One of my friend on another forum would like to buy a pH meter and asked for my opinion on these 2
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-pH-Meter-Tester-2-Buffer-Hydroponic-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ190380830407QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pet_Supplies?hash=item2c5394eec7 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-pH-Meter-Tester-2-Buffer-Hydroponic-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ190380830407QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Pet_Supplies?hash=item2c5394eec7)
or
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-pH-Meter-Monitor-w-replaceable-electrode-Probe_W0QQitemZ330412515697QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Gadgets?hash=item4cee1ee171 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Digital-pH-Meter-Monitor-w-replaceable-electrode-Probe_W0QQitemZ330412515697QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Gadgets?hash=item4cee1ee171)
They look OK apart from the buffer solutions and for that I recommended buffer solution kit from cheesemaking.com here:
http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/98-Refill-Kit-for-pH-Meter.html (http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/98-Refill-Kit-for-pH-Meter.html)
What do you think? Would they work with a seperate buffer solution and used in cheesemaking?
No need to buy another buffer solution, those will work. I've calibrated to all sorts of solutions before, commercial bought and lab made. Readings are the same so long as the calibration is done right. Buy a meter with ATC and readings out to .01 if possible.
Also, $20 for 3 of the 65 ml bottles? Good Lord, that only costs a few dollars to make and you need barely high school chemistry abilities and instruments. It's like $30/gallon wholesale. Oh well, good on them for trying to stay in business, I suppose.
[edit] for autocalibration, the meters are usually programmed to use a certain reference solution. That varies with the part of the world you're in. Also, you can usually calibrate manually.
Thanks Linuxboy.
I was also thinking the same for the buffer solutions. So how do you make them?
See my post here. https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,1323.msg9685.html#msg9685. (https://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,1323.msg9685.html#msg9685.) You can make buffers out of a lot of compounds, commercially there are 2-3 most common fomulations made for their cost effectiveness and high buffer capacity.
Thanks Linuxboy,
As usual, The information you gave me is more than I can digest, but looking to Yellow Pages right now to see if there are any lab equipment and chemical providers around my area. Most of them are selling swimming pool chemicals though.
It is tough in AU; I don't know of as many resources. Maybe a homebrew shop carries pH solution, or an aquarium/pool shop? I think you'll have a hard time finding the bulk chems, like phthalate.
And I don't want police raiding my home just because I am trying to get my own pH buffers for cheesemaking ;D
I will check the homebrew websites. Thanks again Linuxboy.
:). Nah, none of those chems are on any regulated lists in US or AU. Pretty harmless salts.