Fish scale
Well-Known Member
Random question but what do you do if you don't use your Bluelab PH pen for say 6 months? Do you just add 3 to 5 drops of the kci storage solution and leave it?
BluLab pH pen won't calibrate in 4.0 solution
- Thread starter TCH
- Start date
TCH
Well-Known Member
Best bet would be to soak it in the solution for 24 hours to rehydrate. Hopefully it will calibrate afterwards.
TCH
Well-Known Member
Need a backup? I could cut you a real good deal on one. Hahaha
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
Old Bluelab pens were absolute tanks. New ones suck. I still love my treacheon though.
It's not a sealed cap if the bulb dries out my guess is it dies. But I do use Bluelab Kcl storage solution currently but I use mine at least weekly and usually more
TCH
Well-Known Member
Mine will be here Wednesday!!!
lusidghost
Well-Known Member
If you look at the thread that I'm quoting myself from here, my first post was defending them. Then not long after my 5 year old pen died. 3 pens later I was practically calling for a holy war against the company. (One pen was a gamble because I bought it off a weird site for cheap. One was from Amazon and the last was directly from Bluelab.)
DCcan
Well-Known Member
Rinse it with distilled water and store dry, remove batteries for extended time. It's fine dry.
Rehydrate it for 30 min before using.
I'm surprised by that but the meter was dry when I received it! Thanks I'm guessing you're right.
Billy the Mountain
Well-Known Member
No, the probe should be always be kept moist and stored with some KCL.
From the proverbial horse's mouth:
For long-term storage (e.g., between growing seasons), remove the cap and place the pen upright in a plastic container. Cover the probe tip with KCI storage solution to ensure constant hydration. Check the container regularly and top up the KCI solution as needed.
DCcan
Well-Known Member
They don't want people turning them on dry, so that may be what they print.
Storing it dry doesn't hurt it, turning it on dry while encrusted with dried salts is what kills it.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
I been using drops so long, I can accurately predict the PH of the test sample with colored drops, down to less than a .1, lol.
Might have to get a new pen though myself, because I need to PH the tissue culture agar/medias I'm about to start experimenting with. I'm looking into the aperas, with the "semi solid" soil probes that will probably hold up better for testing thick liquids.
Guessing the cheap $20 ones I have brand new in the box will crap out in no time, and probably won't even cal because they been sitting for like 5-10 years all dried out..
Might have to get a new pen though myself, because I need to PH the tissue culture agar/medias I'm about to start experimenting with. I'm looking into the aperas, with the "semi solid" soil probes that will probably hold up better for testing thick liquids.
Guessing the cheap $20 ones I have brand new in the box will crap out in no time, and probably won't even cal because they been sitting for like 5-10 years all dried out..
"Take 21.46 mL of 37% HCL and add slowly in water to make volume up to 500 mL. Final solution will be 0.5M HCL."Years ago I bought a Millwukee MW102 for $115 and gave $85 for an Apera PH60 last year. They work well and I would buy either again.
Both have .01 resolution and replaceable probes. OTOH, the Bluelab sells for about $85, has .1 resolution and non-replacable probe. I've seen reports of failures here as well.
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I sounds like your probe has degraded. I accidentally let my Milwaukee probe dry once and it became painfully slow. I was able to rejuvinate it with a soak in hydrochloride acid, might be worth a try. White Vinager can also help.
Some stuff from my notes....
1. Always keep probes in storage solution.
2. Never let them dry out.
3. Never store in RO or distilled water.
4. The probes are delicate, be gentle with them. After use, always rinse in distilled or RO water and keep it in storage solution.
1) 4-8 hours in HCl solution between 0.1 and 0.5 M or 0.3 - 2.1 PH. https://www.vernier.com/til/730
2) Soak in storage KCI storage solution for 30-60 minutes.
Take 21.46 mL of 37% HCL and add slowly in water to make volume up to 500 mL. Final solution will be 0.5M HCL.
.1M =1pH
.2M=.7pH
.5M=.3pH
1 M=0pH
Correct Handling and Care of pH meter
A laboratory may not be equipped with sophisticated instruments such as AAS, GC, HPLC, LC – MS or FT – IR but it simply cannot do without a pH meter as pH measurement is a basic requirement for all chemical and biochemical reactions and process control reactions in manufacturing industries.lab-training.com
The pH electrode I have been using no longer seems to work or is slow to respond. Is there anything I can do to fix it? - Technical Information Library
When testing a pH Sensor (, , ), it is best to place it into a known buffer solution. This allows you to see if...www.vernier.com
pH meter
www.ph-meter.info
I just noticed an error in the sentence above. HCL should be HCI, Hydrochloric acid. Sorry for any confusion.
Turpman
Well-Known Member
I’m waiting on a warante bluelab.
should she been here yesterday.
Looks like it was leaking water in the bottom. Started getting condensation inside then stopped calibrating.
Last one lasted 5 years. Was getting a bit slow but always within a point or 2 when calibrating. If this one doesn't last I’m dun with them. Guessing quality has went down.
should she been here yesterday.
Looks like it was leaking water in the bottom. Started getting condensation inside then stopped calibrating.
Last one lasted 5 years. Was getting a bit slow but always within a point or 2 when calibrating. If this one doesn't last I’m dun with them. Guessing quality has went down.
Drop That Sound
Well-Known Member
5 years is actually pretty good for a PH meter right? I thought they only claim to last 12-16 months or something like that, right from the manufacturers..
LeastExpectedGrower
Well-Known Member
I've had 2ish years with a Bluelab meter, but literally had an Apera pH60 and calibration kit in my Amazon cart moments ago...then decided buying one at the tail end of a grow when I won't start up again until next September is kind of stupid. My BL still works but is super slow and hasn't been giving me lots of confidence though it's holding calibration & reads it accurately. More or less it's just so low that it's gotten to be a pain in the ass.
...though getting a new meter now then having to check it every few weeks for storage fluid until September doesn't make sense...also plenty of other expenses for the holidays.
...though getting a new meter now then having to check it every few weeks for storage fluid until September doesn't make sense...also plenty of other expenses for the holidays.
I bought my Bluelab pH meter November of 2015 and it's still going strong. l've changed the battery out and I keep it in KCl solution and she's quick and accurate.
wigsplitta713
Well-Known Member
Buy a new probe