Features and Differences of Hach DR Series Spectrophotometers

• What is a spectrophotometer?
• Hach DR Series Spectrophotometers and Features

What is a spectrophotometer?

A spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument designed to measure the concentrations of certain substances in liquid media by passing a beam of light of a certain wavelength through them. The device compares the intensity of the remission before and after the passage of the light beam through the analyzed medium: the stronger the medium absorbs light, the greater the concentration of the measured substance.

In modern analytics, these devices are used in a wide range of industries: from the food industry to manufacturing and metallurgical enterprises. The popularity of devices of this type is due to the simplicity of design and reliability, the speed of measurements, the absence of the need for special preparation of a sample or an analyzed sample when using ready-made cuvette test kits.

Hach DR Series Spectrophotometers and Features

The Hach DR instrument family is represented by several models:

Hach DR900 is the junior model of the series. It is a small, portable colorimeter operating at certain wavelengths and designed to measure a limited list of drinking, industrial and waste water parameters. Compatible with 25 mm (1 in.) and 16 mm round cuvettes. Capable of storing up to 500 tests in memory and equipped with a USB connector for easy data transfer to a PC.

Hach DR1900 is a portable spectrophotometer of the series. Unlike the DR900, the device does not operate at certain wavelengths, but over a wide range in the visible spectrum of 340-800 nm, this feature allows you to measure a wider range of parameters compared to the DR900. Also, a significant advantage of the device is compatibility with LCK cuvette tests, more details about the advantage of using such tests can be found in the article at the link.

Hach DR3900 is the most popular device in the series. It is a laboratory spectrophotometer. Measurements are carried out in the wavelength range of 340-900 nm. It has a complete list of measured parameters and supports most of the available LCK cuvette tests. It can be used with a wide range of cuvettes thanks to adapters of various designs. Capable of storing and transmitting up to 2000 measurements.

Hach DR6000 is the senior device of the series. Unlike all the above devices, it is additionally equipped with an ultraviolet lamp, which allows the device to measure in the UV spectrum, so the wavelength range of the device is 190-1100 nm. It is this feature that makes it possible to minimize the error and use the largest list of measured methods, including the ability to conduct spectral analysis. In addition, unlike previous instruments, the DR6000 sample compartment is a carousel mechanism that allows up to 7 consecutive measurements without external intervention.

Summarizing the above, we can conclude:

DR900

• Portable, ideal for field conditions;
• Has a limited set of methods;
• Compatible with 25mm and 16mm round cuvettes only;
• Does not support LCK cuvette tests;
• Capable of storing up to 500 measurement results.

DR1900

• Portable, convenient for use both in the laboratory and in the field;
• Has a wide range of methods;
• Black and white display, push-button control;
• Compatible with 13 mm round, inch round and square cuvettes;
• Supports LCK cuvette tests;
• Capable of storing up to 500 measurement results.

DR3900

• Benchtop;
• Has a wide range of methods;
• Convenient, color touch display;
• Compatible with 13 mm, 1 cm, 5 cm and inch cuvettes;
• Supports LCK cuvette tests;
• Able to store up to 2000 measurement results in memory.

DR6000

• Benchtop;
• Possesses a full set of methods, thanks to the largest wavelenth range;
• Compatible with 13 mm and inch round cuvettes, as well as 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 mm rectangular cuvettes;
• Able to store up to 5000 measurement results in memory;
• Possibility of spectral analysis;
• It is equipped with the carousel mechanism allowing to carry out up to 7 consecutive measurements.