EC units & meters

[Offmymeds]

Which meter actually reads the units in mS/cm or milliSiemens per centimeter, the EC units heard most often lately? Which one is actually an EC meter, not a TDS meter? I'm readin 900 ppm which converts to anther unit with the mode switch but it obviously isn't an EC reading.

Why is EC a better measure than TDS?

Does anyone have a link to a cheap EC meter of that type?

 

[70's natureboy]

Truncheon stick makes it very simple.

 

[Offmymeds]

Truncheon stick makes it very simple.

$126?

 

[Lordhooha]

$126?

Yep well worth it

 

[rkymtnman]

HM EC-3M $19 bucks shipped.

 

[70's natureboy]

HM EC-3M $19 bucks shipped.

HM made me love my Truncheon stick even more and wish I would have bought it 20 years ago the first time it was recommended to me.

 

[Star Dog]

Which meter actually reads the units in mS/cm or milliSiemens per centimeter, the EC units heard most often lately? Which one is actually an EC meter, not a TDS meter? I'm readin 900 ppm which converts to anther unit with the mode switch but it obviously isn't an EC reading.

Why is EC a better measure than TDS?

Does anyone have a link to a cheap EC meter of that type?

Blue lab truncheons displays ec, cf and ms.
I've never tried a budget one to compare reliability it's always been NZ hydro or blue lab truncheon, expensive but worth every penny to me.

 

[rkymtnman]

HM made me love my Truncheon stick even more and wish I would have bought it 20 years ago the first time it was recommended to me.

my HM is still accurate 11 years later. glad i never wasted my $ on a truncheon.

 

[Star Dog]

Remember quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten

Quality isn't expensive it's priceless lol.

 

[jondamon]

Yep well worth it

I’ve had mine going on a decade now.

 

[70's natureboy]

my HM is still accurate 11 years later. glad i never wasted my $ on a truncheon.

Some people get lucky. I have a drawer full of them and they all screwed up a crop at some point by losing accuracy. I don't know why I keep them. I figured I would give them to somebody that has no money to get started with or something. I think I'll toss them next time I see them. The Truncheon is worlds ahead of those toys.

 

[hotrodharley]

$126?

Professional quality tools are never cheap. Cheap tools are always shit quality. Wrenches or meters it’s the same thing. Check Hanna and Milwaukee brands.

 

[hotrodharley]

https://gardenersyards.com/best-ec-meters-for-hydroponics/

Hope this helps.

 

[Wastei]

Some people get lucky. I have a drawer full of them and they all screwed up a crop at some point by losing accuracy. I don't know why I keep them. I figured I would give them to somebody that has no money to get started with or something. I think I'll toss them next time I see them. The Truncheon is worlds ahead of those toys.

I guess I'm also one of the lucky ones . I still have my old EC pen from years back. Still works but the battery compartment is a little eroded out causing bad connection.

I haven't broken any EC pens in 17 years. pH meters on the other hand... Especially being new and not understanding the importance of storage solution(KCL). Cheers!

 

[70's natureboy]

Well there ya go Offmymeds, you might get lucky too and get by with a cheap one after all. Although the Truncheion reads in all scales making things pretty simple.

 

[Offmymeds]

I bought an Apera PH60 not long ago. I was I had known they had a dual meter pH/EC for about $40 more. I'm trying to budget for a nice clone & the ppm meters do the job well enough, otherwise I prefer to go with known quality.

I appreciate everyone's help. All opinions are appreciated.

Peace pipe on that.

 

[Wastei]

I bought an Apera PH60 not long ago. I was I had known they had a dual meter pH/EC for about $40 more. I'm trying to budget for a nice clone & the ppm meters do the job well enough, otherwise I prefer to go with known quality.

I appreciate everyone's help. All opinions are appreciated.

Peace pipe on that.

You don't need any fancy meters. Get pH solutions, at least 4.0, 7.0 and storage solution. Get your methods dialed in, then you know when the meter is off because you know what to expect in terms of ranges. Cheers!

 

[rkymtnman]

Some people get lucky. I have a drawer full of them and they all screwed up a crop at some point by losing accuracy. I don't know why I keep them. I figured I would give them to somebody that has no money to get started with or something. I think I'll toss them next time I see them. The Truncheon is worlds ahead of those toys.

i guess i am. still got my same age MW pH meter. same probe too. (knocks on wood)

if i was on a budget, cheap EC and good pH (replaceable probe, 2 pt calibration, 0.01 readout) would be my advice.

 

[MustGro]

Nothing against quality instruments but I went for what was in the store when I was there. I bought a HM com-80 in 2017 and it's worked like a champ for me. I run 3 reservoirs so that's 3 checks daily plus more when I adjust. It's done thousands of checks and survived at least 3 drops on my concrete floor.

 

[Rurumo]

I've got three cheapy TDS pens, 2 are 100 ppm too high, one is deadly accurate-I also have a $29 HM pen that matches the accurate cheapy perfectly. TDS pens are low tech, it's easy to produce accurate ones at a decent price, UNLIKE PH pens. TDS pens remain accurate, typically, for much much longer than PH pens too. The other thing is, even a cheap TDS pen that is 100 points off would be fine to use-because they are consistent. Better to spend more on a quality PH pen, imo.