APERA INSTRUMENTS / PH850 / AI5510

Water-testing essentials.
A clear reading in the field.

The PH850 brings pH and temperature measurement to routine water checks. Its supplied 201T-F electrode combines a protected glass pH sensor and temperature sensing in one replaceable probe. Guided calibration and a stability indicator help you move between field and bench testing.

Choose catalog AI5510 for general aqueous samples and a straightforward, manually documented method. The PH850 is a pH meter, not a conductivity meter; specialized food, pure-water and aggressive-chemical testing needs a separately selected electrode.

Know when the reading settles

The LCD shows pH alongside temperature, with icons for completed calibrations and reading stability. Automatic hold can freeze a stabilized reading for transcription, but it does not save a sample record for later retrieval.

Carry it, then stand it up

An IP57-rated instrument body, protective rubber sleeve and folding stand support field and bench work. Keep electrical connectors dry and protect the sensing end from knocks. The rating does not make the glass bulb unbreakable.

Service the probe, not a refill reservoir

The 201T-F uses a lithium-glass sensing membrane, a fiber/ceramic junction and sealed gel reference electrolyte. Its removable shield protects the sensing end. The internal reference needs no refilling; the external storage bottle still needs the correct solution to keep the bulb and junction hydrated.

Know what this configuration supplies.

Water treatment rounds

Make spot checks on compatible process and environmental water samples. Use a consistent sampling location and record temperature with pH to support meaningful comparisons.

Hydroponics and aquaculture

Check general nutrient and culture-water solutions where pH guides routine management. This kit does not measure nutrient concentration or conductivity. Compare results against your system’s requirements.

Teaching and bench comparisons

Demonstrate calibration and compare aqueous samples using the stand and readable display. Distilled or deionized water needs a low-ionic-strength method and a more suitable electrode; it is not an ideal accuracy demonstration for the supplied general-water probe.

Connect both leads.
Calibrate for the sample.

Connect the blue BNC lead to pH/mV and the black RCA lead to temperature. Remove the storage bottle and rinse the sensing end with distilled or deionized water. Shake off excess water gently without rubbing the glass. The RCA connection supplies the temperature signal needed for automatic compensation.

Use fresh, separate buffer portions. Start with pH 7.00 in the USA series, then add points around the expected sample range. The meter supports one to three calibration points; the electrode instructions call for three points when installing a new probe. Rinse between buffers and wait for the stability indicator before confirming.

Immerse the sensing end and junction, stir briefly to dislodge bubbles, then allow the reading to settle. Record pH and temperature together. Automatic compensation corrects electrode response, not every sample’s own temperature-dependent chemistry. Keep routine testing within the conservative probe limits of 0 to 13 pH and 0 to 60°C; avoid prolonged hot-sample exposure.

Rinse with pure water.
Store in the specified KCl.

After testing, rinse away residue and return the 201T-F to its storage bottle with Apera 3M KCl storage solution, AI1107. Replace cloudy or contaminated solution and tighten the bottle. This is external wet storage, not refilling the sealed gel reference. A separate replenishment bottle is not confirmed as included.

Never use distilled, deionized, RO or tap water for long-term pH-electrode storage. Avoid rubbing the glass membrane or striking the bottom of a vessel. Keep the plug ends clean and dry, and inspect the shield and sensing end before the next calibration.

For persistent contamination, use a cleaning method compatible with both the deposit and the polycarbonate housing. Do not improvise harsh solvents or acid-renewal treatments. If cleaning, reconditioning and fresh buffers do not restore stable calibration, replace the electrode rather than relying on a drifting reading.

A stable reading is the start of the record.

Use the physical controls for on-meter measurement and calibration. HOLD temporarily locks a reading on screen; write the result and its sample context in your external worksheet or record system. Screen values in photographs are illustrative, not sample results.

Use calibration solutions and settings appropriate to the parameter and fitted electrode. Temperature compensation does not make different sample temperatures, preparation methods or chemistry equivalent. Follow the model-specific meter and electrode instructions before extending the method to a new sample.

Read. Record. Review.

PH850 is a manual-record workflow: its current specification lists data storage and storage content as not applicable. There is no saved-measurement history to recall. Reading hold is a temporary display aid, not a logger or an automatic backup.

Write the sample ID, pH, temperature, operator and observation time in your notebook or chosen record system. Add buffer values and a calibration check before the testing round. Supply the date and time yourself rather than expecting a timestamped meter file.

Check that each value has units and belongs to the right sample. Transcribe or photograph the stable display while the result is available. USB export, PC-Link and Bluetooth are not documented features of this Value model; plan the recordkeeping separately.