PH meter recommendations

[RichC]

Hi, my old tecpel ph703 died from bad storage and allowing the bulb to dry out. I'm considering a new one. Has anyone got any recommendations?

[mcgrath]

I have this one. I like it. It's well sealed and easily cleaned. Display is easy to read at top and I just use water to keep probe wet. No problem so far after a year. Checked it against an expensive one at a brewery. It was out by 0.2ph for each reading. I've never calibrated it so I just factor the .2 in to my readings.
Gives pretty accurate temp reading too.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=331154856428&alt=web

[Hop Bomb]

Im using this one. http://www.dx.com/p/0-6-lcd-ph-test-pen-set-3-ag13-42734#.VJIdXGSsWlw   Buy the calibration solutions though. Not worth a shite otherwise.

[Qs]

I also have that yellow one. Seems to work fine and its reasonably cheap.

[Dr Jacoby]

Braukaiser has a good buyers guide on his site: http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php?title=PH_Meter_Buying_Guide

If you want a good pH meter you won't go too far wrong with something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-MW102-PH-Temperature-Meter/dp/B001DTNDME

[RichC]

Thanks guys, McGraths one looks like a decent compromise between quality and cost. I assume the probe isn't replaceable on that one?
The Milwaukee would be nice but a but too expensive.

[biertourist]

I've got the Milwaukee MW102.  I like that the probe is replaceable (including with a higher-end and even more accurate probe) and that the temp probe is separate, but my best recommendation with a pH probe is know what you're getting yourself into. 

They DO require quite a bit of maintenance and lots of extra costs including storage solution and multiple pH buffer solutions (with the accurate pH probes, anyway) and all of those solutions go bad after 1-2 years.  You'll need cleaning solution, too.

The meters are NOT fast to calibrate or stabilize; not even in the $100 range AND you really should calibrate them right before you use them EVERY TIME you use them. (A pain.)

A replacement probe will cost almost as much as the whole meter, too... ($70 for a $100 meter...)




I'm not saying don't get one; they're important tools and WAY more accurate than strips, but know what you're getting into.  It's a bit like getting a white elephant with all the recurring costs and maintenance requirements.

Adam
-I keep hoping that someone will come out with one that has the accuracy of the Milwaukee MW102, that's 4x faster for the same price.  That would make a pH meter purchase a no-brainer, in my book.  The speed is just awful and it gets slower as the pH gets further and further from 7.

[biertourist]

Some sort of hardware attachment that enables you to connect a pH probe to a Raspberry Pi would be a GREAT solution, IMHO.

I'd hope that way more processing power could make these things work faster but honestly how these things work is way over my head. (AJDelange has an incredibly detailed post on how they working including essentially the algorithm on HomeBrewTalk but it's WAY too much detail for something that I'd never ever actually use.)

[beerfly]

I have the same as hop bombs link. Fine for a rough reading but I'm not sure I trust it accuracy as it wavers a bit. fine if you can allow for a .1 to .3 variance. After seeing it in action Dr jacoby's is more accurate (Amazon link). Depends if you need a quick reading or a more accurate reading

[Dr Jacoby]

If any of you decide to get a pH meter with a probe that needs to be stored in liquid, here's a handy place for supplies. And before anyone asks, I didn't stumble on this page while looking for something else 

[mcgrath]

Thanks guys, McGraths one looks like a decent compromise between quality and cost. I assume the probe isn't replaceable on that one?
The Milwaukee would be nice but a but too expensive.

You can replace the probe, but I don't know who supplies them. The thermometer is only good to 50 degC. I take a small mash sample out let it cool and measure. This one gives ph readouts pretty instantly.

[brenmurph]

Even the 11.99usd ones r gud if u cslibrate dem and dont ruin by droppin into ur kettle. My one is a luvly waterproof one and never loses calibration but has an easy calibrstion system. I hav and ye all need a buffer solution to regularly check. Amazon sells my one its 41 euros inc free shiping to ireland   http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005LDT5NE/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1419008808&sr=1-2&m=A3BA5S8PPV9U9G&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

[brenmurph]

Full specs on dis and all other meters on az instruments taiwan worth a look some lovely techy  gear there