pH meters (Hanna HI-981031vs Extech PH110)

[timtoos]

Hi all,

I currently use the Extech PH110 meter. Its has replacement electrodes and is also refillable so should be decent enough.

I dont know how good this meter should be, it seems ok. However Im not a lab guy.

Having just seen the Hanna HI-981031 for beer. It looks great. I sort of want to try one out. Is there any benefit in changing? The Hanna model looks like it can be used in high temperatures, not sure of its accuracy though when doing this.

They are both quite expensive meters so would have thought both would do the job.

Whats your thoughts or opinions. I dont seem to come across many folk using the Extech PH110 meter even though BUK sell them. I got mine from Amazon and the reviews are quite thin on the ground.

Thanks all

 

[Metric Tun]

I've had this model for a couple of years and have been very happy with it. It's only really designed for temps between 0c and 50c so I have to take a sample from the mash (etc.) and cool it, but that doesn't really bother me as it's generally just a check to reassure me that I've got my water chemistry right. Basically the brewing model is quite a bit more expensive because it'll work up to 80c, so you can plunge it straight into the mash.

The general rule for pH meters, regardless of model, is that they're only really worth using if you calibrate them every time you use them. Hanna instruments are precise because they use two-point calibration (7.01 and 4.01), but it means that in the long run you can end up spending more on the calibration sachets than on the instrument itself.

But I've been warned by several chemists that cheap pH meters aren't worth it - they'll give you a number, sure, but if you're trying to nail a mash pH within about a 0.4 range then they're not nearly accurate enough.

 

[timtoos]

I think I will stick with the Extech then. As you say I calibrate it before each use and use the 2 step calibration. I do not think the Hanna will give me anything more - apart from the temperature limit that it, but again this isn't of concern since I like the samples to be at 20C.