pH MetersCalibration: A pH meter typically has 1, 2 and/or 3 calibration points and the most common calibration buffers are 4, 7 and 10.
ORP Meters Calibration: Most ORP meters are pre-calibrated in the factory and do not need to be calibrated throughout use. If verification of accuracy is needed there are “validation solutions” which show if a meter is reading correctly. Storage and Maintenance: ORP meters require the same storage and maintenance as most pH meters. They should be stored wet, in a storage or buffer solution, not in deionized/distilled water. If left dry, the probe can be reconditioned by soaking in a storage solution for about an hour. Electrode cleaning solutions should be used every once and a while to keep the probe clean and working correctly.
Conductivity, TDS and Salinity Meters Calibration: Conductivity, TDS and salinity meters usually have 1 to 3 calibration points. If you have a combination conductivity/TDS/salinity meter, it should only need to be calibrated for conductivity and the meter will convert the calibration according to the ratio for TDS and salinity. If using a single parameter meter (TDS or salinity), the calibration solution will usually show the ppm value for KCl, NaCl, or 442. 442 is a formulation that represents an average μS to ppm relationship for natural fresh water. When calibrating for TDS or salinity, you should choose the value of the formulation/compound you are measuring for (KCl, NaCl, or 442). For conductivity calibration, you can just use the μS value. Calibration solutions typically come in: 10 μS (4.7 ppm KCl; 4.8 ppm NaCl; 7.0 ppm 442) 84 μS (40.38 ppm KCl; 38.04 ppm NaCl; 50.50 ppm 442) 447 μS (225.6 ppm KCl; 215.5 ppm NaCl; 300.0 ppm 442) 1413 μS (744.7 ppm KCl; 702.1 ppm NaCl; 1000 ppm 442) 2764 μS (1382 ppm KCl; 1414.8 ppm NaCl; 7608 ppm 442) 12,880 μS (7447 ppm KCl; 7230 ppm NaCl; 11,367 ppm 442) 15,000 μS (8759 ppm KCl; 8532 ppm NaCl; 13,455 ppm 442) Conversions: 1000 μS = 1 mS 1000 ppm = 1 ppt 1 mg/L = 1 ppm 1 g/L = 1000 mg/L Storage: These probes can usually be stored dry.Maintenance: Conductivity probes can get dirty over time which interferes with the flow of electricity and can skew your measurements. Soaking/rinsing them in an alcohol solution will help clean any oils and organics off of the electrodes.
Dissolved Oxygen MetersCalibration: The only solution typically used for calibrating a dissolved oxygen (DO) meter is a "zero-oxygen" solution. This is usually used only if the samples being measured have very low oxygen concentrations. Most meters will allow you to calibrate the meter in air or against a wet sponge, which gives a "saturated air" calibration. If looking for very accurate results or if working in a small range of levels, certain meters will allow you to calibrate to known DO values, which are acquired through the "Winkler Method", a manual titration test for dissolved oxygen.Storage: Dissolved oxygen meters that use membranes should be stored wet to prevent the electrolyte solution and membrane from drying out. This can be done by submerging the probe in tap water or placing it against a moistened sponge, which many meters include for storage. If the probe dries out, the electrolyte solution and membrane may have to be changed. Optical DO meters do not contain electrolyte solution or membranes, so they can be stored dry.Maintenance: Dissolved oxygen probes with membranes should have their membrane and electrolyte solution changed about every 2 months with normal use. After a while, deposits will also start to build up on the metal cathode. This can be removed by using very fine sandpaper (400 grit) or by soaking in ammonia overnight (ammonium hydroxide or household cleaning strength ammonia). DO meters will typically come with a maintenance kit that includes membranes, electrolyte solution, and a sanding disk or ammonia. Optical DO meters do not need any maintenance except for changing the sensing element, typically once a year with normal use.
Turbidity MetersCalibration: Turbidity meters have calibration standards that are usually between 0 and 1000 NTU (nephelometric units) or FNU (formazin nephelometric units). Most turbidity meter kits will already come with a set of these standards. When choosing which calibration standards to use, you should choose one close to the measurements of your samples and the more calibration points that are used, the better the accuracy.Storage: There are no storage requirements.Maintenance: The only maintenance involves the glass cuvettes. Light must be able to pass through the cuvettes, so if there are scratches, dirt or even oils from fingers on the sides of the cuvettes, it could skew your measurements. Make sure the cuvettes are clean, dry and free of scratches before they are placed in the turbidity meter.
ColorimetersCalibration: Calibration of colorimeters will typically involve taking a known solution and adding reagents to create known standards for the parameter you are testing for.Storage: There are no storage requirements.Maintenance: Maintenance of colorimeters usually only involves the glass cuvettes. This is very similar to turbidity meters. Light needs to pass through the cuvettes in order to measure the absorbance of particular light wavelengths, so the cuvettes need to be kept clean, dry and free of scratches before they are placed in the colorimeter. Remember, these are just general guidelines to follow for water quality meters. These guidelines do not replace the information found in the manufacturer’s instruction manual. If you have any questions on how to maintain, store or calibrate your water quality meter feel free to contact our Product Pros at 1-800-241-6401.
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Please Note: The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes only. This publication is not a substitute for review of the applicable government regulations and standards, and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the cited regulation or consult with an attorney.
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