pH meter recommendations, please?

[Maxkling]

Keep in mind mash pH is one of maybe 5 different times pH should be measured before the wort hits the fermenter. All those different times will have different temps. If you cool all of them to room temp you have a baseline to go off of, and you won’t ruin your probe in 6 months. pH is a great way to measure the success of the whole beer making process.

Mash pH
Sparge water pH
Final runnings pH
Kettle full pH
pH with 10 minutes left
Knockout pH

pH measurements throughout fermentation
pH before and after dry hop
Final beer pH

All these instances will give you great reference points to how successful (or not) the process has been up to that point.

I’m not going to lie, that is excessive for most people.

 

[day_trippr]

It's my understanding the temp probe, of the pH meter, is outside the sample being pH measured as the measurement is being done, at room temp, same as when calibrated. Is this correct?

On my Hanna 98128 there is a temperature probe adjacent to the pH bulb and the junction, all built into the replaceable pH sensor assembly. They all must be immersed, but in my Sam Adams sampling glasses that takes less than an ounce of fluid. I expect my Hach PP+ and my Apera pH60 have similar setups...

Cheers!

[edit] I just remembered I had posted this pic on HBT a couple of years ago. It's a Hach PP+ sensor assembly with a shattered pH bulb. The junction can be seen towards the back, and the temperature sensor to the right...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

[edit] I just remembered I had posted this pic on HBT a couple of years ago. It's a Hach PP+ sensor assembly with a shattered pH bulb. The junction can be seen towards the back, and the temperature sensor to the right...

Yes, thanks. I recall seeing the photo as I read thru all pH meter threads I could find at HBT.

 

[couchsending]

I’m not going to lie, that is excessive for most people.

Excessive for some, SOP for others...

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Keep in mind mash pH is one of maybe 5 different times pH should be measured before the wort hits the fermenter. All those different times will have different temps. If you cool all of them to room temp you have a baseline to go off of, and you won’t ruin your probe in 6 months. pH is a great way to measure the success of the whole beer making process.

Mash pH
Sparge water pH
Final runnings pH
Kettle full pH
pH with 10 minutes left
Knockout pH

pH measurements throughout fermentation
pH before and after dry hop
Final beer pH

All these instances will give you great reference points to how successful (or not) the process has been up to that point.

I'm still reading/learning about pH meters, et al.

What are the recommended ranges for each of the pH tests noted?

Or, if the numerous pH readings are a bit much, what pH readings (at what steps) are recommended (with the desired pH range)?

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

HBT MW102 coupon code is still active!

 

[rhys333]

Hello Brewers,

Are there any new pH meter recommendations for 2023?

I've been using the Thermoworks 8689 for a few years and I'm considering a change. I find the replacement probes to be hit and miss. Some are good and others somewhat unstable. Also, having probes shipped from the US to my location in Canada is horribly expensive. I'm probably better off investing in a higher priced unit as long as it has easier to obtain (and hopefully low cost) replacement probes.

I appreciate any advice you're able to provide.

 

[day_trippr]

Apera PH60 is hard to beat wrt price/performance and ease of use as it's untethered and quite light.
Plus replacement sensors are relatively inexpensive compared to some competitive meters...

Cheers!

 

[rhys333]

Apera PH60 is hard to beat wrt price/performance and ease of use as it's untethered and quite light.
Plus replacement sensors are relatively inexpensive compared to some competitive meters...

Cheers!

I see some reports that people can go weeks without needing to recalibrate the Apera PH60. That sounds good to me considering how my unit needs constant recalibration. Also claims by the manufacturer that probes last 1 to 2 years.

What are you paying for the probes?

 

[balrog]

loos like amz has replacement bulb sensors for $34
that model also has a flat sensor option rather than the bulb sensor, which do you rec and why @day_trippr ?

 

[day_trippr]

Pretty sure they both have bulbs, but one can sit flat. My ph60 came with the sensor on the right, and that type now comes with a removable perforated plastic guard over the bulb which should greatly reduce contact damage. I recommend that style sensor for that reason...

Cheers!

 

[AlexKay]

I see some reports that people can go weeks without needing to recalibrate the Apera PH60. That sounds good to me considering how my unit needs constant recalibration. Also claims by the manufacturer that probes last 1 to 2 years.

What are you paying for the probes?

I have a pH60. I'm dubious about those reports, as I think constant recalibration is the way of all pH measurements. At least if you care about your measurement accuracy to more than a few tenths of a point.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I usually do a single point test with 7.something calibration solution. If it hasn't been that long since a 3 point cal, if the 7 reading is tight I go with it...

Cheers!

 

[CaptMogul]

I tell interested visitors that of all the equipment I have the PH meter is the most expencive piece per use that I have. Throw away a $ 65 plus meter after 3-4 uses. Not worth the hassle. Take your H2o or your wort sample to a craft brewer, they would be happy to check it for you if you buy pint. Just my opinion

 

[Yesfan]

I have the Apera PH20. So far I've been happy with it.

 

[MaxStout]

I tell interested visitors that of all the equipment I have the PH meter is the most expencive piece per use that I have. Throw away a $ 65 plus meter after 3-4 uses. Not worth the hassle. Take your H2o or your wort sample to a craft brewer, they would be happy to check it for you if you buy pint. Just my opinion

So I just let the mash sit a few hours while I run down the road to my local brewery, ask the brewer to measure the wort sample, drink a pint, then drive home?

 

[Buckeye_Hydro]

https://www.buckeyehydro.com/mw102-pro-ph-temp-meter/

 

[balrog]

So I just let the mash sit a few hours while I run down the road to my local brewery, ask the brewer to measure the wort sample, drink a pint, then drive home?

Std thinking is that it's too late to measure and adjust during mash (caveat: I BIAB full volume and fine grind, YMMV), and measuring is for making adjustments next time. Which will have different lots of malt, maybe from different maltsters, so, um, yeah.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I found this pic of the new-style replacement sensor housing showing the removable "screen"...

Considering I destroyed the sensor bulb on my elder Hach Pocket Pro Plus handheld from contact with the rim of a sample glass this is definitely a good thing imo...

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

I believe for the most part a pH meter is best used to help tune recipes, not so much to "fix" a brew in progress. I use Bru'n Water with my Beersmith3 program to design a recipe, then on brew day I take measurements once recirculation has been running for 20 minutes, then at 40 and 60, and then pre-boil and post-boil. I use those measurements to adjust the recipe for the next batch if it makes sense to do so.

To be honest most of my "new" recipes at this point are derivative enough - and I use 100% RO for every batch - that first-brews are always in the ball park wrt mash pH, so at most I'm tweaking the recipes for the next batch. It's been a long time since I had to pull the 25% PA out on a brew day...

Cheers!

 

[jerrylotto]

Just ended a giveaway, Inkbird's new product - a 4 in 1 pH meter. There's a coupon for an Amazon purchase at a 20% discount and while it isn't a high-end unit like the ones discussed here it works beautifully.

 

[MackerelQ]

So, for those of you who know and own one or both of these two, which pH meter would you recommend and why over the other?

• Apera Instruments PH60
• Milwaukee Instruments MW102

 

[Yesfan]

So, for those of you who know and own one or both of these two, which pH meter would you recommend and why over the other?

• Apera Instruments PH60
• Milwaukee Instruments MW102

I have the Apera PH40 and have been happy with it. I think the only difference with the PH40 and the PH60 is the PH60 is back lit. I had a Beverage Doctor before that which is similar, maybe identical, but what I liked about the Apera was battery replacement (AA vs 4 button cells for the Beverage Doctor). Another is price. I think the Apera is much cheaper than the Milwaukee.

 

[day_trippr]

I'll third the Apera pH60. It has the best display, the cheapest replacement sensor, the easiest storage regimen of any of my meters (including a Hanna 98128 and Hach PP+), and is at least as fast as any of them on their best day with fresh sensors.

Cheers!

Nothing has changed in my opinion...

Cheers!

 

[MackerelQ]

Nothing has changed in my opinion...

Cheers!

Definitely appreciate the feedback. The more I'm reading and researching, the more I'm leaning that way.

 

[TomSellers]

As already noted by couchsending, price and availability of the probes should be a factor in the final decision as you will need to replace them on a regular basis. If your model uses a common BNC connection, then generic ones are easily available from both domestic and international online resellers.