Yep, similar experiences. I haven’t been measuring my ph as of late, but this thread has a ph meter on my Amazon wish list and I’ll probably pull the trigger on one of the meters before my next brew day (after my upcoming fishing trip).
Maybe that’s my problem. I have that one and it’s all over the map. I assumed it was me and stopped measuring PH. As far as I can tell my beer hasn’t suffered. I just use Brunwater to predict the salts and Lactic acid additions and then assume all is well in the mash.
I can definitely recommend AGAINST the Hannah brand meters. Mine worked well. However, I got serious sticker shock when I went to replace the sensing element.
Hannah wants $50 for a replacement element. In itself, that’s probably doable. But then they want to ship the element via FedEx! So the shipping is nearly half the cost of the new element! Now the replacement element is about $75! No thanks!
That’s an odd anti-endorsement!? I’ve learned that quality and reliability often come with a cost. Having an instrument that’s accurate and durable is worthwhile.
I’ve owned Hanna and Milwaukee instruments and have found many to be quality instruments. But that ‘get what you pay for’ adage holds true. If you buy something cheap, it’s more likely that you’ll be disappointed. Buy once, cry once.
One important factoid for pH equipment is that the probes are ‘consumable’. They do have to be occasionally replaced. Fifty bucks for a replacement probe is pretty good, especially if it’s an industry-standard probe that fits hundreds of meters.
Buy nice, or buy twice.
I could not agree with you more. I also think $50 for a replacement probe is doable. My disappointment was with shipping. The probe can’t weigh more than a couple ounces with packaging. It could easily be mailed using USPS for a fraction of the cost to ship FedEx. Instead, Hanna has chosen to use a more expensive carrier.
sorry major, super old bump but im looking at this one you bought since its also on sale right now.
i should buy this and then a 7pH and 4pH calibration solution?
FWIW, I had a hand held Hanna pH meter and it worked pretty well as long as you kept the probe wet.
I picked up a Milwaukee SM-102 pH meter from a local homebrewer that was getting out of the hobby an now use that. It is not a hand held meter per se but I am very happy with it. Unfortunately, they don’t make that model anymore but I can still get probes for it. It appears they have replaced it with the MW-102 which is available for a little over $100 on Amazon.
thank you, i saw a hanna on amazon(.ca) for a good price and then after i closed the tab i saw someone recommending it here, maybe it was you. not looking for hyper accurate, i just want to start getting some gauges on my pH