pH meter

[billings]

We are looking for a pH meter (portable). One that reads or calibrates at brewery sample temperatures. We will be using for water, wort and beer. Not to be used for wastewater. Any suggestions and recomendations. Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Travis Zeilstra
Montana Brewing Co.

[grassrootsvt]

check grainger.
we found a great one in their catalog for about 70$. portable. easy calibration.
http://www.grainger.com

shaun

[James Murray]

Hanna Instruments recently sent me a cataloge promoting their new digital ph checkers for use in beer, wort, water, ect. check out www.hannainst.com
They have a range of 0.00-14.00 and an accuracy of +/- .2. All you need is 2- 1.5V batteries. Handy lil' suckers to have around. Will be purchasing in the near future... keep you updated if they are worth the price

James Murray
Ballast Point Brewing Co.
San Diego, CA

[BelgianBrewer]

We have been using Hanna Instruments for as long as I can remember and I can only say positive things about them. Nice thing about the medium range handhelds is that the probe comes separately so in case it breaks you can just replace the probe. The HI991001 model (temp and pH) is a great value!

BelgianBrewer
www.sbmbrew.com

[bndooley]

does anyone use benchtop meters? I've been looking at them on ebay, and they're super cheap, but I'm afraid the probes might be expensive. How often can you use a probe before you have to reacalibrate/get a new one?

Best,
Ben
www.oldcrankybrewers.com

[Larry Horwitz]

Watch out for the cheap ones. plus or minus 0.2 isn't nearly accurate enough to be valuable. you will need at least another digit of signif. more like +/-0.02.

[Rosie]

I've been using a Hanna - red waterproof, auto temp correct handheld...mt604, I think. Liking it so far...6 months in.

One thing I find is, 'calibrate often'! I brew back to back batches and the reading on my second batch sparge water is usually way off from the first...recalibration sorts the panic.

People say the probes go quickly, so make sure you can get replacements for whichever model you get.

Cheers,

[BelgianBrewer]

I like the ones with the probe that is separate from the unit, not the testers. Probably still a lingering fear after I dropped one into the mash once.
I agree with Larry plus or minus 0.2 isn't nearly accurate enough!
I had to replace the probe after a 2 years. Make sure you keep the tip covered and wet whenever you store it.

[Sauce]

This is the one we've used for the last year and a half.

Seems like a good unit for the price, durable, replaceable electrode..ect..

Extech Exstik PH100 $90.00

http://www.tequipment.net/ExtechPH100.asp

[3DogsBarking]

Store electrodes in a buffered potassium chloride solution, pH 7.00.

Bench top meters are great, but the electrodes are pricey and only last 2 to 3 years. Calibration should be done once a week, and +/- 0.2 is more for the home gardener. I currently use a handheld hannah, but used to use a benchtop Fisher brand (actually accumet) meter. The bench top one was awesome (0.01 accuracy), but cost a whole lot and electrodes were around $90. Probes that use a temperature probe in combo are much more expensive.

For brewing, +/- 0.1 is sufficient.