One BRAND NEW 10-30 HONEY REFRACTOMETER (10%-30% Moisture scale) Hand held Refractometer. This unit is especially necessary when testing high sugar items like honey. This unit uses ambient light, so no battery or power source is required. Natural, raw honey varies from 14% to 18% moisture content. But that's not the end of it... Honey is hygroscopic; that is, it has excellent water absorbing properties. Thus honey will change in moisture content according to the surrounding atmosphere. This characteristic is important in storing honey because it will absorb water when exposed to high relative humidity (RH) and will give off water when exposed to low RH, until an equilibrium point is reached. High moisture honey will ferment. This is caused by the presence of several yeast species which, as they multiply in the absence of air, produce alcohol. The alcohol may break down to acetic acid (vinegar) and water, giving the honey a distinctly sour or "off" taste and a runny texture with small bubbles, surface heaving or foaming. If you detect that your honey has a high water content, there are methods used to "dry" out your honey to preserve it. Ask us how! Models with the ATC suffix are equipped with Automatic Temperature Compensation for accurate measurements without re calibration after shifts in ambient working temperature (field use). The 10-30 HONEY REFRACTOMETER DOES have ATC. This feature allows your unit to give you steady, repeatable readings when the temperature is between 50-86'F (10-30'C). Brand New! Ships from USA ASAP! Honey Moisture Scale: * Scale Range: 10%-30% Water * Divisions: 0.10% Water * Accuracy: +/- 0.20% Water Comes with calibration fluid Additional Details ------------------------------ Package quantity: 1