ATC pH Pen ... RIP?

StareCase

StareCase

Well-Known Member
Greetings RIU.

So old butterfingers showed up this morning to help we water. Butterfingers is really just me being as clumsy as fuck!! Well ... BF accidentally dropped my yellow ATC pH meter into my water pitcher that I use to mix the water and nutes. I had already added the Cal/Mag and was just going to pH down the contents of the pitcher when we had splashdown..

I fished it out as fast as I possibly could but I could hear that some Cal/Mag'd water got inside the plastic casing. I gently popped the top off and have it turned upside down right now trying to dry it out.

When it dries out, will it be useful again? Or because internal parts that shouldn't have gotten wet got wet, is this pH meter toast?
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Well don't let the probe dry out while the rest dries and it just might work again. Id say jar it in rice but the probe wouldn't like that. If the probe is replaceable then take it off and store it in KCL storage solution while the meter dries in rice.
 
StareCase

StareCase

Well-Known Member
Renfro said:
... If the probe is replaceable then take it off and store it in KCL storage solution while the meter dries in rice ...
Click to expand...
Thanks Renfro.

Yeah, I did fill the little black cap with the KCL solution so the probe will stay hydrated. It's in the VEG area now getting the little bit of the same gentle breeze that the 3 week old "veggies" are getting. I am hoping that the gentle wind will help to remove moisture. I guess we'll see in a few hours from now ...
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
Id put some tape around the cap to seal it well and put it in a container with rice. That will suck the moisture out. Like with a cell phone.
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
Renfro said:
Id put some tape around the cap to seal it well and put it in a container with rice. That will suck the moisture out. Like with a cell phone.
Click to expand...
I once had a cell phone go through the washing machine. It was in the back pocket of a pair of jeans. I didn't realize it until it fell out of the pocket in the dryer and was banging around. I pulled the battery and put it in a warm oven. When it was dry I put the battery back in and it fired right up. Took another week or so for the screen to get completely unfogged. But a warm oven probably would ruin the probe.

It's always a good idea to get a waterproof model for these kinds of instruments.
 
StareCase

StareCase

Well-Known Member
Appreciate the advice folks but even after 48 hours drying in the gentle breeze, I think this pen is knackered. I'll use about 1/2 tsp baking soda in 1/2 cup of slightly warm water which will pH at 9.0. It took a few seconds but it seemed like the readouts settled. So I calibrated the pen for 9.0 and watched the digital readout.

10 seconds later, the readings started fluctuating down to 8.7 then go up to 9.4 then back down. Whenever it hit 9.0 again, I hoped it would settle and stay there - but no, the readings kept going back up then going back down. A couple of brief periods, the readings showed 19.2 which is really quite something when you consider that the pH scale goes from 0 to 14.

There is a small memory SIM-like part behind the LCD display that must have gotten just wet enough to screw it up.

Renfro/xtsho - either of you have a recommendation for a manufacturer that makes a reliable waterproof pen?
 
Wastei

Wastei

Well-Known Member
StareCase said:
Greetings RIU.

So old butterfingers showed up this morning to help we water. Butterfingers is really just me being as clumsy as fuck!! Well ... BF accidentally dropped my yellow ATC pH meter into my water pitcher that I use to mix the water and nutes. I had already added the Cal/Mag and was just going to pH down the contents of the pitcher when we had splashdown..

I fished it out as fast as I possibly could but I could hear that some Cal/Mag'd water got inside the plastic casing. I gently popped the top off and have it turned upside down right now trying to dry it out.

When it dries out, will it be useful again? Or because internal parts that shouldn't have gotten wet got wet, is this pH meter toast?
Click to expand...
Just take it apart and dry it out, it will probably be fine. I always have an extra pen from now on at hand if it decide to die on me. Do you own a hairdryer? ;)

To answer what manufacturer you should choose. Bluelabs is the way to go!
 
Renfro

Renfro

Well-Known Member
StareCase said:
Appreciate the advice folks but even after 48 hours drying in the gentle breeze, I think this pen is knackered. I'll use about 1/2 tsp baking soda in 1/2 cup of slightly warm water which will pH at 9.0. It took a few seconds but it seemed like the readouts settled. So I calibrated the pen for 9.0 and watched the digital readout.

10 seconds later, the readings started fluctuating down to 8.7 then go up to 9.4 then back down. Whenever it hit 9.0 again, I hoped it would settle and stay there - but no, the readings kept going back up then going back down. A couple of brief periods, the readings showed 19.2 which is really quite something when you consider that the pH scale goes from 0 to 14.

There is a small memory SIM-like part behind the LCD display that must have gotten just wet enough to screw it up.

Renfro/xtsho - either of you have a recommendation for a manufacturer that makes a reliable waterproof pen?
Click to expand...
Blue Lab
 
StareCase

StareCase

Well-Known Member
Wastei said:
.. just take it apart and dry it out …
Click to expand...
Yeah … nicht to drying it out. That didn't work. Oh well … live 'n learn
Basement Dweler said:
… Just spend the 7.00 dollars for a new one just saying ! ...
Click to expand...
It might be a little more than $7 - but I hear ya. I see a new waterproof pH & TDS meter in my very near future.
Wastei said:
… To answer what manufacturer you should choose. Bluelabs is the way to go! ...
Click to expand...
My KCL storage solution is Bluelabs - so why not make it a set.

Thanks all!!
 
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