New pH probe--help!!
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New pH probe--help!!
One of these has just arrived.
It's come with a small bottle with crystals in and a syringe with a hypodermic needle attached. If you look closely at the photo on ebay you'll see there's a circular hole in the blue collar at the top of the probe. I've tried sticking the needle through it without success. I'm guessing the little bottle with crystals is probe storage and top up stuff and needs to have water added.
The instruction leaflet is all in Chinese, so is of no help!
Any one got any idea what I'm supposed to do, please?
Thanks.
Guy
It's come with a small bottle with crystals in and a syringe with a hypodermic needle attached. If you look closely at the photo on ebay you'll see there's a circular hole in the blue collar at the top of the probe. I've tried sticking the needle through it without success. I'm guessing the little bottle with crystals is probe storage and top up stuff and needs to have water added.
The instruction leaflet is all in Chinese, so is of no help!
Any one got any idea what I'm supposed to do, please?
Thanks.
Guy
- Eric
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
A pH probe is usually stored in a near saturated solution of potassium chloride and suggest in your case the water has evaporated to leave those crystals.
Potassium chloride solution is also that inside the probe and as you correctly assume, is topped when necessary using the syringe through that hole. The ring with the hole is rotatable and when turned will align with another for filling and taking readings. When the probe is not in use the ring should be turned to ensure no leakage. I presume you have a supply of storage solution.
Potassium chloride solution is also that inside the probe and as you correctly assume, is topped when necessary using the syringe through that hole. The ring with the hole is rotatable and when turned will align with another for filling and taking readings. When the probe is not in use the ring should be turned to ensure no leakage. I presume you have a supply of storage solution.
Without patience, life becomes difficult and the sooner it's finished, the better.
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Thanks Eric
It seemed likely the collar should move, but it wouldn't budge when I tried moving it by hand.
However, it's amazing what can be achieved with expert help, advice and a pair of long nosed pliers!
The collar now rotates freely and the probe and the little bottle it screws into are now full of storage solution. As you guessed, I have plenty!
Thanks again.
Guy
It seemed likely the collar should move, but it wouldn't budge when I tried moving it by hand.
However, it's amazing what can be achieved with expert help, advice and a pair of long nosed pliers!
The collar now rotates freely and the probe and the little bottle it screws into are now full of storage solution. As you guessed, I have plenty!
Thanks again.
Guy
- Kev888
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Thanks from me too, Eric. I have one on order from the same seller, so that is helpful. There isn't actually any problem with my original but it is so old (by what seem to be normal standards) that I can't expect it to go on forever.
Somewhat annoying if the storage solution is not/no-longer a solution though. I'm not really sure how bad that is for the probe, but presumably it cannot be ideal or there'd be no point in using the storage solution normally.
Somewhat annoying if the storage solution is not/no-longer a solution though. I'm not really sure how bad that is for the probe, but presumably it cannot be ideal or there'd be no point in using the storage solution normally.
Kev
- Eric
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Assuming both probes are similar to the one I bought some time since, the storage holder is very small and will soon dry if it not properly tightened or there is spillage. I would hope and expect after a good soak in storage solution the probe should be fine.
My replacement has lasted much longer than the original and after a good rinse in DI water needs no more than a slight touch to calibrate.
My replacement has lasted much longer than the original and after a good rinse in DI water needs no more than a slight touch to calibrate.
Without patience, life becomes difficult and the sooner it's finished, the better.
- Kev888
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Thanks again; doesn't sound too unreasonable then. Especially for less than six pounds; last I looked the official replacements were over thirty pounds, so I shall hardly quibble.
Lately I've been getting a lot of disappointment from chinese ebay sellers, but at this price differential it really has to be tried!
Lately I've been getting a lot of disappointment from chinese ebay sellers, but at this price differential it really has to be tried!
Kev
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
And it arrived in about 10 days. Amazing!
I'll have a go at calibrating it tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be as good as Eric's.
Guy
I'll have a go at calibrating it tomorrow. Hopefully it'll be as good as Eric's.
Guy
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
What a wonderful probe! Just a couple of times round the pH 4 and 7 buffers and it was calibrated and rock solid in the reading. Also takes well under a minute to stabilise the reading.
Thanks for the recommendation, Orlando. Much appreciated.
Next brew won't be for a month or so, so it'll be interesting to see how well the probe has held the calibration.
Guy
Thanks for the recommendation, Orlando. Much appreciated.
Next brew won't be for a month or so, so it'll be interesting to see how well the probe has held the calibration.
Guy
- orlando
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Funnily enough after doing so I had a brew in which my meter was not registering a stable reading so I decided to order a new on too. Like Kev says at that price it really has to be tried. It's claimed to have been dispatched but the delivery window is 9th Dec - 10th Jan. Better not be the latter.guypettigrew wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2019 3:50 pmThanks for the recommendation, Orlando. Much appreciated.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Just checked. Mine took 12 days to arrive. From China--pretty good!
Guy
Guy
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
Gentlemen could i please ask how this probe is used, I noticed that it has a BNC connection on the end where does this plug into and does it come with usage instructions please excuse my ignorance
- Kev888
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
I think most of us use them with a Voltcraft pH meter:
the probes are replaceable and connect to the meter via the BNC connector.
There may be other meters that the probes would work with, but the voltcraft is the only one I'm familiar with. Unfortunately they have 'really' shot up in price since many of us bought them so not sure how long they'll remain popular.
the probes are replaceable and connect to the meter via the BNC connector.
There may be other meters that the probes would work with, but the voltcraft is the only one I'm familiar with. Unfortunately they have 'really' shot up in price since many of us bought them so not sure how long they'll remain popular.
Kev
- Jocky
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
REALLY shot up in price.Kev888 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:50 pmI think most of us use them with a Voltcraft pH meter:
the probes are replaceable and connect to the meter via the BNC connector.
There may be other meters that the probes would work with, but the voltcraft is the only one I'm familiar with. Unfortunately they have 'really' shot up in price since many of us bought them so not sure how long they'll remain popular.
I bought mine in June 2015 for £40.80 delivered.
Now I can't find one under £90.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
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Re: New pH probe--help!!
I blame home brewers.Jocky wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 3:17 pmREALLY shot up in price.Kev888 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2019 12:50 pmI think most of us use them with a Voltcraft pH meter:
the probes are replaceable and connect to the meter via the BNC connector.
There may be other meters that the probes would work with, but the voltcraft is the only one I'm familiar with. Unfortunately they have 'really' shot up in price since many of us bought them so not sure how long they'll remain popular.
I bought mine in June 2015 for £40.80 delivered.
Now I can't find one under £90.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Re: New pH probe--help!!
£19.53 | BEVERAGE DOCTOR - PEN STYLE DIGITAL PH METER HOME BREW without battery
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/DLcSmDnZt
These seem popular if anybody is after a new meter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/DLcSmDnZt
These seem popular if anybody is after a new meter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Sabro Single Hop NEIPA 25/02/20 CLICK ME to monitor progress with Brewfather & iSpindel