Milwaukee ph 56 looking for some hbt owners.

[erick0619]

Im looking into getting the ph meter through northernbrewer after seeing the good reviews. I would like to hear from some of you guys and see if its worth the money.

 

[Rev2010]

I have one, I recommend getting something else. And if you still do buy it get it through Amazon as NB's price is way higher. I think I paid like $60 for mine and NB's charging $100.

I cared for mine and stored the electrode in electrode storage solution and only a couple of months in it started failing on calibrating the 4.01 portion. Would read WRNG each attempt. I just recently replaced the electrode and it's working again but reading the reviews on amazon it seems everyone says they don't last more than a few months then you need to buy a new electrode, which gets expensive.

I also don't like that after calibrating you can see the pH drift right before your eyes. After it calibrates first to 7.01 then to 4.01 and is done the reading will start dropping. First 3.99, then 3.98, etc. It doesn't keep drifting, and that fraction might not matter very much, but the point is it was just calibrated! It should stay at or very close to 4.01 if still sitting in that solution.

Anyhow, I figured I'd give one electrode replacement a shot. If it dies again in a few months I'll switch to a more professional meter.

*EDIT - here it is on Amazon for $63: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007Z4HZ8O/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Still suggest buying a more pro one and doing it right the first time.


Rev.

 

[erick0619]

Awesome thanks for the heads up, ive been looking around and the price jumps pretty quick and im kind of on a budget im reading good things on their 102 model i think i may just spring for that one.

 

[mabrungard]

pH meters that include a corded, BNC-connected, pH probe provide you with the most options for probe replacement. Remember, its not typically the meter that goes bad, its the probe. There are hundreds of BNC pH probe manufacturers and they all work the same. You can use brand Y's probe with your brand X meter as long as the meter has the BNC connector. Meters such as the Milwaukee MW-101 and MW-102 models do employ BNC connectors and I've found their gell-filled probes to be long lived.

Meters such as the Milwaukee pH 56 use proprietary replacement probes and they don't tend to be as well built or inexpensive as the more universal corded, BNC style probes.

 

[erick0619]

pH meters that include a corded, BNC-connected, pH probe provide you with the most options for probe replacement. Remember, its not typically the meter that goes bad, its the probe. There are hundreds of BNC pH probe manufacturers and they all work the same. You can use brand Y's probe with your brand X meter as long as the meter has the BNC connector. Meters such as the Milwaukee MW-101 and MW-102 models do employ BNC connectors and I've found their gell-filled probes to be long lived.

Meters such as the Milwaukee pH 56 use proprietary replacement probes and they don't tend to be as well built or inexpensive as the more universal corded, BNC style probes.

Thank you for responding martin!! Looks like im sold on the BNC connected meter. While i have you here i would like to ask is the 102 worth the price difference over the 101 its around a 30 dollar difference and are all buffer and storage solutions the same?

 

[mabrungard]

While i have you here i would like to ask is the 102 worth the price difference over the 101 its around a 30 dollar difference and are all buffer and storage solutions the same?

The probes are identical. You get digital calibration and a thermometer for the extra $. It's hard to say if its worth it.

All buffer solutions are the same. You need to purchase bottles of the calibration solution since the sachets are good for a use or two. Calibration solutions need to be replaced every year or so. You also need to buy a bottle of the storage solution and cut a hole in the cap to insert the probe through. That way you can store the probe in the big bottle of storage solution.

 

[erick0619]

The probes are identical. You get digital calibration and a thermometer for the extra $. It's hard to say if its worth it.

All buffer solutions are the same. You need to purchase bottles of the calibration solution since the sachets are good for a use or two. Calibration solutions need to be replaced every year or so. You also need to buy a bottle of the storage solution and cut a hole in the cap to insert the probe through. That way you can store the probe in the big bottle of storage solution.

Thank you for being so helpful, im going to go ahead and get the mw101 and use the money saved to get all the brewing salts i need in bulk. Oh and sorry to be bug so much, but would you by any chance have a link to a good page that can help me understand the chemistry better in the book water? The grand majority of what i am reading is just zipping over my head. Please and thank you.

 

[mabrungard]

Well, some people find that the Water Knowledge page on the Bru'n Water website is useful in taking that first step into brewing water.

 

[Chrisl77]

If you drill a hole in the cap of your storage solution get a rubber grommet the right size for your probe and put it in the hole in the cap. It will keep your storage solution from evaporating and last longer.

 

[Rev2010]

If you drill a hole in the cap of your storage solution get a rubber grommet the right size for your probe and put it in the hole in the cap. It will keep your storage solution from evaporating and last longer.

I've always wondered why pH meters don't come with a probe housing that you can fill with storage solution and put the probe in. Just seems silly to leave it to people to devise their own ways, even as easy as they may be. For example, many users of the Milwaukee pH56 put some solution in the cap end, use some tape to provide a seal against evaporation, and store it upright. The Milwaukee website however says to not store the probe by using the cap filled with solution. I'm sure no one wants to remove the darn electrode each time, so why not include a special grommet sealed storage cap or something to make life easier for the customers?


Rev.

 

[Chrisl77]

Years ago I worked for a company that issued me a ph meter with a bnc probe. It came in a hard plastic case with a foam insert that had spots for the meter, all the buffers, and a bottle with a cap for probe storage. The cap had a hole in it for the probe with an oring in it. Wish I could remember what brand it was.

 

[oujens]

Years ago I worked for a company that issued me a ph meter with a bnc probe. It came in a hard plastic case with a foam insert that had spots for the meter, all the buffers, and a bottle with a cap for probe storage. The cap had a hole in it for the probe with an oring in it. Wish I could remember what brand it was.

My MW101 has a small plastic bottle that you store the probe in as you described. I couldn't imagine not having one. Seems like it should be standard, but I'm not familiar with all pH meters.

 

[jimyson]

I have the ph56 and m not happy with it. If I were to do it again, I would get one with a separate probe. I also don't like how hard it can be sometimes to calibrate on this thing. The button seems difficult to push in effectively and the method in which to get into calibration and during calibration can be cumbersome. With that said, I just bought a replacement probe for it for $35 as I don't want to spend more to replace the whole unit to something better. I can live with it as is.

 

[Kiln]

Im looking into getting the ph meter through northernbrewer after seeing the good reviews. I would like to hear from some of you guys and see if its worth the money.

Maybe anyone who wasted 100 like I did on the Milwaukee pH 56....thanks northern Brewer... Should consider all the different ways of destroying a worthless piece of junk! I see myself dropping it off a tall bridge into the river. Or perhaps shooting out a potato gun? Or running it over with an asphalt roller! I digress.

 

[Rev2010]

Maybe anyone who wasted 100 like I did on the Milwaukee pH 56....thanks northern Brewer... Should consider all the different ways of destroying a worthless piece of junk!

Get this one, I love it!

https://www.amazon.com/Apera-Instru...=1551660119&s=gateway&sprefix=Apera+ph&sr=8-3


Rev.

 

[augiedoggy]

pH meters that include a corded, BNC-connected, pH probe provide you with the most options for probe replacement. Remember, its not typically the meter that goes bad, its the probe. There are hundreds of BNC pH probe manufacturers and they all work the same. You can use brand Y's probe with your brand X meter as long as the meter has the BNC connector. Meters such as the Milwaukee MW-101 and MW-102 models do employ BNC connectors and I've found their gell-filled probes to be long lived.

Meters such as the Milwaukee pH 56 use proprietary replacement probes and they don't tend to be as well built or inexpensive as the more universal corded, BNC style probes.

I had bad luck with my 102, the probe must have been defective because I bought it new but it only worked for the first use then would not recalibrate. I replaced it with a temporary cheap probe from a diy arduino ph meter kit and its been working since but the accuracy suffers im sure. (I did use the correct storage solution it came in.)