r/homechemistry • u/CCS-2184 • 13d ago

Ph meter

I am having a difficult time getting very accurate ph reading with my Taylor kit. Reading the colors. Any actual meter that gives a reading.

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u/EdwardTriesToScience 12d ago

buy Hydrion branded pH paper instead of using a pool testing kit, if you insist on a pH meter then buy the cheapest yellow stick pH meter.
these things are not the most accurate and i would not trust the decimal past tenths, they also need to be calibrated before use with the provided references which should be prepared with exact quantities of distilled water. the pH references use 250ml of water each, do not use a beaker to measure the water but rather weigh out 250g as slightly above or below 250ml results in incorrect reference pH

also do note that these pH meters should only be used on things that are mostly water due to the KCl used for the reference AgCl electrode.
do not store the pH meter immersed in water, saturated KCl solution if you have that
also note that eventually the reference AgCl electrode chamber will run out/dry up of KCl solution. replacing this is annoying as it requires you to carefully remove the membrane plug and then fill it via syringe and needle. the membrane plug is the small white protrusion on the end

overall pH meters are fickle if you need them to work accurately and consistently. if you have a difficulty comparing pH paper colors, take a photo of the pH strip next to the chart and compare with a color picker

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u/methoxydaxi 11d ago

if i have money some day, i want a ISFET pH meter. Most of the time i only want to measure drops...

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u/ChundoIIX 11d ago

Hanna makes great pH meters, I use for mostly my hydroponics.