APERA INSTRUMENTS PH1 Value pH Tester Kit
Thank you for purchasing the Apera Instruments PH1 Pocket pH Tester Kit. Please read this manual carefully before use in order to properly use and maintain the product.
For video tutorials, please go to: aperainst.de/service/support
ATTENTION
- Water droplets are added during production to maintain the moisture of the probe. This is normal practice and should not be attributed to used products.
- Never use the product when it’s freezing cold. Let it warm to room temperature before using.
- The latest PH1 Tester comes with an upgraded probe structure equipped with a sensor shield that prevents glass bulb breakage from accidental collisions (see picture below). You can remove the shield when cleaning the sensor and put it back on afterward.
General Introduction
What’s in the Kit?
Preparation before Use
- Prepare a cup of pure water (250-500ml) for probe rinsing. Pure water refers to tap water, RO water, distilled water, or deionized water.
- Pull off the battery insulation paper; Take off the probe cap.
- Perform a 2-point calibration in pH 7.00 and pH 4.00 standard buffers. Refer to Section 4 for a tutorial.
Calibration
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Notes
- The 1st point calibration must be 7.00 pH. Perform the 2nd and 3rd point calibrations (4.00 or 10.01) right after the 1st point calibration is finished. Do NOT turn off the tester before you calibrate 2nd or 3rd point. Otherwise, you will need to restart the calibration process with 7.00 pH first.
- In calibration mode, when the measured value is not fully stabilized
( is not staying on LCD), pressing 
will cause
. - Only pH 4.00 and pH 7.00 buffer solutions are included in the test kit, pH 10.01 is not. You can purchase it separately if needed (when your target pH level is > 8.0 pH).
- Having good-quality standard calibration buffers ready is the foundation for reliable pH measurement. The bottled buffers (50ml.) in the kit can be used for up to 10 times of calibration (make sure they are tightly closed when not in use). After that, we recommend replacing them with new ones to keep the accuracy.
- Tester will automatically recognize pH buffer solution, users can choose calibration points: 1 point, 2 points, or 3 points. For details, please refer to the following table:
| Calibration Solution | Calibration icon | When | |
| 1-point Calibration | 7.00 pH | M | Required Accuracy ≥ 0.3 pH |
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2-point Calibration |
7.00 pH and 4.00 pH | L M | Target pH level < 8.0 pH |
| 7.00 pH and 10.01 pH | M H | Target pH level > 8.0 pH | |
| 3-point Calibration | 7.00 pH, 4.00 pH and 10.01 pH | L M H | Wide measuring range |
Measurement
- Short press
to power on the tester. Remove the probe cap. - Rinse the probe in pure water. Then shake off excess water.
- Fully submerge the probe into your sample solution at least 1 inch deep, then hold still. Record the readings after the reading is fully stabilized ( comes up and stays on screen).
Pure Water pH Measurement
When testing pure water like tap water, drinking water, RO water and distilled water, it will take longer for the readings to get fully stabilized (typically 1-5 minutes). Please be patient. If still not working, add Apera 3M KCL (AI1107) to your pure water at the ratio of 1:1000 (e.g. 1 ml KCL to 1000 ml water) to accelerate stabilization while minimizing pH change. If the accuracy is not meeting your requirement, please contact us at info@aperainst.de to find the specialized meter designed for pure water pH test.
Parameter Setting
| Prompt | Parameter Setting Content | Code | Factory Default Setting |
| P1 | Select pH buffer series | USA – NIST | USA |
| P2 | Select temperature unit | ˚F – ˚C | ˚C |
| P3 | Back to factory default setting | No – Yes | No |
Parameter Setting Tutorial
When turned off, long press to enter parameter settings → short press to switch P1-P2-P3 → short press to select the parameter you want to change (parameter flicking) → short press to make changes, short press to confirm parameter change → long press to go back to measurement mode.
Technical Specifications
|
pH |
Range | 0 – 14.0 pH |
| Resolution | 0.1 pH | |
| Accuracy | ±0.1 pH | |
| Calibration Points | 1 – 3 points | |
| Automatic Temperature Compensation | 0 – 50˚C (32 – 122˚F) | |
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Temperature |
Range | 0 – 50˚C (32 – 122˚F) |
| Resolution | 0.1˚C /˚F | |
| Accuracy | ±0.5˚C/±1˚F |
- pH probes do NOT last forever. They age through normal use and will eventually fail. The average lifetime of a probe is 1-3 years depending how it is used and maintained. To ensure you receive a long life from your tester, please ensure you follow the guide below.
Probe Cleaning
- The tester is only as accurate as the probe is clean. Always thoroughly rinse off the probe before and after each test with clean water in a container or with a wash bottle.
- For tough contaminants, detach the sensor shield, soak the probe in Apera’s cleaning solution (AI1166) or detergent water for 30 minutes. Then use a soft brush to remove the contaminants. Afterwards, soak the probe in Apera 3M KCL soaking solution (AI1107) for at least 1 hour. Rinse it off, then re-calibrate the tester before using it.
Probe Storage
- Under regular usage (daily or weekly use), just make sure the probe cap is wet, and tightly close the cap with the red O-ring.
- For long-term storage (when you are not going to use the product for a while), add Apera 3M KCL soaking solution (AI1107) or pH 4.00 buffer solution to the Fill line in the probe cap and store the probe in it. Close on the probe cap tightly with the red O-ring.
- If you find white crystals inside or outside the probe cap, it is perfectly normal. It is the 3M KCL that crystalizes over time by its nature. Just rinse them off and use the tester as normal. This chemical is not poisonous nor dangerous, and the probe’s performance will not be affected.
- NEVER store the probe in pure water like tap, RO, distilled, or deionized water as they could damage the pH probe. If this happens, immediately soak the pH probe Apera 3M KCL soaking solution overnight, then re-calibrate it before using. Pure water is only for rinsing the probe.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Trouble | Reason | How to fix |
| Cannot calibrate | Pressing too soon (Showing Er2) |
Wait for to stay on screen before pressing. |
| Poor quality standard solutions
(Showing Er1) |
Replace with fresh and clean standard calibration solutions made by legitimate scientific instrument manufacturers. | |
| Contaminated sensor (Showing Er1) | Use a soft brush to clean the probe with Apera probe cleaning solution or detergent water. | |
| Incorrect calibration order (Showing Er1) | Reboot tester, calibrate pH 7.0 first, then pH 4.0. For details refer to calibration notes (a). | |
| Broken probe (Showing Er1) | If you don’t find any visible damage of the probe, contact Apera for warranty fulfillment; If there is visible damage,
replace the tester. |
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| Dried-out probe (Showing Er1) | Soak the probe in Apera 3M KCL solution for at least 15 minutes. | |
| Probe is not fully submerged solution
(Showing Er1) |
Make sure the probe is fully immersed in the solution at least 1 inch deep. | |
| Air bubbles around the sensor
(Showing Er1) |
Make a quick stir in the solution to remove air bubbles. | |
| Reading is always slowly changing, won’t stabilize | Contaminated sensor | Use a soft brush to clean the probe with Apera probe cleaning solution or detergent water. |
| Clogged junction | Use a soft brush to clean the probe with Apera probe cleaning solution or detergent water, then soak it in Apera 3M KCL soaking solution overnight. | |
| Aged probe | Replace the tester. | |
| Testing pH of low ionic strength solutions like tap/drinking/RO/distilled water | Be patient, wait for 1-5 minutes to reach a fully stabilized reading. If still not stabilizing, add Apera 3M KCL solution to test water at 1:1000 ratio. | |
| Display similar readings in any solutions or always display
7.0 pH |
Broken probe | If you don’t find any visible damage of the probe, contact Apera for warranty fulfillment; If there is visible damage or the probe is more than 6 months old, replace the tester. |
| Instrument defect | Contact us for warranty fulfillment. | |
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Reading keeps jumping |
The probe is not fully submerged in the solution | Make sure the probe is fully immersed in the solution at least 1 inch deep. |
| Air bubbles around the sensor | Make a quick stir in the solution to remove air bubbles. | |
| The probe is not properly connected, or the pin connector is broken. | Check the probe’s connector, make sure it’s not broken and is correctly connected. Align the probe and instrument correctly before plugging in. Never force it. Ensure that the probe connector is not exposed to air too long. | |
|
Calibration is successful, but reading is not accurate |
Aged probe | Replace the tester. |
| Air bubbles around the sensor | Make a quick stir in the solution to remove air bubbles. | |
| Clogged junction | Clean the probe with Apera probe cleaning solution, then soak it in Apera 3M KCL soaking solution overnight. | |
| Comparison with other testers, test strips, or drop tests | To compare with other testers, make sure to calibrate all testers in the same pH 7.0 solution, then test pH 4.0.
Whichever gives more accurate reading is the most accurate one. Test strips or drop tests’ accuracy in not comparable to pH meters‘. |
Battery Replacement
Please install batteries according to the following steps. Please note the correct direction of battery installation: The Positive Side (“+”) OF EVERY SINGLE Battery MUST FACE UP. (WRONG INSTALLATION OF BATTERIES WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TESTER AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS!)
Warranty
We warrant this instrument to be free from defects in material and workmanship and agree to repair or replace free of charge, at option of APERA INSTRUMENTS (Europe) GmbH, any malfunctioned or damaged product attributable to responsibility of APERA INSTRUMENTS (Europe) GmbH for a period of TWO YEARS (SIX MONTHS for the probe) from the delivery.
This limited warranty does not cover any damages due to
Transportation, storage, improper use, failure to follow the product instructions or to perform any preventive maintenance, modifications, combination or use with any products, materials, processes, systems or other matter not provided or authorized in writing by us, unauthorized repair, normal wear and tear, or external causes such as accidents, abuse, or other actions or events beyond our reasonable control.
APERA INSTRUMENTS (Europe) GmbH
- Wilhelm-Muthmann-Straße 18 42329 Wuppertal, Germany
- Contact: info@aperainst.de
- Website: www.aperainst.de
- Tel. +49 202 51988998
Documents / Resources
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APERA INSTRUMENTS PH1 Value pH Tester Kit [pdf] User Manual PH1 Value pH Tester Kit, PH1, Value pH Tester Kit, pH Tester Kit, Tester Kit |
