Water Analysis Meters and Electrodes: Types, Buying Advice, and More
Water analysis meters are precisely what their name implies. Depending on the model, a water analysis meter can measure one or multiple parameters, such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, clarity, rate of movement, turbidity, and salinity.
This article will tell you everything you need to know about water analysis meters and electrodes. We’ll start by discussing what these devices are and how they work. Next, we’ll look at individual models, helping you pick the one best suited for your requirements.
Depending on their type, different water analysis meters work differently. For instance, TDS meters measure the electrical conductance of dissolved electrolytes. In contrast, pH meters rely on probes to determine whether the liquid under observation is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.
Ohaus’s pH meters are available in two categories. You can either opt for our handheld pH meters, which come in handy for domestic and small-scale laboratory and research settings. Our benchtop pH meters are a must-have for industrial and commercial environments.
Ohaus’s DO meters thus help you ensure that the water’s DO levels are conducive to the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. You can also count on our devices to help ensure the purity of drinking water and determine how much corrosion running water may cause in pipes.
Ohaus’s offers two types of conductivity meters: handheld and benchtop. Both work by putting a known amount of electricity down one probe and measuring the amount that exits from the other end. The greater the electrical current, the higher the percentage of impurities in water.
Ohaus’s TDS meters do not measure these impurities in isolation. Instead, as you can verify by going through our catalog of water analysis meters and electrodes, our devices also indicate water’s DO levels, temperature, salinity, and other parameters.
Ohaus offers ORP meters in multiple forms, including starter pens, electrodes, and benchtop. All these devices measure the oxidation-reduction potential in millivolts (mV), the standard unit of ORP.
Take, for instance, the Ohaus Starter Pen Meter ST10T-A. This device can measure nine parameters, including pH, oxidation-reduction potential, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature. It also features the automatic shutdown feature to conserve battery.
Our electrodes can be used separately as well as in conjunction with other portable and starter bench meters. These devices can measure all the parameters as our water analysis meters, with their compact shape allowing for hassle-free domestic and commercial use.
Important Point: While all these are various types of water analysis meters, at Ohaus, one device can perform multiple applications. So, you don’t have to purchase five devices to measure five different parameters. Isn’t that great!
This article will tell you everything you need to know about water analysis meters and electrodes. We’ll start by discussing what these devices are and how they work. Next, we’ll look at individual models, helping you pick the one best suited for your requirements.
What are Water Analysis Meters?
Water analysis meters are handheld devices for measuring pH, salinity, TDS, conductivity and other parameters in a liquid, usually water. These instruments are an integral part of research and laboratory settings. They also have multiple domestic and industrial applications.Depending on their type, different water analysis meters work differently. For instance, TDS meters measure the electrical conductance of dissolved electrolytes. In contrast, pH meters rely on probes to determine whether the liquid under observation is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.
Types of Water Analysis Meters
Water analysis meters are available in multiple types. These include pH meters, dissolved oxygen meters, conductivity meters, TDS meters, pen meters, and electrodes. Depending on your requirements, one or more of these devices might be the perfect fit for you.pH Meter
pH meters are used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid solution. pH is the unit of measure that ranges from 0 to 14. If the solution is acidic, its pH value will be less than 7. If it is basic, the pH value will be greater than 7. A neutral solution will have a pH of 7.Ohaus’s pH meters are available in two categories. You can either opt for our handheld pH meters, which come in handy for domestic and small-scale laboratory and research settings. Our benchtop pH meters are a must-have for industrial and commercial environments.
Dissolved Oxygen Meter
Dissolved oxygen (DO) is an important indicator of water quality. If DO levels are too high or too low in a body of water such as an ocean or lake, fish and other aquatic organisms might not survive. DO levels also affect the taste of drinking water. Plus, water with high DO levels tends to be corrosive.Ohaus’s DO meters thus help you ensure that the water’s DO levels are conducive to the survival of fish and other aquatic organisms. You can also count on our devices to help ensure the purity of drinking water and determine how much corrosion running water may cause in pipes.
Conductivity Meter
Conductivity indicates water’s ability to conduct electrical current. More importantly, it indicates the amount of dissolved chemicals, minerals, and substances in water. The higher the percentage of these impurities, the better the water’s conductivity. Pure water doesn’t conduct electrical current.Ohaus’s offers two types of conductivity meters: handheld and benchtop. Both work by putting a known amount of electricity down one probe and measuring the amount that exits from the other end. The greater the electrical current, the higher the percentage of impurities in water.
TDS Meter
TDS meters measure the amount of total dissolved solids in liquid solutions. The higher the percentage of these impurities in water, the more unfit it is for human consumption. Furthermore, water with a large number of TDS particles is also more corrosive.Ohaus’s TDS meters do not measure these impurities in isolation. Instead, as you can verify by going through our catalog of water analysis meters and electrodes, our devices also indicate water’s DO levels, temperature, salinity, and other parameters.
ORP Meter
Oxidation-reduction potential indicates a substance’s ability to either oxidize another substance or reduce it. When water’s ORP value is high, that means that it contains lots of oxygen. So, the bacteria present in water can decompose dead tissue more efficiently.Ohaus offers ORP meters in multiple forms, including starter pens, electrodes, and benchtop. All these devices measure the oxidation-reduction potential in millivolts (mV), the standard unit of ORP.
Pen Meters
Our pen meters are a one-stop solution for all your water analysis needs. These pocket-size devices might look small to the eye and feel breakable in your hands. But their applications defy their nimble dimensions as well as budget-friendly asking prices.Take, for instance, the Ohaus Starter Pen Meter ST10T-A. This device can measure nine parameters, including pH, oxidation-reduction potential, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and temperature. It also features the automatic shutdown feature to conserve battery.
Electrodes
Strictly speaking, electrodes are a component, not a type of water analysis meters. So why are we mentioning them here? Primarily because, barring one or two applications, electrodes come in handy for the same applications as water analysis meters.Our electrodes can be used separately as well as in conjunction with other portable and starter bench meters. These devices can measure all the parameters as our water analysis meters, with their compact shape allowing for hassle-free domestic and commercial use.
Important Point: While all these are various types of water analysis meters, at Ohaus, one device can perform multiple applications. So, you don’t have to purchase five devices to measure five different parameters. Isn’t that great!
Features to Look for in Water Analysis Meters
Different water analysis meters come with different features. Some of those features don’t have much impact on the device’s usefulness. Others, meanwhile, can take your model’s utility to the next level. Here is a list of features that you may want in your water analysis meter:- Automatic Shutdown. All our water analysis meters and electrodes automatically shut down after a brief period of inactivity. This allows the battery to last longer than it would if the unit stayed on all the time.
- Waterproof housing. The waterproof housing is necessary to ensure the internal electronic components – which are vulnerable to water – aren’t exposed to moisture. Check out your unit’s IP rating to verify its effectiveness at blocking out water.
- Rechargeable battery. Make sure the water analysis meter you’re buying comes with a rechargeable battery. At Ohaus, all our water analysis meters and electrodes come with a rechargeable battery to eliminate the need for battery replacement.
- Easily replaceable electrodes. Many users don’t know that electrodes are disposable. That they don’t last as long as the unit they’re a part of. If you use your water analysis meter regularly, chances are that one electrode might not last more than 30 days.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for a bench or portable water analysis meter, our massive catalog has the device capable of meeting your requirements.