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To ensure accurate measurements and long-term equipment use, the following are the standard operating procedures, precautions, and maintenance methods for the Labant digital refractometer, applicable to saccharimeter testing in various scenarios including food, beverage, and agriculture.

I. Basic Measurement Steps (Sample to be Tested)

Power-on Preparation: Turn on the instrument and proceed directly to the measurement waiting interface. Confirm that there are no abnormal error messages on the display.

Clean Prism: Gently rinse the prism surface with clean water, then wipe it dry with soft lens paper to avoid residual stains affecting the reading.

Add Sample: Add approximately 0.3 ml of the sample to be tested to the measurement cell (the liquid level should cover 2/3 of the sampling cell). Do not use a metal spoon to touch the prism to prevent scratching the surface.

Start Measurement: Press the "Reading Confirmation" button. The instrument will automatically complete the measurement and display the saccharimeter value. Record the result after the reading stabilizes. If there is a significant temperature difference between the sample and the prism, allow the sample to stand in the measurement cell for a short time until the temperature equalizes before measuring.

Sample Change: If a different sample needs to be measured, clean the measuring cell as per step 2, then repeat steps 3-4.

Usage Completion: After all measurements are completed, thoroughly rinse the measuring cell with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth or lens paper to prevent liquid residue from corroding components.

II. Zeroing and Calibration Procedure

When the instrument measures pure water and the value is not 0.0%, zeroing and calibration are required to ensure measurement accuracy:

Prepare Reagents: Use distilled water or pure water (do not use other solutions, otherwise calibration will fail).

Clean Prism: Thoroughly clean the prism surface as described in step 2 of the basic measurement to prevent residual impurities from interfering with the calibration results.

Add Calibration Solution: Add 0.3 ml of pure water to the measuring cell (covering 2/3 of the sampling cell). If there is a significant temperature difference between the calibration solution and the prism, allow it to stand for a moment to reach temperature equilibrium.

Start Calibration: Select "Calibration" in the instrument settings menu, press the confirmation button to enter calibration mode, and wait for the system to automatically complete the detection.

Result Interpretation:

"Calibration Complete": This indicates successful zeroing. The instrument value will be reset to 0.0%. After drying the prism with lens paper, normal measurement can begin.

"Calibration Error": This is often due to improper selection of calibration solution (e.g., using non-pure water/distilled water). Replace with a qualified calibration solution, clean the prism again, and repeat the calibration process.

III. Key Precautions

Operating Procedures: Strictly follow this guide. Do not disassemble instrument parts yourself. Avoid drops, collisions, or severe vibrations during use to prevent damage to internal components and affect measurement accuracy.

Cleaning Prohibitions: The instrument should not be immersed in water for cleaning. Only rinse the prism surface with clean water and then dry with a soft cloth or lens paper. Do not use organic solvents to wipe the body or prism, as this may corrode the outer shell or damage the prism coating.

Environmental Requirements: Avoid direct sunlight on the prism surface during measurement, as this will cause inaccurate readings. The instrument should be stored in a dry environment free of corrosive gases. Avoid moisture or chemical corrosion to extend the equipment's lifespan.

Spare Parts Management: Properly store instrument spare parts (such as lens cleaning paper, adapter batteries, etc.) to avoid loss affecting subsequent use or maintenance.

IV. Common Error Messages and Handling

"Calibration Error": This is often caused by the measurement cell not containing clean water, or by using non-pure/distilled water for calibration. Replace with qualified distilled or purified water, thoroughly clean the prism surface, and then repeat the zeroing and calibration procedure.

"Low Battery": This indicates insufficient battery voltage, unable to support normal instrument operation. Replace with a new battery of the appropriate model promptly to prevent leakage from the old battery from damaging the instrument's internal circuitry.

Unable to Measure: If the instrument indicates that it cannot measure, it is often because the prism surface temperature is below 10℃ or above 40℃, exceeding the normal operating temperature range. Place the instrument in an environment between 10-40℃ until the prism temperature equalizes with the ambient temperature before attempting to start the measurement.

Routine Maintenance Recommendations

Prism Maintenance: After each measurement, gently wipe away any remaining sample with lens paper, then apply a small amount of water to the prism surface. Be gentle and avoid using hard paper or rough cloth to prevent scratching the prism coating and affecting detection accuracy.

Automatic Standby: If the instrument remains inactive for a set time, it will automatically enter standby mode (display off). This is normal energy-saving mode and requires no additional intervention. Simply press the operation button again to wake the instrument and return to the measurement interface.

Battery Management: When the display shows a "Low Batter" message, replace the battery immediately. If the instrument will not be used for an extended period, remove the battery to prevent leakage and corrosion of the internal circuitry, which could lead to equipment malfunction.

Waterproof Protection: Avoid liquid splashes into the instrument during use. If it gets wet, immediately dry the body and interfaces with a dry cloth and check if the instrument can be powered on normally. If any abnormalities occur, contact technical support immediately.

The Labant digital refractometer provides reliable support for saccharimeter testing of various samples with its accurate detection performance and user-friendly design. If you encounter any other problems during use, or need to customize a testing solution to suit your industry (such as food processing, agricultural planting, etc.), please feel free to contact the Labant technical support team. We will provide you with professional services.