PPM, which EC conversion do you use?

[bluenorth]

Reading through tons of posts on nutes etc. the strength is always given in ppm's. But which conversion factor do most people use when converting from EC. Why don't we all just use EC then there is no mix up's?

 

[Balazar]

Hanna meters are expensive as hell for what you get! It's too bad I own one. I have a few other meters that I like better than the super expensive Hanna. I bought them for less too!

 

[lysol]

My meter has an option to change it to any arbitrary conversion.

I state ppm not EC because "ppm" (even though not correlating to true parts per million) is able easier to notate small changes in conductivity. I use .5 so when I say 500ppm I mean 1.0ec

 

[Red Fang]

huh what? so complex someone please explain? help?

 

[bluenorth]

Hi Red, all meters actually read in EC (electrical conductivity) then convert it to ppm's, different meters use a different conversion factor. So when your reading a post where someone is refering to ppm, you may have a different ppm for the same solution. Make sense?

 

[cannaboy]

Eu tech is the most accurate way of getting the exact ppm.

 

[jim_browsky]

My Hanna meters are both .7 conversion using the 4-4-2 conversion
factor. They are this one and the older version(3 yrs).

 

[T-type]

I use a Milwaukee SM802, it says the tds conversion is .68.

I don't see how this matters though as I calibrate it to 1500 ppm using a 1500 ppm solution. The conversion factor only matters if you calibrate using ec right?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Eu tech is the most accurate way of getting the exact ppm.

EU Tech does not measure "PPM". How can it measure exactly what it doesn't measure at all? Just like all the others, it measures EC alone, then hides EC and lies to you.

I use a Milwaukee SM802, it says the tds conversion is .68.

I don't see how this matters though as I calibrate it to 1500 ppm using a 1500 ppm solution. The conversion factor only matters if you calibrate using ec right?

Unless your solution is made specifically for a .68 meter, then you're not calibrated at all. The most common conversions are .5 and .7 but there's also .64, .65, .768 and a couple others so whacked I can't even remember them anymore. With your .68 conversion, that's at least 8 different conversion scales that I'm aware of.

You can run a garden with "PPM" but, like feet and Fahrenheit, there's no excuse for that kind of nonsense in the 20th century (said the hypocritical American that still uses feet and Fahrenheit) and the 20th century is gone.

For those that feel the need to overcomplicate things with larger numbers, EC be measured in either mS/cm or µS/cm. 1 mS/cm=1000µS/cm. Now that's accuracy.

 

[*mistress*]

this may be helpful:

calculating npk/nutrient profile
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=134356

Is any1 else slamming their plants with high ppm?
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=136683

Special Note: It is important to remember that equal amounts of plant foods from different manufactures, after being dissolved in the
same amount of distilled water, will not give the same reading on Electrical Conductivity meters. This is true for all electronic
meters, and it has nothing to do with the meter and everything to do with the elements and compounds that make up each plant
food formulation. Different formulations and their corresponding recipes from the same manufacture will also give different readings
when comparing the weights of fertilizer to a specific volume of distilled water. Also, different readings will occur when the water
source changes. The more dissolved solids in the water the more electrical conductivity. Well water, generally speaking, will
conduct more electricity than spring water. The point is, all liquid Electrical Conductivity meters are personal tools displaying the
readings from your water supply and the plant food manufactures formula and recipe that you are using.

enjoy your garden!

 

[KnuckleHedd]

That's why I've been ignoring ppm's that people talk about cuz I knew there were three different factors and didn't know which one they used. I like it better when I hear an EC value...I believe that's a universal thing.

 

[smoke headies]

Hanna Sucks.

Get a Truncheon.. it does .5 and .7....

 

[DarkLance]

I have a Hanna meter that uses .7 conversion. People need to be aware that "Hanna @ .5" has nothing to do with Hanna meters, it is a manufacture's specification. No one has to use it, not even Hanna apparently.

And what is with the Truncheon meters. Is that even a brand? A truncheon is a club or similar weapon, not much to do with electrical conductivity...

EDIT: btw, this is my 123rd post! Yeah Sesame Street!

 

[jm420]

"That's why I've been ignoring ppm's that people talk about cuz I knew there were three different factors and didn't know which one they used. I like it better when I hear an EC value...I believe that's a universal thing."
it is universal

 

[the_dungeon]

I have a Hanna meter that uses .7 conversion. People need to be aware that "Hanna @ .5" has nothing to do with Hanna meters, it is a manufacture's specification. No one has to use it, not even Hanna apparently.

And what is with the Truncheon meters. Is that even a brand? A truncheon is a club or similar weapon, not much to do with electrical conductivity...

EDIT: btw, this is my 123rd post! Yeah Sesame Street!

<img src" http://www.traderscity.com/board/userpix3/3737-ph-wand-truncheon-meter-1.jpg">
its a big ole plastic ph meter thingy. my friend bought one at the hydro store and the guy working there threw the thingy allll the way across the store. picked it up, and measured his water. thing still worked. hahahah

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

I always use EC to avoid confusion.

 

[JMasta]

I too always use EC. Why complicate something that doesn't need to be.

 

[Cheeb]

EC all the way!

Whats simplier then vegging at 1.0 EC and increasing to 2.0 EC in bloom?
Truncheons rule!

On a side note:

Most Hanna meters can be changed to whatever conversion you'd like. On the handhelds just hold down the OFF button past CAL..then click the right button until it displays the conversion factor. (.5 typically by default), but you can change it to .7 so that you can calibrate using anyones 1500ppm solution instead of the 1382 from Hanna.

..or get a Bluelab truncheon and never have to calibrate for EC/PPM again. the bluelab displays EC, CF, and PPM @ both a .5 and .7 conversion.

 

[Pseudo]

its a big ole plastic ph meter thingy. my friend bought one at the hydro store and the guy working there threw the thingy allll the way across the store. picked it up, and measured his water. thing still worked. hahahah[/QUOTE]

ummm, ill take it but can i like get one that you didnt throw yet?

 

[smoke headies]

Truncheon owns. Nuff said.

Also, this "Poll" is incorrect. The Truncheon has .7 and .5 conversion. It owns all meters. Period.