BOBOAI PH Meter Pocket Size Digital pH Tester Pen Water Quality Tester pH Measurement Accuracy Between 0-14 pH 0.01 Resolution for Household Drinking Water, Hydroponics,Aquariums,with PH Buffer Powder

CAVEAT EMPTOR: I am still going to give this item a 5 star review even though it came to me defective since I waited too long to test it. Heres what happened: item was defective from get go as adjusting screw did not swing reading more than 19 to 15. I waited too long to test it so what I did was cut it open in a repair attempt (Amazon.com nichrome wire is perfect for this as 3 - 5 volts through wire melts case to where it can be easily cleaved open else one has big mess). The item is non repairable, without it looking like Frankenstein stitches, as on the bottom it has a foam/polymer base that prevents water from seeping past pH probe and this makes repair impossible without cutting open the case. So I carefully cut just above this foam by getting a measuring stick and slipping it into the meter to determine where on outer case to cut without cutting into the foam as if one cuts too far down into the foam and causes a leak it will short out the circuit inside. Inside this case there is a wire that is SUPPOSED to be attached to a 40 pin IC chip and on mine it was broken. I re-soldered it back and wallah! After that I put it into a carefully measured out solution of sodium bicarbonate (did not come with the meter) that I made to see if it works on that off the bat. I turned the screw to 8.3 while it was immersed in the solution. For those wanting to make an 8.3 pH sodium bicarbonate solution 0.069 grams (Amazon.com high accuracy little scale is perfect for this endeavor) in 82.5 grams should make a solution at this pH, but a word of warning about sodium bicarbonate is that it releases/absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which may decrease/increase acidity so keep the solution in an air tight bottle filled to the brim to prevent atmospheric intrusion, and also I am not sure that I would rely on this as any sort of standard, but the ones included with the meter..... but it makes for a bullet proof test of the meter as if it measures all three solutions spot on then one knows it is functioning great. I then made the standards that come with meter (2 packets one of pH about 6.8 and other 4.0, but yours may have one of these packets at different pH as there are 3 types as stated in manual) and dipped it into these. Distilled water MUST be used for any buffer solution as ions in tap water add their own pH to solution which throws off buffers intended pH. The 6.8 buffer read 6.6 and I adjusted screw again to read 6.8. I then dipped it into 3 rd solution and it read 4.0 exactly! So even if I only used the sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) it read almost perfectly and good for average person (although would not recommend this to be sure). Unbelievable how well this little thing does. Hope the success story continues. Meter manual claims that probe can be stored dry which is a great feature, but am wondering if this will be OK in long run? I stored it dry and it has been OK so far. So why this big story? It is only that if you don't get to test your meter in time to get a refund then it can possibly be this totally easy wire re-attachment problem that is easily fixed if you are willing to carefully saw through the case like I did. I think that the wire hanging in the air that is attached to this IC is not the greatest design unless great care is taken to solder it to the IC pad and a little drop of hot melt adhesive is put on the wire to make sure it does not move, but that was not done in this case. Oh yeah, the inner circuit board is also not easily removed as it has a dripping of glue on one side to hold it in place so one needs a scalpel type tool to carefully dislodge the board without breaking it. Also, if one gets the meter to function, like I did, one must put something on the case to prevent water getting in and shorting the meter. The meter circuit looks well made (looking at circuit board, etc), except for the wire problem as I think soldering it to the board would be an easier and sturdier design. For those who have waited too long and are strapped for cash with a non-critical usage of the pH meter (your flower garden soil pH, for example) this advice may come in handy, but you do so at your own risk as the operation is a little risky and after this the meter probably should not be used in critical situations even though my repaired meter is spot on so far. Always reverify with your pH buffer solutions in any case as even a repaired meter should be giving correct results if one tests it in buffer BEFORE and AFTER testing a test solution and buffer solutions read correctly. So I would test your meter immediately upon arrival if it does not work and not wait too long like a did and I suspect there will be no problems on your end. I think the meter is a winner if you get an undamaged one.

I have been using the chemical drops on my pool for years to check the balance of all the chemicals which has been ok but it take time and I know the dip sticks are rarely accurate. I purchased this stick in hopes it would make testing the pool this up coming season easier to do. My sister has a fish tank so I took it to test at her house to see how it worked prior to summer. Now I have to buy another one for myself because I sister kept it. It is so easy to use and with it being electronic you get a more precise measurement within 0,1ppm. The meter can be used for drinking water, pools, hot tubs, aquariums and any other liquid you may need to check. At least for me I won’t have to stand outside with a small water sample to try and figure out what shade of color a sample as turned to know what adjustment or balance of chemical that I need to make. It is pocket sized and includes the tester, case, calibration screwdriver and buffer powder which is everything you need to get started. Much easier to use than older methods. I would highly recommend this.

I ordered this pH digital tester for my husband who has an aquarium, small outdoor decorative pond with gold fish and a large, man-made fishing pond in the back yard. He was eager to try it out and immediately went to test it. You must remove the protective cap first. The device is easy to use and works similar to a thermometer. You turn it on and stick it in the water, past the electrode. The digital reading will come on the screen and stabilize. Cleanse and dry the electrode and replace the protective cap. It even comes with 2 packets of pH buffer powder, if needed. The device seems to be accurate, as we even tested the pH level of vinegar as a comparison.

I can't seem to get this to calibrate and the adjustment doesn't seem to do anything. When I tested it with the first mixture it was spot on but when I did in the second test product it was way off. Then when I tried to adjust it, it didn't do anything. So I like the design and it gives me a reading although I am not sure how accurate it really is.

Calibration seems to be more difficult than other meters I've used. Even after getting it calibrated I found that the meter was still off a few points compared to liquid reagents tests. I think I need a more reliable and precise (i.e. more expensive) meter.

Good price, it worked finally after some trial and error but not the most user friendly procedure to get an end result.

Works very well for testing aquarium water, mine needed calibration when i got it as it was off 1.0 PH, it held its calibration once i calibrated it with 7.0 solution, it held to the 4.0 solution and 10.0 solution, so after the 7.0 no other calibration was necessary, it was good to go

Worked for about 5 months.It wont reacalibrate.