I just reviewed Omega's instructions and they do not recommend using the calibration solutions, but do say to use their soaker solution as you mention.[/QUOTE Check
The key here is that someone may read that initial post and opine that calibration solutions are OK. I will continue to state that they are not, unless they are applied as a drop or two in the storage cap to keep the bulb environment humidified.
Yes, they are OK if you follow the manufacturers instructions.
So, my money was not on the manufacturer's instructions and it turned out that I was correct (because the manufacturer does not recommend storing in calibration solution).
Yes, he does. That is what he told OP to do on the phone if he didn't have any more soaker solution.
I can't find much right in statements like
"recommendations by manufacturers that have little basis"
"The primary objective of a storage solution is to keep the glass membrane hydrated."
"if a user mistakenly fills that sealed cover with distilled water that is in contact with the glass membrane, then the result can be that the electrolyte in the probe can diffuse out of the probe and into that water...lost from the probe. Repeated application of distilled water can essentially 'drain' the probe of it's ionic content"
"Unfortunately, ANY manufacturer that recommends storing their probe in pH 4 or 7 solution apparently doesn't understand the chemistry and physics involved in pH probes."
It seems you are confusing the sense bulb half cell and the reference half cell as solutions low in potassium, chloride, and silver can cause those to migrate out of the
reference half cell and water to migrate in (I've seen that happen).
At least I could decipher that something may not be right.
The only thing that is disturbing here is that they furnish a storage solution which suggests that it is superior, for whatever reason, to a buffer (unless, of course, that is what it is) and don't seem to make a replacement for this available. Nor do they explicitly state in the manual that buffer is an acceptable replacement. While they do say to use the storage solution to keep the storage bottle wet they do not explicitly warn against overfilling it
I will concur that blind application of my recommendations may not be wise when dealing with the newest junction technology. However on this forum, the vast majority of users are hobbyists that are much more likely to be employing more 'value-priced' equipment that uses tried and true junction technology.
Most are moving to the newer technologies. Those who are using older meters should follow the manufacturers instructions just as those using the newer meters should.
'budget' level sellers that have none of that and it very well could be some truly uninformed person formulating recommendations.
If some manufacturer is putting out bad advice, and by bad I mean advice that has a real detrimental effect on the performance of the equipment he is selling then the market will note that and his sales will drop. That's how capitalism works.
Obviously we address lots of questions about pH meters here. How many instances have we had where the problem turned out to be that the manufacturer advised storage in buffer or distilled water when that was not the right way to store the meter? Who knows. Maybe this Omega meter will be the first!