PH meters

[Jdub710]

Would anyone recommend a ph meter/tester that they have had success with. I'm not having a good experience with the ones I have been purchasing. Thanks in advance!

 

[Maylar]

Unfortunately, as with most things you get what you pay for. I had one of those $25 "yellow" meters and I hated it. The numbers would bounce all over and it wouldn't give the same reading twice in a row. So I bit the bullet and bought a Milwaukee MW102. Very happy with that one.

 

[dmtaylor]

I love my el cheapo $20 model from Amazon. Works great every time.

 

[NeverDie]

I just now ordered the Apera PH60: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ENFOIQE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Looks like it will do the business, especially since it can be calibrated well into the acid range with a calibration point on either side of what's likely to be measured. The claimed accuracy is 0.01 pH.

 

[Maylar]

Nice. I bought this one because I hated the $25 POS that I got first -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016N2G8F4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Druman07]

I have one of those $20 cheapos from Amazon. Works good for me, accurate to .1 which does not give the best precision, but is good for my current brewing process. I do make sure I calibrate before testing, using the 4.01 and 7.0 Ph solution I purchased from my LHBS. They comes in mini packs which I open and then reseal, and very reasonable at about a $1+ each I really can't justify the expense of the more expensive meters at this time.

 

[NeverDie]

I have one of those $20 cheapos from Amazon. Works good for me, accurate to .1 which does not give the best precision, but is good for my current brewing process. I do make sure I calibrate before testing, using the 4.01 and 7.0 Ph solution I purchased from my LHBS. They comes in mini packs which I open and then reseal, and very reasonable at about a $1+ each I really can't justify the expense of the more expensive meters at this time.

As long as it gives repeatable readings, you could probably test it on a 1.68 pH calibration solution and then work out your own correction formula for readings in the 1.68 pH to 4 pH range, which is where I presume (?) most of the mead measurements will be taking place.

 

[Cato1507]

I just now ordered the Apera PH60: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ENFOIQE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Looks like it will do the business, especially since it can be calibrated well into the acid range with a calibration point on either side of what's likely to be measured. The claimed accuracy is 0.01 pH.

I have the Apera and it works great. Easy to calibrate and I like the fact that the sensor is replaceable.
You'll need some replacement solutions for calibrating and storage, as the starter that comes with it is quite small.
Worth the money to me to have a nice accurate unit.

 

[NeverDie]

I have the Apera and it works great. Easy to calibrate and I like the fact that the sensor is replaceable.
You'll need some replacement solutions for calibrating and storage, as the starter that comes with it is quite small.
Worth the money to me to have a nice accurate unit.

Glad to hear it! If all goes well, I should be receiving my unit today. I found a Costco sized amount of the 1.68 calibration solution, which doesn't appear to be included in the kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GZ6QPZ4/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
It should arrive next week, or soon thereafter.

I hope (?) that these calibration solutions have a indefinite shelf life, because if so, this 16oz bottle may last me a lifetime.

 

[Dancy]

Has anyone had experience with the Beverage Doctor pH Meter at BrewHardware?

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/phmeterbevdoc.htm#.XQgzrSvH0SM.yahoomail

It was referenced as a good buy @ $49.00 in an article I read a while ago. Automatic temperature control seems like must-have feature. I also have been using a cheapie meter I ordered from Amazon and I don’t trust it as it jumps around a lot when taking a reading. Although my brown ales have been turning out really well

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Has anyone had experience with the Beverage Doctor pH Meter at BrewHardware?

https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/phmeterbevdoc.htm#.XQgzrSvH0SM.yahoomail

It was referenced as a good buy @ $49.00 in an article I read a while ago. Automatic temperature control seems like must-have feature. I also have been using a cheapie meter I ordered from Amazon and I don’t trust it as it jumps around a lot when taking a reading. Although my brown ales have been turning out really well

Beware that automatic temperature control will not do what most believe that it does. A pH measured at 5.2 when taken at about 153 degrees F. will measure about 5.5 pH when taken at 68 degrees F.. And both will be correct pH readings, thanks to ATC.

Without ATC you either need to do a bit of temperature correctional math, or calibrate at the temperature of your sample. But after proper calibration at temperature (or after a bit of math) you will still read 5.2 pH at 153 degrees F. and 5.5 pH at 68 degrees F. And both will be correct readings thanks to your having calibrated at sampling temperature, or thanks to your doing a bit of math.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dancy]

Beware that automatic temperature control will not do what most believe that it does. A pH measured at 5.2 when taken at about 153 degrees F. will measure about 5.5 pH when taken at 68 degrees F.. And both will be correct pH readings, thanks to ATC.

Without ATC you either need to do a bit of temperature correctional math, or calibrate at the temperature of your sample. But after proper calibration at temperature (or after a bit of math) you will still read 5.2 pH at 153 degrees F. and 5.5 pH at 68 degrees F. And both will be correct readings thanks to your having calibrated at sampling temperature, or thanks to your doing a bit of math.

Hope this helps.

Thanks so much Larry - yes, this does help. I appreciate the explanation. On another note, I’m downloading your Mash Made Easy spread sheet.

 

[Silver_Is_Money]

Thanks so much Larry - yes, this does help. I appreciate the explanation. On another note, I’m downloading your Mash Made Easy spread sheet.

It presumes pH measurements at room temperature.