[denny]

Due to the generosity of my wife and BIL, I've got bucks to burn at the LHBS (well, gift certificates, anyway).  I'm totally stocked up on brewing supplies, so I think I'm gonna pick up a pH meter.  The one he sells is the Milwaukee pH51.  Anybody have any experience with this brand?  And any tips you can give me for using it?  I assume I'll want to pull a sample and cool it down as opposed to just sticking the meter in the mash?

[Kaiser]

This seems to be the Milwaukee equivalent to the Hanna pHep meters we discussed here: http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=1266.0

Kai

[denny]

Thanks, Kai.  I just noticed that thread and posted some questions there.

[toastedman]

    i just saw the milwaukee ph51 on e-bay for 49.50, the better one is the ph56 it has accuracy of + - 0.01 and auto temp for 64.95 + ship 5.99

[denny]

Thanks....I know I can get it a lot cheaper on the internet, but I've got beaucoup gift certificates for the LHBS.  I'm just gonna get what he's got.

[tfries]

Hey Denny,

I have a Milwaukee ph meter, different model number though.  You are right that you do not want to just stick the meter into the hot mash.  Pull out a sample and let it cool down.

You will also want to buy bottles of the calibration solution and storage solution.

[pjj2ba]

Also, get yourself a squirt bottle.  I finally got a home pH meter and thought for a minute that, hey I need something to rinse off the electrode.  I often use one at work and it is just second nature that the squirt bottle is always there for electrode rinsing.  I got mine conveniently on campus and filled it with RO water from the lab.  A squirt bottle (ketchup, mustard, etc. ) from a cooking/restaurant supply store would be a good substitute

[euge]

That's a good idea with the bottle. I rinse mine in the sink and use an old soft toothbrush to gently clean the electrode. I also auto-calibrate once it shows a variance of 0.10 pH in clean storage solution. Gets used all the time, so when I have to calibrate it too often then a cleaning is certainly needed.

[Kaiser]

I just fill a cup with R/O water from the tap to rinse the electrode before and after testing a sample.

Kai

[denny]

Hey Denny,

I have a Milwaukee ph meter, different model number though.  You are right that you do not want to just stick the meter into the hot mash.  Pull out a sample and let it cool down.

You will also want to buy bottles of the calibration solution and storage solution.

Thanks, Tom.  I got the calibration and storage solutions when I bought the mer from Jim.

[bluesman]

All this talk about pH meters has me adding it to my wish list. Nothing like good QA during the brewing process to assure better beer.

[euge]

I've dusted off my pH meter. Has been in storage solution for the last 7 or so months. A couple weeks ago I pulled it out to check and a bunch of slime was growing in the cap. I cleaned and tested the meter with new 7.0 solution. Read 7.4 so it got calibrated. Fine. Just checked it again and more slime. Read 7.8 but I briefly soak the cap and probe in everclear and recalibrate.

Tested it against a known solution and it is accurate.

What is this slime? I don't see anything in the bottle of storage solution which looks as clean as the day I bought it.

[jaybeerman]

Denny, I used a Milwaukee ph51 nearly every day for about 6 months, a while back.  Its build is good and it's accurate enough for most brewers.  I actually know two brewpubs that use that exact ph meter (and always Milwaukee meters).  I recently upgraded to a Milwaukee SM101 and I've been impressed with this meter as well.  Enjoy

[denny]

Jay, thanks so much for the personal data point.  I've been really happy with mine so far.  Like you say, the resolution is plenty good enough for my uses.

[euge]

What? No one have any ideas about the slime?