basic ph meter

[kwazulu]

can anyone recommend a basic, entry level ph meter?

thanks.

[barneey]

Orlando bought a Voltcraft meter, which I believe he is more than happy with.

For me it has to Hanna PH meter.

IMHO AVOID any cheap Chinese things from ebay.

For solutions always go for liquid over mix your own powder.

Have a look at this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65676&hilit=+hanna

&

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62498&hilit=voltcraft

[Rookie]

Any reason you couldn't just use ph test strips?
I switched to star san early this year and it's my understanding that it can be reused as long as the ph is below 3 and this is the only use I'd have for them so I'm cheap enough not to want to spend a bunch on a meter.

[kwazulu]

I want to start checking my mash ph and need something a little more accurate than the strips. I'm also on a budget so looking for something between the strips and something like the voltcraft. I may have to just bite the bullet and risk buying a cheap one.

[Eric]

Any reason you couldn't just use ph test strips?
I switched to star san early this year and it's my understanding that it can be reused as long as the ph is below 3 and this is the only use I'd have for them so I'm cheap enough not to want to spend a bunch on a meter.

pH strips should be fine for water, the problems encounted are due to some stips being on papers that absorb colours from the liquid on test to give false readings.

[Dave S]

Orlando bought a Voltcraft meter, which I believe he is more than happy with.

For me it has to Hanna PH meter.

IMHO AVOID any cheap Chinese things from ebay.

For solutions always go for liquid over mix your own powder.

Have a look at this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65676&hilit=+hanna

&

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62498&hilit=voltcraft

Yeah, I got the Voltcraft too and it's fine. The readings were dancing about a bit on the last brew so I bought a new probe. It's reckoned that you should replace it once a year and mine was about 18 months old, so, high time

[Blackaddler]

can anyone recommend a basic, entry level ph meter?

thanks.

Rapidonline have the Voltcraft PHT-02 for £24.83 + £3.99 delivery + VAT, [total £34.58] at the moment. Bargain!

[barneey]

can anyone recommend a basic, entry level ph meter?

thanks.

Rapidonline have the Voltcraft PHT-02 for £24.83 + £3.99 delivery + VAT, [total £34.58] at the moment. Bargain!

Seems like a good deal to me

Yeah, I got the Voltcraft too and it's fine. The readings were dancing about a bit on the last brew so I bought a new probe. It's reckoned that you should replace it once a year and mine was about 18 months old, so, high time

Dave how much was the replacement probe?

[Dave S]

Yeah, I got the Voltcraft too and it's fine. The readings were dancing about a bit on the last brew so I bought a new probe. It's reckoned that you should replace it once a year and mine was about 18 months old, so, high time

Dave how much was the replacement probe?

£20 + del Clive. Worked out at about £26. That was from Conrad Electronics. I s'pose 50p a week isn't too bad for an on-going overhead, but when added to everything else.....

The PH02 does sound like a good deal. Doesn't say if the probe is replaceable though.

[barneey]

Mmmm its one of those should I just buy a new machine every time or replace the probe?

[Dave S]

Mmmm its one of those should I just buy a new machine every time or replace the probe?

Full ash trays and new cars springs to mind.

[Harry Home Brew]

Hi there
In regards to buying a cheap ph meter can I suggest that you keep on managing with your ph strips for now and save up for a quality ph meter where spare parts are available and also temperature correction system. Yes they maybe expensive but if you are striving in getting the best of your mash and balance for your beer its well worth saving up for.
I have been to so many brewery's now where a lot of them don't worry that much about ph or so called water treatments. It can often be the way sometimes that some of these micro brewery's just mess about with there recipe until they find what they like.

Myself and my biz partner brew on a 100 ltr system and we do the whole lot from ph,water treatments, ppm and we keep our own fresh yeast and acid wash it. Unlike the micro brewery's or commercial brewers we are able to spend more time on the whole process as it's a labour of love as well as a hobby.

I can recommend just sticking to a base recipe that you like and had success with before and then try different methods to lower your ph and see what works best for you.

[Dave S]

I disagree about using pH paper strips, I find them most unreliable and can be difficult to interpret. I think even a cheap pH meter is a better alternative. The Voltcraft is priced mid range at around £40 and is very reliable as long as the electrode is maintained in good order.

[FUBAR]

Just ordered the voltcraft PH meter after my £18 Chinese ebay one went haywire on yesterdays brewday.