-
Happy Birthday ICMag! Been 20 years since Gypsy Nirvana created the forum! We are celebrating with a 4/20 Giveaway and by launching a new Patreon tier called "420club". You can read more here.
-
Important notice: ICMag's T.O.U. has been updated. Please review it here. For your convenience, it is also available in the main forum menu, under 'Quick Links"!
are there any good pH meters out there?
- Thread starter Lammy
- Start date
Lammy
Member
I had another thread just going about it. I've gotten a few more defective things from these guys I can tell you with some certainty they will not respond at all to an email that mentions any problems whatsoever. in fact I would guess that if your email does not mention a new sale they will not respond to it. even though they tell you the contact them via email they still won't respond and when I get upset a week or 2 later they act like "well this is the kind of thing that you should call about".
if you want to buy something you can email them and they will take care of you great. if you have any problems you need to call them that's the only way they'll respond.
ph probes are a black art!
ph probes are a black art!
Read this thread with interest. You guys really should read up on how ph probes are made. Manufacturing hasn't changed in nearly 50 years.
How you maintain and store these probes is really important for long life and accuracy. Did you know for example, that using a ph probe near an electric motor can adversly affect the reference electrode in the probe? That storing the probe in RO water, or even tap water, will shorten its life?
I have a Milwaukee SM-100 ph meter (3 in fact). I've just bought replacement probes @ about 60 bucks a pop, having used the original probes for 6 years.
How to look after probes:
1. ALWAYS store the probe in probe storage fluid. NEVER let the probe dry out. The liquid I use is a mild HCL solution. This acid also seems to 'recondition' the reference electrode.
2.Soak the probe in probe cleaning fluid about once a month. Very important to keep glass and membrane clean. Yes there is a tiny membrane in the electrode glass to allow ion flow to the measuring electrode tip.
3. Never bump or mechanically vibrate the ph probe tip. They don't like it, simple as.
4. Recalibrate once a month using a reference liquid. Do it for ph 4 and 7. My meters have calibrated fine on ph 7.01 liquid, but I've found on occasion that the reading was way off if I were to measure liquid with a ph of 5.5, for example.
5. Use your common sense! If a reading looks way off from what you expect, have your backup manual ph drops ready......
And finally EC probes are a completely different animal in terms of reliability. They simply measure electric current between two metal electrodes and are much more reliable. Keep the electrodes clean and they will last for years. Calibrate once a month.
ph probes are a black art!
Read this thread with interest. You guys really should read up on how ph probes are made. Manufacturing hasn't changed in nearly 50 years.
How you maintain and store these probes is really important for long life and accuracy. Did you know for example, that using a ph probe near an electric motor can adversly affect the reference electrode in the probe? That storing the probe in RO water, or even tap water, will shorten its life?
I have a Milwaukee SM-100 ph meter (3 in fact). I've just bought replacement probes @ about 60 bucks a pop, having used the original probes for 6 years.
How to look after probes:
1. ALWAYS store the probe in probe storage fluid. NEVER let the probe dry out. The liquid I use is a mild HCL solution. This acid also seems to 'recondition' the reference electrode.
2.Soak the probe in probe cleaning fluid about once a month. Very important to keep glass and membrane clean. Yes there is a tiny membrane in the electrode glass to allow ion flow to the measuring electrode tip.
3. Never bump or mechanically vibrate the ph probe tip. They don't like it, simple as.
4. Recalibrate once a month using a reference liquid. Do it for ph 4 and 7. My meters have calibrated fine on ph 7.01 liquid, but I've found on occasion that the reading was way off if I were to measure liquid with a ph of 5.5, for example.
5. Use your common sense! If a reading looks way off from what you expect, have your backup manual ph drops ready......
And finally EC probes are a completely different animal in terms of reliability. They simply measure electric current between two metal electrodes and are much more reliable. Keep the electrodes clean and they will last for years. Calibrate once a month.
M
mr.shiva
are there any good pH meters out there?
I use blue labs meters, for replacement probes I usually get them from marinedepot.com or ebay. Best probe I ever used was a tunze glass one ... Until it broke but damn it was good till then for constant monitoring to hundredth
I use blue labs meters, for replacement probes I usually get them from marinedepot.com or ebay. Best probe I ever used was a tunze glass one ... Until it broke but damn it was good till then for constant monitoring to hundredth
Lammy
Member
Houdini.
I will try to take better care of my pH meters from now on.
not that I broke this meter, this time.
I just talked to a hanna tech on Monday and he says my pH probe is bad and he sent me another 1 because its under warranty.
well the new probe showed up and that's not the problem. or this probe is bad as well. its probably the circuitry in the freaking meter.
so I just had to pay 10 dollars to ship this thing back to Hanna. hopefully on this third attempt they can get me a meter that will work for solid 5 or 6 months. I'm not holding my breath though. the warranty will be up on this in a month and a half and I'm not spending any more money on fixing it so I guess I won't have it very much longer.
the local hydro store doesn't have the test strips and they won't have them until next week.
I hope not pH'ing in my res for 2 weeks during flowering has no ill consequences.
I will say that Hanna has really good tech support. but who really cares about that? how about manufacturing a f****** product that works for f****** christ sake.
when this piece of s*** finally goes I'm going to spend my money on those cheap 30-35 dollar meters everybody talking about and even if I throw the thing away every 2 months it'll still be far cheaper than these name brand pieces of s***
Lammy
I will try to take better care of my pH meters from now on.
not that I broke this meter, this time.
I just talked to a hanna tech on Monday and he says my pH probe is bad and he sent me another 1 because its under warranty.
well the new probe showed up and that's not the problem. or this probe is bad as well. its probably the circuitry in the freaking meter.
so I just had to pay 10 dollars to ship this thing back to Hanna. hopefully on this third attempt they can get me a meter that will work for solid 5 or 6 months. I'm not holding my breath though. the warranty will be up on this in a month and a half and I'm not spending any more money on fixing it so I guess I won't have it very much longer.
the local hydro store doesn't have the test strips and they won't have them until next week.
I hope not pH'ing in my res for 2 weeks during flowering has no ill consequences.
I will say that Hanna has really good tech support. but who really cares about that? how about manufacturing a f****** product that works for f****** christ sake.
when this piece of s*** finally goes I'm going to spend my money on those cheap 30-35 dollar meters everybody talking about and even if I throw the thing away every 2 months it'll still be far cheaper than these name brand pieces of s***
Lammy
Lammy
Member
it's official the replacement for my replacement meter needs to be replaced. unfortunately Hanna does not have any of their own meters in stock. best case scenario I would get it at the end of next week. that would make 3 weeks of downtime. Plus now my warranty is about to expire.
I'm pretty sick of Hanna.
PLH really helped me out on this. they say they're going to send me a blue lab combo meter today and I just gotta pay the price difference plus the shipping is free!
thanks guys.
I'm pretty sick of Hanna.
PLH really helped me out on this. they say they're going to send me a blue lab combo meter today and I just gotta pay the price difference plus the shipping is free!
thanks guys.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SPENT THE MONEY
ON QUALITY
THE FIRST TIME
then you would have only had to spend that amount of money once... not twice, or more.
and you wouldnt have been out of a meter, for.... how fucking long?
I am glad the wholesaler is working with you to get you taken care of, but man, sure sounds like "the hard way" to me.
alls i can say (again) is Ive had my Bluelab combo meter for a little over 2 years now
not had any issues with the PH probe. changed the batteries a couple times, calibrated it a few times... its money. MONEY.
next time you need to buy something, try to only have to buy it once. sometimes buying the more expensive item is actually less money than 2 or 3 of the lesser priced items....
good luck
take care of the ph probe... its easy. when your done taking measurements, rinse it off under some running water in the sink, put the ph probe in the little cap (filled w water to the line - youll see it), and on to the next thing.
A few tids bits...
Using a Bluelab pH Pen with good results. Did have one act up, but I had bumped it pretty hard so I think I damaged the electronics inside (really sporadic and I couldnt get it to turn off holding the OFF button) . Store in a small glass of 4.0 and it's dead on every time.
Used a GroChek HI9813-0 for many years with good results. Wire entering the probe eventually shorted out and would give me pH readings of like 55.6. I decided to just get the bluelab pen instead of the the replacement probe. Newer models -5n and -6n seems to have remedied this area with more support for the wire entering the probe.
Used the Hanna HI98129 for 3 years. Changed probe once. They are decent meters. For what its worth.. the calibration needs CLEARED after re-calibrating after a electrode swap. Just swapping in the new probe and calibrating sometimes doesnt do the trick.. you need to clear the current calibration by "ESC" out of the "USE 7.0" screen, and then repeat the process again to calibrate. Fuck spending $65 for their replacement electrode though. I'd rather just buy a new Bluelab pH Pen as necessary.
Most people are responsible for their own failures.
NEVER store in RO water, distilled, or deionized water. The probe will die.
NEVER let the electrode dry.
Anyone have any experience with Silicon Chip pH meters as opposed to the little glass ball electrode units?
Using a Bluelab pH Pen with good results. Did have one act up, but I had bumped it pretty hard so I think I damaged the electronics inside (really sporadic and I couldnt get it to turn off holding the OFF button) . Store in a small glass of 4.0 and it's dead on every time.
Used a GroChek HI9813-0 for many years with good results. Wire entering the probe eventually shorted out and would give me pH readings of like 55.6. I decided to just get the bluelab pen instead of the the replacement probe. Newer models -5n and -6n seems to have remedied this area with more support for the wire entering the probe.
Used the Hanna HI98129 for 3 years. Changed probe once. They are decent meters. For what its worth.. the calibration needs CLEARED after re-calibrating after a electrode swap. Just swapping in the new probe and calibrating sometimes doesnt do the trick.. you need to clear the current calibration by "ESC" out of the "USE 7.0" screen, and then repeat the process again to calibrate. Fuck spending $65 for their replacement electrode though. I'd rather just buy a new Bluelab pH Pen as necessary.
Most people are responsible for their own failures.
NEVER store in RO water, distilled, or deionized water. The probe will die.
NEVER let the electrode dry.
Anyone have any experience with Silicon Chip pH meters as opposed to the little glass ball electrode units?
Lammy
Member
Grayskull I know it's a long thread and it's asking a lot to read it but if you did you would know I've spent about $1000 on meters and you can talk crap about anything that's not a blue lab but Milwaukee and Hanna are brand names. and the point you're trying to make your just plain wrong because I did have to spend that money several times over. I've never bought 1 of those cheap meters but I asked if anybody had any bad things to say about them and plenty of people have used them without fail.
so thanks for coming into my thread and not reading it and then talking crap to me about all the brand name s*** that I bought that has broken.
according to the Hanna tech it is not the probe that is damaged I know how to take care of my probe Greyskull. it is the circuitry inside the meter and I do not work in Romania and I did not manufacture the thing.
your advice to rinse and store the probe in water is really bad advice.
good luck
Lammy
P
PerroVerde
My vote goes to Blue Lab pens... Hana meters gargle ball sweat... yeah, I caught them 
Lammy
Member
flower farmer thanks for the information.
you said "most people are responsible for their own failures" well I guess I didn't come out clearly and say it but the original Hanna meter I bought had bad circuitry in it. the meter they sent me as a replacement had bad circuitry in it. the hanna tech tried to play it off like it was the probe which it was not. I believe the model you mentioned is the 1 that I had. I'm aware of the information you said and I believe so is the Hanna tech. maybe Hana knew how to make a meter 3 years ago but I can guarantee you it wouldn't matter how you handled the meters if you had either of the 2 Hannah's that I had. they were both defective. that is the judgment of the Hanna tech. I don't know why everybody thinks I'm stupid
I messed up 1 probe. ever. that was by letting it dry out when I did not use it for 3 months. that was my fault for sure. 100 percent.
I don't know if the blue lab is different but the Milwaukee and the Hanna technician's both told me to store it in storage solution or 7.0 not 4.0
hope I don't come off as an a****** but it really sucks to spend this much money and get so many defective / cheap products and have people come on here and give me s*** about it.
Lammy
P
PerroVerde
Good to hear and good luck with the new meters bro. I had one Blue Lab PPM pen suck up some water and act crazy but they replaced it fast and have never had a problem since and the blue lab meters hold calibration like a champ.
this is a cool thread. im noticing alot of people like the blue lab pen although for the price i would rather buy the meter with seperate probe so if the probe dies i can just replace that.
ive used a blue lab truncheon and will never switch as its a fantastic tool. ive not had a blue lab ph meter yet but i shall be buying one next i think.
ive used a blue lab truncheon and will never switch as its a fantastic tool. ive not had a blue lab ph meter yet but i shall be buying one next i think.
O
otis33
Another bluelab devotee here. My Ph pen holds calibration way better than the Hanna it replaced. In fact, the Hanna had too be calibrated every use. I also love my truncheon.
M
MegaHermie
Hanna high end combo meter hands down.. had plenty of blue lab's take a shit on us.. the worst was when we had a friend take care of our shit while we were gone, the blue lab tok a shit and was off by 4 Ph, so he ph'd the rez to almost 10 PH!!! never again will I trust a cheap ass blue lab.. also i've got them out of the box fucked up..
Bluelab ph pen as my first pen
1st pen needed calibration every time I used it. Dropped on concrete and broke before I could exchange it.
2nd pen wouldn't hold calibration exchanged for new one.
3rd (replacement) bluelab ph pen sorta held calibration but I banged it lightly against side of Rez and the inner tube broke. Even though I broke it the shop still replaced it.
4th still using it, has to be calibrated every day.
Basically after testing a 5.0ph mixed nutes, if I want to check the ph of something higher, I have to put it in 7.0 calibration solution to get it back. Otherwise it reads incorrect. (Low)
It's a pain and a time waster. And I'm always second guessing if its correct.
I should have bought the combo meter in the first place, almost bought it the other day..... but im not sure I want to spend more money with bluelab at this point.
Had me wondering if all ph pens worked this shitty
Your mileage may vary,
GS
1st pen needed calibration every time I used it. Dropped on concrete and broke before I could exchange it.
2nd pen wouldn't hold calibration exchanged for new one.
3rd (replacement) bluelab ph pen sorta held calibration but I banged it lightly against side of Rez and the inner tube broke. Even though I broke it the shop still replaced it.
4th still using it, has to be calibrated every day.
Basically after testing a 5.0ph mixed nutes, if I want to check the ph of something higher, I have to put it in 7.0 calibration solution to get it back. Otherwise it reads incorrect. (Low)
It's a pain and a time waster. And I'm always second guessing if its correct.
I should have bought the combo meter in the first place, almost bought it the other day..... but im not sure I want to spend more money with bluelab at this point.
Had me wondering if all ph pens worked this shitty
Your mileage may vary,
GS
anyone tried HM digital? a lot of the aquarium guys swear by them. I have there ec/ppm combo and its nice tool.
I was going to go with blue lab but after that last post I don't know. I don't care for non replaceable probe on there pens.
They are about equal in price.
no more oaktons or hanna's unless it's as a backup. to many headaches.
I was going to go with blue lab but after that last post I don't know. I don't care for non replaceable probe on there pens.
They are about equal in price.
no more oaktons or hanna's unless it's as a backup. to many headaches.
