Lighted ATC Honey Refractometer

[Texas Bee]

1.Will this do the job ?

2.Are is it to high in Price ?

3.Do we really need one ?

4. Is their a better solution ?


LINK:http://cgi.ebay.com/LIGHTED-ATC-Honey-Refractometer-4-Beekeeping-Brix-90_W0QQitemZ220340874825QQihZ012QQcategoryZ20474QQ tcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

[Fuzzy]

a. the price is good
b. the accuracy is only +/- 1%
c. The range only goes down to 12%
d. I don't know if you need one. I find mine useful.

The same vendor has another model for about $100 that is +/- .2% and the range starts at 10% but does not have a light. A light should not be necessary.

Fuzzy

[beemandan]

Checking further, the Ebay vendor is selling the RHB-90ATC for $47.99, which I believe is the same model that many of the beekeeping supply houses are selling for $75 - 80.
Its accuracy is listed as +/- 1%. That is a pretty wide range for honey testing.

The same site lists, as Fuzzy pointed out, a RHFN-30ATC for $119 with an expanded range of 10 -30% moisture and an accuracy of +/-.2%

The Atago HHR-2N which they sell for $252 has a range of 12 - 30% moisture and an accuracy of +/- .2%

Personally, I think that +/- 1% accuracy is too large. I wouldn't care about an internal light. If I were spending the money I'd look at the units that provide a usable accuracy.

[Texas Bee]

Thanks for the replies guy's.

[Fuzzy]

Texas Bee,

Check his store again and look for RHF-30ATC . it is listed at $99 -- has the accuracy you need. I have purchased from this guy and though I had a minor issue, he dealt with it politely and quickly to my complete satisfaction.

As for my usage, each year I get at least 1 super per hive that is 14% water. This is really thick stuff. At the end of the season I also get some supers that are partially capped or not capped at all. I can use the instrument to select 2-3 frames of uncapped honey and blend with the 14% stuff while running the extractor. This resulting extracted honey can still be 16%. It just takes simple math to figure out how many frames to mix with the thick stuff.

Fuzzy

[Texas Bee]

Thanks Fuzzy.

[deknow]

I wouldn't care about an internal light. If I were spending the money I'd look at the units that provide a usable accuracy.

again, we agree :)

in some post apocalyptic future, one might not have cheap electricity, and a hand crankable extractor might be a good thing to have around...but i think we can safely assume that the sun will come up, and that one does not need a refractometer with a built in light :)

deknow

[beemandan]

again, we agree :)

in some post apocalyptic future
Having agreed several times in the recent past, I'm suspecting that the apocalypse is near at hand.