across the entire surface of the prism without any air bubbles or dry spots.
4. Hold the prism in the direction of a light source and look through the eyepiece. The scale will have an upper blue portion and a lower white portion.
5. The white and blue portions should meet precisely at the “0” marking on the Brix scale. If the blue and white boundary is anywhere else, use the calibration tool to turn the calibration screw until the boundary meets at zero (Figure 1)
6. Remove the distilled water from the prism using lint-free tissues and dry using the cloth.

Figure 1 Calibration screw on the BRM-100 sugar level refractometer

How To Take A Measurement

1. Place 2-3 drops of your sample to be tested onto the prism.
2. Close the cover plate. The sample should spread across the entire surface of the prism without any air bubbles or dry spots.
3. Hold the prism in the direction of a light source and look through the eyepiece.
4. The boundary between the white and blue is the Brix measurement of your sample. See Figure 2 for an example of a Brix reading of 7%.
5. After use, always clean the prism well and ensure it is dry before storage.

Conclusion

The BRM-100 refractometer measures the sugar level of liquid samples and displays results as a Brix percentage. This device provides a quick and easy, battery-free way to obtain Brix measurements for various fruits, vegetables, wine, soft drinks and non-food liquids containing sugar - like synthetic and semi-synthetic coolants.

Need a hand with your BRM-100? Want to see more refractometers for measuring sugar levels? See the links below or contact us!

Additional links

• View the BRM-100 Refractometer For Sugar Level (Brix) Here
• Browse all Refractometers for sugar level
• Watch “How To Use The BRM-100 Brix Refractometer (IC-BRM-100)”
• Want to see what comes with the BRM-100 refractometer for sugar level? Watch an Instrument Choice Scientist “Unboxing The BRM-100 Brix Refractometer (IC-BRM-100)”

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