How to Calibrate a Vivosun pH Meter + Vivosun pH Meter Review

[@jvernice]

I am a retired chemist. Thank you for your video. Unfortunately, most people don't calibrate their meters and could be relying on inaccurate reading. My only comment is that pH meters should be calibrated before each use. We calibrated highly accurate and precise (and quite expensive $1,000) meters and probes AT LEAST DAILY. So, I would suggest for inexpensive meters calibration be performed before use on a a particular day. Obviously, if you are not using it on a particular day, there is no need to calibrate. The calibration solutions can be stored for at least a month if you always rinse the meter before dipping into those solutions. Also, just a note that the pronunciation of SIEMENS is "See-mens", not sy-mens.

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

*To buy the calibration solution monthly is completely impossible!*

[@jdavidblais]

Now ”i see man” ;p

[@Vegan123]

Having worked for Siemens AG Munich it's the first time I've heard Siemens pronounced that way ! Thanks for the pH information

[@HydroHowTo]

😂 I never claimed to be a professional pronouncer! Thanks for watching!

[@Vegan123]

@@HydroHowTo Dont' worry you're not alone - just because we used to fix a particular Siemens product when on sites you would be brought to the toilets and shown a broken Siemens hand dryer or a broken Siemens Vaccum cleaner and were expected to know !

[@philmcg5888]

Thank you! I lost my instructions on this and I was clueless. I kind of got rushed into this all last second, and I’m feeling my way through it. Lol

[@HydroHowTo]

You’re welcome! I hope it was helpful!

[@sowedstory]

Just what I needed! I ordered this last night and it should arrive tomorrow. Thank you. Subscriber 501! Great info you got so far.

[@HydroHowTo]

You're so welcome!!! Thank you so much for subscribing and for the wonderful comments! If you have any questions once the meters arrive, please let me know 😁

[@sowedstory]

@@HydroHowTo Thank you! 😊

[@MrMadmazz]

You can get the kit for under half the price from ebay. Same pens without the expensive vivosun sticker for future ref :). Same as the digital temp meters that many company's and hydro shops sell for around $20 are only $3.50 - $5.50 in unbranded package ready for you to add a few of your own stickers and 100%+ price jump ;)..

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

16 thousands subscribers 1 year later

[@Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

Thanks. I would also record your findings in a journal for reference and check findings over time with each system in use to figure what works or went wrong and what you did to fix the problem.

[@HydroHowTo]

Good call, I talk about that in another video. Equally as useful here though. Thanks for watching!

[@briantolliver3701]

Thanks man, I appreciate your time and effort!

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for the awesome comment! If it helps you then it’s well worth my time and effort!

[@GMT439]

@@HydroHowTo When you have a calibrated meter you can prepare your own test liquids using PH Down and keep them bottled up. Then there is no need at all to purchase anymore of these crystal test sachets.

[@vinivv]

awesome just what i was looken for EC meter and how to read since we dont have decimals on the reader just needed to be positive thannks

[@88boja]

For the problem with wrong calibration values... 👇 Just click again one or two times on the "CAL" button after pressing it for 3-5 seconds. After choosing the one you need it will flash and do the calibration process. And always wait for 30 seconds to let the value being set in the solutions and then calibrate in this order: pH 4.00, then pH 9.18 and then pH 6.86. Repeat it several times until they show always (almost) the correct values in the solutions...

[@reelcar]

this is the the jam right here folks. my meters look similar w/o the branding. and I couldn't switch between 4,9.18,6.86 but it switched on it's own when doing in this correct order. thanks for the tips. I wonder if the solutions will degrade if I store them in a few mason jars.

[@rachaelmundy865]

Thanks for this!!

[@HydroHowTo]

You're welcome! I hope it helps!

[@jjsantora75]

Thanks bro much appriciated

[@HydroHowTo]

Thanks for watching!

[@nonenone6155]

Do you do anything special to protect the probe?

[@HydroHowTo]

Not with these cheaper ones. Normally with a nicer tool, like the Apera PC60, you would keep a drop or two of storage solution in the probe cap.

[@sugargraham6868]

Can you please tell me how to do a factory reset on the apera 20 😢😢😢

[@HydroHowTo]

I don’t own an Apera 20.

[@laurabarbato3204]

Do I want to do this for the wicking tote technique of your other videos?

[@HydroHowTo]

You'll still want to be able to control the pH and EC of your solution, so I'd recommend some method of testing for sure.

[@stevefritter7283]

I have 2 sets of the same meter and both have 2 different readings ???? Testing at the same thing ?

[@HydroHowTo]

Cheap meters are kind of hit and miss on quality

[@stevefritter7283]

@HydroHowTo thank you. Just want to get my ph And ppm right for my hydroponics stuff .it's a learning curve

[@GMT439]

When you have a calibrated meter you can prepare your own test liquids using PH Down and keep them bottled up. Then there is no need at all to purchase anymore of these crystal test sachets.

[@HydroHowTo]

Interesting. Will give this a try. Thanks!

[@ferdturguson1019]

can the original mixed powder solution be bottled up and saved?

[@Andreavmj]

Can you use it for urine or anything?

[@HydroHowTo]

That’s beyond my expertise.

[@AKCrazyRussian]

Awesome!

[@justice4all997]

I have the meter however I don't have the packages of powder. Will it still work?

[@HydroHowTo]

You'll need the powder to make sure it's calibrated. You can buy just the powder on Amazon. I think there is a link in the description of this video. Thanks!

[@bartseller8601]

Where do you get those little measuring cups?

[@HydroHowTo]

I found them on Amazon. I put a link to some similar ones in the description. Hope it helps!

[@richardappiah_kubi7569]

I have lost the calibration powder. Are there any alternative means to recalibrate my pH meter?. Kindly help.

[@HydroHowTo]

You can order new buffer powders on Amazon. There should be a link in the description.

[@etch3d]

When trying to calibrate as the instructions say it tries to do 4.0 no matter what

[@maddavo565]

What do you do when you try to calibrate it in 6.86 solution but it says it's in 9.18 and calibrates to that? I try to calibrate in 4.01 and it says it's in 6.86 and calibrates to that. How to reset it?

[@HydroHowTo]

Sounds like a bad meter

[@88boja]

Just click again one or two times on the "CAL" button. Then it will flash and do the calibration. And wait for 30 seconds to let the value being set and then calibrate ph 4.00, then 9.18 and then 6.86. Repeat it several times until they show always (almost) the correct values.

[@aztecjoe29]

So we don't have to put it in a storage solution ?

[@HydroHowTo]

I don’t know that it’d help this meter.

[@samw6945]

Can you use rodi water to calibrate

[@kenmandu4499]

Is this video correct, or the "Clean Food Living" video correct? It would be great to have it clarified.

[@HydroHowTo]

I don’t know what you’re referring to.

[@kenmandu4499]

@@HydroHowTo KZbinr "Clean Food Living" and search "calibrate ph meter". You will find her method. It clears up the Chinglish that was used in the pH meter's instruction manual, in particular the "hold for 5 seconds" part.

[@zakryrivas523]

Have you used the red Vivosun 4 in 1 meter? I just ordered one and just seen alot of negative reviews. Id like to know if I should cancel and get another one or not.

[@HydroHowTo]

I haven’t tried it, but honestly these cheaper meters are pretty hit and miss when it comes to quality.

[@zakryrivas523]

@@HydroHowTo I guess I'll just have to calibrate and test it out myself. Thanks! Lol

[@brittany16950]

Gosh calibrating is such an ordeal. Are there better meters that you don’t need to do this with?

[@HydroHowTo]

There are MUCH better meters that will calibrate faster, more accurately, and will hold a calibration much longer if properly taken care of. These Vivosun (and all the cheap similar clones) meters are so so if you can get them to calibrate. Personally, I've been using the Apera PC60 for about 2 years, and I love it. You can check it out here: amzn.to/3WCSqf4 (affiliate link). It's a much higher price point, but it's an incredible meter.

[@brittany16950]

@@HydroHowTo thank you! That’s what I’ll get.

[@HydroHowTo]

@@brittany16950 I think you'll be really happy with it!

[@tacticaldragon2318]

well id say yes you right but i also say you need the meters at the same level in the water and no tmoving up or down while you are checking it, that goes for both meters sticks.

[@edmonperez4995]

testing both meters at the same time might also factor in, since the meters are like voltmeters and they might be interfering with one another

[@guttagutta420]

$20??? That’s wild. They’re now $12 for this kit.

[@Agnostostheos]

Got this exact one for $9 on amazon 2 days ago.

[@KLear-qm6dg]

Anyone know a good ph pen I can use that's reliable

[@lok777]

These things have an average lifespan of 2-3 months, recalibration is buying a new one after the first POS dies.

[@HydroHowTo]

True, but they don’t need to go 3 months without recal.

[@joetut6648]

So is your Buffer solution bad? I don’t understand how a buffer solution with an EXACT ph doesn’t measure “6.86” ? Maybe there’s something idk 😂

[@BrendonDiefenbach]

Vega gt

[@julianpeter7165]

Uchungu wa bia

[@PrebenNilsen-su7wd]

Funny how they sell 6$ meters for 20

[@OrignalRobRobert]

100% junk don't waste your time

[@wartlme]

I stopped using pH meters because they seem to get off. Just use the drops. No need to know the pH down to the 10th of a pH. Use the drop and make sure it is dandelion yellow. Everything will be great. Save your plants, save your time, save your money. pH meters are junk as they all ways fail given time.

[@HydroHowTo]

Drops are a good option if you have normal color vision. Yes, pH meters will fail, and drops will run out. Both are consumables. It all comes down to using what you prefer! Sounds like drops have worked out great for ya, and that's awesome!

[@missredumbrella]

Agree

[@plips71755]

But that doesn’t work so well if color blind and everyone has a different idea of what different colors are. I have a friend who views an orchid of mine as purple, I couldn’t figure what she was talking about which picture -- it turns out it was a pink. So I thought maybe it was me. Went to the description from various vendors on their description (this is a mericlone) and it was pink. But she saw purple, light purple. If it was over the internet, it could have been the setting of her screen. But not in person. So deciding from a color is not a great idea. Same with using test strips - you are matching colors.. maybe a little better but can have the same issues. And also I was always taught to not turn a wet meter upside down. And in fact, my last meter which would have been a more modern one, had the information in the manual. But there this guy is turning his upside down pretty as you please. They also tell you not to get above the insertion line for the same reason -- why.. because you don’t want any water to seep back up into the electronics. The same thing happens when you turn it upside down.

[@plips71755]

Also reading numbers in a digital piece of equipment is always better. Always use fresh distilled water, never opened before to make up calibration solutions. When it’s been opened, it can pick up carbon dioxide from the air quite fast even over 48 hours. Dramatically so if just left sitting open to the air. I like to take my 1/2 gallon bottles when opened and place in glass quart or pint jars. Or if you can find, buy in quart/1 Liter bottles. I never see them And make sure you don’t accidentally use spring water.

[@SynKronos]

That's problematic

[@rickjames6948]

Why not use say Coke to lower pH? Baking soda to raise it? Vinegar to lower. It's not the space program people. No need to buy pH up and down $$$$. Simple stuff you already have at home.

[@nickp5356]

This thing is junk! Keeps saying Err no matter what I do.. went from steps one to step two and wouldn't stop blinking.. Tried turning it off and back on, now it just goes to "err" and stuck in 6.86. what a POS. Everything from vivo I've bought is cheap Chinese crap. When making money is crucial to business, don't rely on cheap Chinese Shīt!

[@HydroHowTo]

If you’re trying to run a business I’d recommend a commercial or pro device rather than an entry level hobbyist device. My Apera PC60 has been great, and may be work looking into.