APERA INSTRUMENTS / PH8500-PW / AI5556

Low-ionic water deserves
a purpose-built reference.

The PH8500-PW pairs Apera’s portable, USB-enabled PH8500 meter with the LabSen 803 pH/temperature electrode for pure and low-ionic-strength water. Its cylindrical glass membrane and adjustable sleeve junction address a measurement that can be unsettled by weak ionic contact and small changes in sample handling. This is a refillable glass-electrode system for careful water testing, with an integrated temperature sensor and a practical path from field readings to computer review.

Choose AI5556 when the water sample, rather than portability alone, determines the electrode. The supplied LabSen 803 is replacement model AI3137, rated for 1–11 pH and 0–80°C. Those are the working probe limits, not the meter’s wider display capability. Automatic temperature compensation supports electrode response; it does not eliminate changes in the sample’s own pH caused by temperature, contamination or exposure to air.

Adjustable contact with the sample

The LabSen 803 combines an L-type cylindrical glass membrane with a movable glass sleeve and silver-ion-trap reference. Adjusting sleeve tightness changes reference electrolyte flow, a useful distinction for low-ion samples. A looser sleeve is not a universal accuracy setting: it uses reference solution faster and requires recalibration after adjustment. Keep the actual sample conditions and the electrode’s response under review instead of treating a timed reading as automatically valid.

Portable controls, deliberate recording

A backlit LCD, folding stand and IP57 meter enclosure support a portable working station. The meter holds 500 sets of data with manual or interval recording and user-set date and time. Record stabilized readings and check the clock before a series of samples. The protective enclosure does not remove the need to keep connectors dry or protect the glass electrode from impact during transport and measurement.

A wired route to reviewable results

Use the USB connection with PC-Link to review readings on a computer. Current Web PC-Link supports a compatible desktop Chrome or Edge workflow on Windows or Mac, CSV export and browser printing; saving a report as PDF depends on the browser and operating system. New readings logged while connected go to software rather than meter memory. Export before closing the session. This is not Bluetooth, ZenTest or an immutable electronic audit system.

Know exactly what is supplied.

RO and purified-water checks

Use the pure-water electrode for appropriate reverse-osmosis and other low-ionic water samples within its operating limits. Keep the sampling point, vessel preparation and air exposure consistent when comparing results. The kit measures pH; it does not measure conductivity or establish a conductivity threshold for ultrapure-water acceptance. A satisfactory pH reading alone is not a complete water-quality qualification.

Distilled and deionized water

Distilled and deionized water can change during sampling as atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into it. Minimize air contact with a suitable sealed sample container or an appropriately selected flow cell as part of the method. A flow cell is optional and is not included or specified for compatibility here. Do not expect an open glass of pure water always to remain at neutral pH.

Drinking, surface and storm water

The manufacturer also identifies drinking, surface and storm water as applications for this electrode. Use a representative water sample, suitable calibration standards and clean vessels, particularly when changing between waters with very different ionic content. Record the collection conditions with the result. This configuration is not a claim of suitability for every contaminated matrix, solid material or chemically aggressive process liquid.

Control the sample.
Then trust the stable reading.

Connect the blue BNC pH lead and black RCA temperature lead to the PH8500. Remove the probe from its storage bottle, rinse it with distilled or deionized water, and open the blue refill plug to allow reference flow. Perform at least a two-point calibration before using a new electrode, choosing standards appropriate to the expected sample range. Use fresh portions and rinse between solutions to limit carryover into low-ion samples.

Prepare enough sample to immerse the sensing membrane and sleeve junction without striking the vessel. No exact minimum sample volume is specified for the LabSen 803 here. Limit unnecessary transfer and air exposure, and use a consistent sampling arrangement. If sleeve adjustment is needed, follow the electrode manual and recalibrate afterwards. A sealed container or separately selected flow cell can help manage carbon dioxide exposure; neither changes the electrode’s rated operating limits.

Allow the reading to stabilize before recording, rather than imposing one fixed waiting time on all water samples. Check the temperature as well as pH and keep the measurement procedure consistent between tests. For interval work, verify the meter settings and available memory first. When using PC-Link, manage the computer session as the recording destination and export the data before closing it; connected logging is not a second automatic copy in the meter.

Refill the reference.
Store the glass wet.

Use 3M KCl for the LabSen 803 reference refill and for its external storage solution. These are separate tasks using the same specified chemistry. When reference solution falls to about half the electrode height, replenish through the refill opening as directed, using an appropriate syringe or pipette. The exact-kit illustration shows a separate reference soaking-solution bottle, but no volume or refill-tool inclusion is promised. Do not substitute another LabSen model’s electrolyte.

After use, rinse away sample residue, return the probe to its 3M KCl storage bottle, tighten the cap and close the refill plug. Replace soaking solution when contaminated or insufficient. Distilled and deionized water are rinse liquids, not storage liquids. Keep the BNC and RCA connectors clean and dry, and protect the glass body and movable sleeve when packing the electrode back into the carrying case.

For tough contamination, the electrode manual specifies Apera AI1166 cleaning solution for 30 minutes, gentle removal with a soft brush, then at least one hour in 3M KCl before rinsing and recalibration. Cleaning solution and additional care supplies are separate purchases unless expressly listed. Avoid strong acid, strong alkali and dehydrating media. Manufacturer limited coverage is three years for the meter and six months for the probe from delivery, with exclusions for misuse, wear and other specified causes.

Read the meter.
Know what is held.

Use the physical controls for standalone measurement and calibration. The stable-reading indicator and HOLD help you read a result; a held display is not an onboard measurement-history logger for later upload.

Keep the connectors and battery compartment dry when changing parts. Follow the exact manual for key sequences, battery orientation and cap sealing. Screen values in photographs are illustrative, not test results or a promise of compatibility with another sensing head.

Build a local record.
Keep the transfer workflow clear.

Each 8500 meter can measure and calibrate without a computer. It can retain up to 500 data sets, including date, time, measured value, unit, temperature and the last calibration record. M+ supports manual saving after stability; timed logging can be set from one minute through 99 hours 59 minutes. Deleting stored values cannot be undone.

For computer work, use the meter USB connection with the current Web PC-Link workflow on a desktop Chrome or Edge browser under Windows or Mac. The tool supports CSV output and browser-print reporting. Do not assume Firefox compatibility, a native Excel/PDF export format, an immutable audit trail, electronic signatures or regulatory validation.

When connected to PC-Link, new records go to the software rather than to the meter memory. Save and export important records before closing the browser. USB logging does not guarantee automatic backup, permanent retention or protection from user deletion. Keep the exact meter, configured probe and sample method with any record.