Essentials pH Meter

Product Information

As already noted, calibrating every time you use your meter is the best practice. But you also have to calibrate correctly. If you’re measuring something that is basic, always calibrate first using the 7.00 pH reference buffer and the 10.00 pH buffer to establish a proper reading. If you’re measuring something on the acidic side, calibrate using the 7.00 pH reference buffer first and then use the 4.00 pH buffer. This mistake is common and easy to fix. The pH meter reads the total electrical potential difference on the surface of the electrode, so, if half of your electrode is outside the sample solution, it’s missing half of the reading. That kind of difference is not acceptable! Right about here, we really start to see how much more trouble pH meters are than thermometers: the storage and buffering solutions are essential to proper use of your pH meter, which means that any time you measure pH, it’s going to start looking like you’re playing with a chemistry set. For me, that’s a fun thing, but it certainly isn’t as convenient as a Thermapen ®. Not submerging the electrode Overall, the PH-200 from HM Digital is an excellent all-round pH meter that is probably one of the best consumer pen-type pH meters that you can currently get for hydroponics.

Essentials pH Meter | Hydrohobby Hydroponics UK

pH meters work by taking readings of the pH levels of a solution. They are equipped with sensors, which when immersed in a liquid give the reading of what levels the solution is at. It is pivotal to regularly calibrate the machine/sensors as it is a scientific piece of equipment which requires simple maintenance. Another reason to cool your sample is that electrodes degrade faster at higher temperatures, meaning shorter electrode life. And in fact, have an upper limit of functioning. You cannot use your pH meter on anything hotter than 122°F (50°C) or it will burn out. Keep a good thermometer on hand for your pH testing and wait until the sample is at room temperature (about 70°F or 21°C) for best results. ConclusionPlease note: Some of our new replacement electrodes come with just one larger cap that holds the storage solution in a little sponge against the electrode. If you have one of these newer replacement electrodes, just be sure to saturate the sponge with storage solution, loosen the threads on the cap to allow the air to escape as you press the electrode into the sponge, and then retighten the cap for storage.

Bluelab pH meters – Handheld pH pens, pH testers and pH Bluelab pH meters – Handheld pH pens, pH testers and pH

When you take a sample to test, make sure you take enough to submerge the entire electrode and that your sample holder is deep enough to accommodate the electrode. It’s a simple fix, but super important. Testing at the wrong temperature As noted above, electrodes don’t last forever. If you’ve had your meter for over a year and you find that your readings aren’t quite what you think they should be, you might have a bad electrode. That means you’ll need a new electrode or, in the case of a non-replaceable electrode meter, a new meter.

No results found.

Simple Calibration using VitaLink Essentials Calibration Fluid - Some meters can be complicated to calibrate. Simply dip the probe in the solution and press the CAL button until CAL appears onscreen.

pH Meters for Hydroponics - LED Grow Lights pH Meters for Hydroponics - LED Grow Lights

To prevent dehydration, be sure to fill the smaller with storage solution and secure the cap tightly over the electrode after each use. If your electrode does dry out, soak it overnight in storage solution to resuscitate it. It will probably work again, but repeated dehydration is bad for the electrode and will shorten its lifespan. When you remove the electrode cap from your meter, there will be a tiny amount of storage solution that clings to the electrode. Do not wipe it off. Why not? Because what the pH meter is actually measuring are tiny, tiny changes in electrical potential. If you wipe the surface of the bulb, you can induce a tiny static electrical charge on the surface of the glass. Though minuscule, this static charge can be large enough to throw your readings off. Before we go into the common mistakes and their remedies, it’s important to understand the differences between replaceable electrode meters and non-replaceable electrode meters. The names of the two groups are self-explanatory, but whether you buy a replaceable electrode meter or not depends on how you intend to use it. Because of the ionic nature of the electrode glass itself, when it is stored in ion-free water, the Law of Diffusion describes how the ions will leave the glass to try to establish an ionic solution in the water itself, creating more equilibrium. That exodus of those ions from the glass to the liquid depletes the glass of its pH-measuring qualities, rendering the electrode useless.To properly store your pH meter, it is imperative that you use pH-electrode storage solution. The storage solution is hydrating and is properly balanced with the right kind of ions. If you suddenly run out of storage solution during a testing process, deionized water can be used in the very short term until more storage solution can be obtained. Not calibrating properly Measuring pH is a great way of making sure the plant can absorb all the elements in the nutrient mix. Each element has a different absorption rate at different pH levels. Many growers will keep their pH at about 6.0 as it offers the best all round nutrient uptake. That’s not to say it is the best for all elements, it’s more of a trade off, being the point at which the overall absorption is highest. The diagram below shows how each element absorbs at different levels.Replaceable electrode meters like our High Accuracy pH Meter are great if you have long-term plans for testing pH. Been brewing for a while and you’re planning on keeping at it? You should get a replaceable electrode meter. But if you’re working on a one-time project or aren’t planning on using your meter for longer than a year, just go with a low-cost non-replaceable meter like our Waterproof pH meter. Low Battery Alert - Gives a warning when there is 2 hours running time left, so you can change the battery in good time As you can see, pH 6.0 is the point at which most elements get a decent uptake. In hydroponic systems, it is important to maintain this level of absorption. A deficiency can really damage a plants health and ruin crops. Alternatives to the Essentials pH Meter The Essentials pH meter is a robust, glass type pH meter. It is water and drop resistant and can even survive a dunk into a water tank and immediately retrieved without damage (Please note: it is NOT water proof and is not meant to be fully submerged on purpose). The meter is easy to use; just put the end into the solution, stir and wait for a reading. The usual time for a reading is around 20 seconds, which is time for the unit to stabilize and give an accurate result. The unit are usually good for between 1-3 years depending on the rate of sampling. In general, they should be accurate for 365 pH readings.