I need help with Digital TDS setup

xbravoz

xbravoz

Well-Known Member
I'm confused....here are the directions for initial calibration....
Select a standard(between 200ppm and 1990 ppm) close to test solution value. Switch on the tester and dip sensor into into standard solution. Once reading stabilizes, press up or down button to adjust displayed value according to the standard solution value.


1:Select a standard(between 200ppm and 1990 ppm) close to test solution.
....is this my water???
2:Switch on the tester and dip sensor into into standard solution. Once reading stabilizes, press up or down button to adjust displayed value according to the standard solution value.
Lets just say that my tap water is 200ppm......when they say to press up or down button to adjust displayed value according to the standard solution value....do they intend for me to bring the digital readout to zero....I'm so lost
 
R

roadguy

Active Member
I think the standard they are talking about is the actual ppm of the test solution. What is the brand of tester you are using.
 
Earl

Earl

Well-Known Member

You need "Calibration Fluid".

you might get it on ebay
or at your hydro store.

It is best to have calibration solution from your meter mfg.

There are several calibration standards.

So it is important to have the calibration standard
that is in your meters range of operation.

Online aquarium dealers are a good source.

Oakton Tech Tip #8 ©1997
When using a meter to measure either the ppm or total dissolved solids (TDS), or the conductivity of
a liquid, you need to periodically calibrate the meter using a calibration standard solution. There are
special considerations to be given to each type of calibration:
• Conductivity calibrations are transferrable from one type of solution to another.
• ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) calibrations are very specific to one type of dissolved solids
solution. These calibrations MUST NOTbe transferred from one type of dissolved solids solution to
the next. Doing this will result in serious measurement errors.
Although the basis for testing ppm of TDS is the conductivity of the solutions, don’t assume that
these measurements have the same transferability to different types of solutions. It is always
necessary to calibrate all total dissolved solids meters with a parts per million TDS
standard calibration solution that contains the same types of salts or mixture of
salts as the solution to be tested.Failure to do this will result in serious errors in the
measurement of total dissolved solids. This is because total dissolved solids meters are calibrated by
correlating the conductivity of the solution to the ppm dissolved solids, and this correlation varies
considerably from one type of dissolved solids to the next.
In the table Figure 1, there are a number of standard curves which correlate the parts per million of
total dissolved solids to the conductivity of these solutions. Note that there is a great deal of variation
in the slopes of these curves. According to Figure 1, if a meter detects a conductivity of 6000
micromhos and is calibrated to read out 1030 parts per million of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as
shown in the curve, the meter would not be able to accurately detect parts per million contents of
sodium chloride (NaCl) in solution. The correct ppm NaCl indication for the detected conductivity of
6000 micromhos would be 3200 ppm, as shown in Fig. 1, but the meter would only indicate 1030
ppm, which is clearly unacceptable. This shows that it is incorrect to use a meter that has been
calibrated for ppm NaOH indications for a ppm NaCl indication.
A similar conclusion can be made for all types of dissolved solids. Most pre-formulated parts per
million total dissolved solids standard calibrated solutions are formulated with either sodium chloride
(NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl) or the 442 (40% sodium sulfate, 40% sodium bicarbonate and 20%
sodium chloride) natural water formulation.
In some cases, a KCl solution is made to a specific conductivity value, and then the ppm values for
NaCl, KCl and/or a 442 formulation are referenced on the bottle giving the user the option to
calibrate to any one of these. A conductivity value is also usually given.



.
 
xbravoz

xbravoz

Well-Known Member
Earl said:

You need "Calibration Fluid".

you might get it on ebay
or at your hydro store.

It is best to have calibration solution from your meter mfg.

There are several calibration standards.

So it is important to have the calibration standard
that is in your meters range of operation.

Online aquarium dealers are a good source.

Oakton Tech Tip #8 ©1997
When using a meter to measure either the ppm or total dissolved solids (TDS), or the conductivity of
a liquid, you need to periodically calibrate the meter using a calibration standard solution. There are
special considerations to be given to each type of calibration:
• Conductivity calibrations are transferrable from one type of solution to another.
• ppm total dissolved solids (TDS) calibrations are very specific to one type of dissolved solids
solution. These calibrations MUST NOTbe transferred from one type of dissolved solids solution to
the next. Doing this will result in serious measurement errors.
Although the basis for testing ppm of TDS is the conductivity of the solutions, don’t assume that
these measurements have the same transferability to different types of solutions. It is always
necessary to calibrate all total dissolved solids meters with a parts per million TDS
standard calibration solution that contains the same types of salts or mixture of
salts as the solution to be tested.Failure to do this will result in serious errors in the
measurement of total dissolved solids. This is because total dissolved solids meters are calibrated by
correlating the conductivity of the solution to the ppm dissolved solids, and this correlation varies
considerably from one type of dissolved solids to the next.
In the table Figure 1, there are a number of standard curves which correlate the parts per million of
total dissolved solids to the conductivity of these solutions. Note that there is a great deal of variation
in the slopes of these curves. According to Figure 1, if a meter detects a conductivity of 6000
micromhos and is calibrated to read out 1030 parts per million of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as
shown in the curve, the meter would not be able to accurately detect parts per million contents of
sodium chloride (NaCl) in solution. The correct ppm NaCl indication for the detected conductivity of
6000 micromhos would be 3200 ppm, as shown in Fig. 1, but the meter would only indicate 1030
ppm, which is clearly unacceptable. This shows that it is incorrect to use a meter that has been
calibrated for ppm NaOH indications for a ppm NaCl indication.
A similar conclusion can be made for all types of dissolved solids. Most pre-formulated parts per
million total dissolved solids standard calibrated solutions are formulated with either sodium chloride
(NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl) or the 442 (40% sodium sulfate, 40% sodium bicarbonate and 20%
sodium chloride) natural water formulation.
In some cases, a KCl solution is made to a specific conductivity value, and then the ppm values for
NaCl, KCl and/or a 442 formulation are referenced on the bottle giving the user the option to
calibrate to any one of these. A conductivity value is also usually given.



.
Click to expand...
Ummmm...Uhhhhh...I have a headche....can anyone break that down to laymens terms....what I got from that was....unless I calibrate my TDS meter specifically for the nutes I'm using I'm wasting my time using the meter at all...unless i'm an idiot and totaly missed the point
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
wow you got a pretty complcated tds meter lol. Uusally you just dip the end in the water and get a reading or lights in a sector. They should come preset and calibrated but if not you buy the calibration solution and it will say its whatever ppm like 200.You then dip the tip in the solution and see what it says if the metter say 400 you use the down calibration til it says 200 as the solution maker has indicated and then its set.Ebay has simpler one for under $28
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
each meter maker has a prefered solution the nute maker has nothing to do with the tds maker they deal with what your ppm will be when feeding
 
xbravoz

xbravoz

Well-Known Member
FilthyFletch said:
wow you got a pretty complcated tds meter lol. Uusally you just dip the end in the water and get a reading or lights in a sector. They should come preset and calibrated but if not you buy the calibration solution and it will say its whatever ppm like 200.You then dip the tip in the solution and see what it says if the metter say 400 you use the down calibration til it says 200 as the solution maker has indicated and then its set.Ebay has simpler one for under $28
Click to expand...
Yeah...thats more like it...language I can understand....I bought my meter today for $79...when I buy cheap shiot I always regret it later....but who knows...maybe I paid an extra $51 for the pretty package:roll:
 
xbravoz

xbravoz

Well-Known Member
FilthyFletch said:
you can get hanna digital pens for under $35 new on ebay with warranty and comes with solutions
Click to expand...
Yeah..but do they come with the overly technical explanation that requires a PHD to understand...which in turn makes you feel like an idiot...See my $79 dollar gauge has multi uses
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
I bought a trucheon meter on ebay for $28 it shows ec,tds,ppm and cl values so I can tell if my plants so much as fart lol
 
FilthyFletch

FilthyFletch

Mr I Can Do That For Half
wow anything above 200 is really hard water you need a water softner and filtration system at your place lol
 
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