How do I test if my ph meter is working right?

I have a new hanna ph meter. But its reading way different from my other hanna. Do you guys know a way I can test which one is accurate without the calibration solutions?

You don't even need calibration solution. Just get a gallon of distilled water and test it. Distilled water is 7.0. Calibrate to 7.0 with that. You can also use it for the storage solution.

ok Ill run to the store, so just any distilled water will always have a ph of 7. Thats great to know. Thanks man. Nice bird in your pic. Is it yours? Emu? ostrich?

i thouoght distilled killed ph meters.. or is that something else?

Illegal Smile said:

You don't even need calibration solution. Just get a gallon of distilled water and test it. Distilled water is 7.0. Calibrate to 7.0 with that. You can also use it for the storage solution.

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Do you mean the liquid that is supplied to put in the cap to soak the end with ? distilled water is ok for this ?

I know rainwater is ph 7 , you can use it to calibrate ,
Mine self calibrates to 4-7 or 10 which i like....

LIVE2GRO said:

i thouoght distilled killed ph meters.. or is that something else?

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I think that's alcohol that damages them...

Just buy some ph calibration solution brother. 250ml for $15 very cheap.

LIVE2GRO said:

i thouoght distilled killed ph meters.. or is that something else?

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oh fuck you might be right!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101026000758AAdw6IP

I've been using distilled water to calibrate the same Hannah meter for three years. Distilled water has a pH of 7.0. You don't need the other solution. For what we are doing, .1 is plenty of precision, we don't need 7.01 solution. And we don't need 4.0 calibration at all.

I think it is alcohol that's a nono.

illegal smile said:

you don't even need calibration solution. Just get a gallon of distilled water and test it. Distilled water is 7.0. Calibrate to 7.0 with that. You can also use it for the storage solution.

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spot on tyke

Illegal Smile said:

I've been using distilled water to calibrate the same Hannah meter for three years. Distilled water has a pH of 7.0. You don't need the other solution. For what we are doing, .1 is plenty of precision, we don't need 7.01 solution. And we don't need 4.0 calibration at all.

I think it is alcohol that's a nono.

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distilled water doesnt hold steady to 7ph......when exposed to air it changes down to as much as 5ph............

As long as you keep your meter wet from time to time ....it shouldnt lose calibration anyway unless your throwing it around

and distilled water works perfectly like he said i also asked this same question quite a few years ago .....

** to make myself cleaer ......opening a bottle of "fresh" distilled water and testing its PH it will be 7 ... if exposed to air like he said of course its going to drop

It's easier to buy smack in my home town than it is to buy distilled water lol

Bigby said:

It's easier to buy smack in my home town than it is to buy distilled water lol

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That's hardcore dude,your in the wrong business,you should just get a truckload of water and sell that..lol

LIVE2GRO said:

i thouoght distilled killed ph meters.. or is that something else?

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yes distilled water is bad for pH meters. pH meters have an ion exhchange membrane in them with Ions in solution.
get some ph Drops or ph Paper from the pet store\pool shop to use as backup confirmation.

Order in some calibration fluid.

There is no point in using a ph Meter if you can't calibrate it. might as well as taste the water

i thought that the distilled water was needed to make the calibration fluid? so if distilled water is bad for the pen, how would one test the precision of my pen without distilled water?

Evian water is ph 8

xX1cEpikKXx said:

i thought that the distilled water was needed to make the calibration fluid? so if distilled water is bad for the pen, how would one test the precision of my pen without distilled water?

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the powder that you add to the distilled water to make the ph 4.0 or 7.0 etc...has enough salts to make it not distilled water anymore once mixed.