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Author Topic: pH meter questions  (Read 6169 times)

Offline denny

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pH meter questions
« on: February 15, 2010, 01:11:52 pm »
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?
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline Kaiser

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2010, 02:05:33 pm »
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

Offline denny

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2010, 02:09:37 pm »
Thanks, Kai.  I just noticed that thread and posted some questions there.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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Offline toastedman

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2010, 09:36:52 pm »
    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

Offline denny

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2010, 10:06:54 am »
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.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline tfries

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2010, 02:07:04 pm »
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.

Cascade Brewers Society

Offline pjj2ba

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #6 on: February 17, 2010, 10:32:34 pm »
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

Offline euge

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #7 on: February 18, 2010, 12:07:02 am »
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.

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Offline Kaiser

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2010, 07:18:53 am »
I just fill a cup with R/O water from the tap to rinse the electrode before and after testing a sample.

Kai

Offline denny

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2010, 10:08:08 am »
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.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline bluesman

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #10 on: February 18, 2010, 10:39:12 am »
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.
Ron Price

Offline euge

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #11 on: November 19, 2010, 12:10:26 am »
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.
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis

jaybeerman

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #12 on: November 19, 2010, 10:51:41 am »
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

Offline denny

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #13 on: November 19, 2010, 11:11:28 am »
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.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline euge

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Re: pH meter questions
« Reply #14 on: November 19, 2010, 11:17:56 am »
What? No one have any ideas about the slime?
The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool. -Richard P. Feynman

Laws are spider-webs, which catch the little flies, but cannot hold the big ones. -Anacharsis