decent ph/ppm meters?

endofwed

endofwed

Active Member
I'm having a lot of trouble finding a decent ph/ppm meter within my budget range. Everything I find thats below the ~35 dollar price range has horrible reviews off amazon. Is it just that people are not calibrating their meters?

If so, is it safe to buy these meters that are found all over ebay and calibrate it myself?


Same with this ppm meter?
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Thank you!
 
iz4nidomp4in

iz4nidomp4in

Active Member
Here is the one I use and I have no problems, very reliable and fairly cheep... Give it a shot... :leaf: $15.10 Ebay!!!

[FONT=华文琥珀]Click The Small Picture To Enlarge It[/FONT]​
Description:
[FONT=&quot] Total Dissolved solids (TDS) are the total amount of mobile charged ions,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Including salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water. TDS, which is based on conductivity, is expressed in parts per million (PPM) or milligrams per liter (mg/L). TDS includes any inorganic element present other than the pure water molecule (H2O) and suspended solids. TDS affects drinking water quality consumption. For drinking, the lower TDS level of the water, the better for your health.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] The U.S.EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels of TDS for human consumption is 500 ppm.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] Features:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Voltage: CR2032 Battery, DC3V[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Show temperature 0-99[/FONT][FONT=&quot]℃[/FONT][FONT=&quot] at accuracy +/- 3[/FONT][FONT=&quot]℃[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Shut off automatically after 30 seconds[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] TDS data accuracy: +/- 2%[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Press on/off button 3 seconds for manual off[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 1000 hours for continuous testing[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Hole the TDS data to zero for each test[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] TDS data range: 0-9999 ppm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Factory calibrated[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Auto temperature compensation from 5-50[/FONT][FONT=&quot]℃[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Color: Grey or Blue[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 3 years warranty[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] TDS Reference[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 0-60 ppm: Pure Drinking Water[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 60-200 ppm: Tap Water[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 200-360 ppm: Washing Water[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] >360ppm: Polluted Water[/FONT]
 
endofwed

endofwed

Active Member
I'm a bit confused. Are TDS and PPM meters the same thing. In addition, in the description for the TDS meter you posted, it says it is 'factory calibrated'. Does this mean I do not have to buy buffer solution like for pH meters?
 
iz4nidomp4in

iz4nidomp4in

Active Member
Correct, but it is always nice to have a buffer solution if it happens to de-calibrate...

And yes I believe TDS and PPM Meters are the same... Please Read Below...

TDS meters do not typically provide a result in unambiguous conductivity units. They internally convert their conductivity measurement into a different unit: parts per million or ppm. Parts per million is the same as mg/kg. So these devices are somehow converting the conductivity unit into a weight based unit. The problem is that different users and different devices can define that conversion differently.
 
Serapis

Serapis

Well-Known Member
PPM and PH are not the same thing. PH is a measure of alkalinity or acidity. PPM is a measure of TDS, which is Total Disolved Solids in liquids.

I too was wondering if there was a combo meter that did both. I found one, but it was like $150 and marketed to water RO specialists and dealers.
 
iz4nidomp4in

iz4nidomp4in

Active Member
Correct, I wasn't stating that PPM and PH are the same... I stated PPM and TDS are the the same, The meaning of all this would be that your TDS meter is reading (in this example) 200 Parts Per Million of Total Dissolved Solids. The two terms are not interchangeable.
 
W

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
With these things you sorta get what you pay for.

We have a combo pH/EC meter at work. It cost ~$750. I can have the old one, but it would cost $350 to get it rebuilt. MyronL is the manufacturer. Needless to say, it's still there.

$150 for a decent unit isn't so far out of line.

Wet
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Endo, this is your lucky day !

I bought those same two meters when I started indoor growing 2 years ago.
That PH meter works good, but is not warranted past 6 months b/c they were built to be temporary.
That came from the manufacturer (Hannah was mine) after my calibrating dial wouldn't turn for me to adjust down anymore.
They said I have to buy a new one, or open it and fix it that way which also voids a warranty, and I could buy a new or better and longer lasting model.
So I bought a new and better model !
My PH meter is a PH/Temp combo by Milwaukee and cost $82 at Wormsway.com or go to their store if you have one near by.
Milwaukee is one of THE most respected manufactures in the game.

I have that EXACT same ppm meter too, just a different color.
No probs with that one and had it since the beginning.

Here's a pic of my PH/Temp combo meter. This thing is NICE and can buy replaceable probes if need be.
 
DaFunkLord

DaFunkLord

Member
Flo Grow said:
Endo, this is your lucky day !

I bought those same two meters when I started indoor growing 2 years ago.
That PH meter works good, but is not warranted past 6 months b/c they were built to be temporary.
That came from the manufacturer (Hannah was mine) after my calibrating dial wouldn't turn for me to adjust down anymore.
They said I have to buy a new one, or open it and fix it that way which also voids a warranty, and I could buy a new or better and longer lasting model.
So I bought a new and better model !
My PH meter is a PH/Temp combo by Milwaukee and cost $82 at Wormsway.com or go to their store if you have one near by.
Milwaukee is one of THE most respected manufactures in the game.

I have that EXACT same ppm meter too, just a different color.
No probs with that one and had it since the beginning.

Here's a pic of my PH/Temp combo meter. This thing is NICE and can buy replaceable probes if need be.
Click to expand...
I got this same meter on ebay for $52 w shipping included last week!!! Shop around. Some stores are out to get ya!!!
 
Wudaheo

Wudaheo

Active Member
Stick with Milwaukee or Hanna brand. That ebay seller is legit they are authorized vendor for all their stuff so you get FULL WARRANTY! I bought a hanna growcheck all in one meter from them along time ago.
 
W

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
The best prices and selection I have seen come from eseasonsgear, both online and on ebay.

They carry most, if not all, brands and models. From $20 pens on up to big $$$$ meters.

Wet
 
endofwed

endofwed

Active Member
Thanks for the all the help. I decided not to cheap out on a meter and throw a bill down to purchase a quality ph/ppm combo meter. (most likely hanna)
 
Lightguy420

Lightguy420

Well-Known Member
Just picked up the HM TDS-3 on ebay for $22.50 with free shipping... works great. has temp feature to, but is in C not F however they did inlcude the ctemp conversion chart... and i have that same PH meter from ebay and have had no problems........yet. lol
 
polishfalcon420

polishfalcon420

Well-Known Member
got the milwaukee ph55 wouldnt calibrate after 2months, sent it back to milwaukee they fixed under waranty still working over a yr later. bought the bluelab truncheon ppm meter and still going strong for almost two yrs worth every penny.
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
polishfalcon420 said:
got the milwaukee ph55 wouldnt calibrate after 2months, sent it back to milwaukee they fixed under waranty still working over a yr later. bought the bluelab truncheon ppm meter and still going strong for almost two yrs worth every penny.
Click to expand...
I'm a lil jealous, PF420 !
I've been eyeballin them truncheon's for quite awhile now.
I need to upgrade my ppm meter, no doubt.
 
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