Apera Instruments PH60F-Z User manual

- 1 -

60-Z Series Smart pH Tester

(pH/Temp./ORP)

Instruction Manual

PH60-Z pH Tester

PH60S-Z Spear pH Tester

PH60F-Z Flat pH Tester

www.aperainst.de

V1.0

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Contents

1Introduction ............................................................................................................. - 3 -

2Battery Installation ................................................................................................... - 4 -

3Keypad Functions ..................................................................................................... - 4 -

4Complete Kit............................................................................................................. - 5 -

5Things to Know Before Use ....................................................................................... - 5 -

6pH Calibration........................................................................................................... - 6 -

7pH Measurement...................................................................................................... - 8 -

8ORP Measurement.................................................................................................... - 9 -

9Parameter Setting..................................................................................................... - 9 -

10 Technical Specifications ....................................................................................... - 10 -

11 Icons and Functions............................................................................................. - 10 -

12 Probe Replacement ............................................................................................. - 11 -

13 Warranty............................................................................................................. - 11 -

ATTENTION

You may find a few drops of water in the probe cap. These water droplets are

added to maintain the sensitivity of the pH sensor before the product leaves

factory. It does NOT mean the product is used.

The batteries are already preinstalled. Just pull off the paper slip before using

the tester. When you replace the batteries, make sure to follow the correct

directions: all four AAA batteries’ positive sides (+) FACE UP.

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1 Introduction

Dear Customer,

Thank you for choosing Apera Instruments PH60F-Z Smart pH Tester. Please carefully read this

manual before using the product in order to have a reliable testing experience.

1.1 This product is designed with a two-way control on both the tester and ZenTest Mobile App.

Please refer to the functions available on each platform in the following table. This manual shows

you how to operate the tester without connecting to a smartphone.

Table 1: Funtions on 60-Z Tester and ZenTest® Mobile App

Functions

60-Z Tester

ZenTest Mobile App

Display

LCD display

1. Basic Mode: digital display+calibration

info

Swipe to

switch among

various modes

2. Dial Mode: digital display+dial display

3. Graph Mode: digital display+graph

display

4. Table Mode: digital display+real time

measurement and history display

Calibration

Press buttons to

operate

Operate on smartphone following graphic guides

Self-

Diagnosis

Er1 –Er6 icons

Detailed problem analysis and solutions

Parameter

Setup

Press buttons to

set up (except for

P7 and P11)

All parameters can be set up in Settings.

Alarm

The screen turns

red when alarm

triggered; cannot

be setup

Alarm display and alarm values can be setup for pH and

ORP

Datalogger

N/A

Manual or Auto. Datalogger; notes can be added to saved

data

Data Output

N/A

Share data via Email

1.2 Search ZenTest in Apple App Store or Google Play App Store to download the latest App for your

tester.

1.3 For video tutorials on how to connect the tester to your smartphone and perform more functions

in ZenTest Mobile App, please go to www.aperainst.de

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2 Battery Installation

Please install batteries according to the following steps. *Please note direction of batteries: All

POSITIVE SIDES (“+”) FACING UP. (Wrong installation of batteries will cause

damage to the tester and potential hazards)

3 Keypad Functions

■ Short press------ < 2 seconds, Long press------- > 2 seconds

1. When turned off, short press to turn on the tester;

long press to enter parameter setting.

2. In calibration mode or parameter setting, short

press to return to measurement mode.

3. In measurement mode, long press to turn off the

tester, short press to turn on/off backlight.

1.In measurement mode, long press to turn on/off

Bluetooth® receiver. When turned on, will be

flashing; when connected to smartphone, will

stay on.

2. In parameter setting, short press to change

parameter (Uni-directional).

1. Long press to enter calibration mode.

2. In calibration mode, short press to confirm

calibration.

3. In measurement mode, when automatic lock is

turned off, short press to manually lock or unlock

readings.

① Pull the battery cap up ② Slide the battery cap along to the direction of arrow

③ Open the battery cap

④ Insert the batteries (ALL POSITIVE SIDES FACING UP) (see graph)

⑤ Close the battery cap ⑥ Slide and lock the battery cap along to the direction of arrow

⑦ Fit the tester’s cap while making sure to push all the way down. The tester’s waterproof

design may be compromised if the cap is not fitted correctly.

Battery Cap

Buttons

Probe Ring

Probe Cap

LCD Display

Probe

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4 Complete Kit

5 Things to Know Before Use

1) Be careful about the glass tip of the probe. It can break if being contacted by external force. If

broken, the probe needs to be replaced.

2) Things needed in addition to what’s in the box:

a) Distilled or deionized water (8-16oz) for rinsing the probe after each test

b) Tissue paper for drying the probe

3) For PH60-Z and PH60F-Z testers:

a) A few drops of water are added to the probe cap to keep the pH electrode in an activated

state before the tester leaves factory. Generally, users can start using the tester directly. If

the measuring response is slow, users can soak the pH electrode for 30 minutes in the 3M

KCL storage solution (fill to the fill-line) before using it; if the electrode is dry for a long

time (> 1 month), the pH electrode responds slowly, You can soak the pH electrode for 8

hours in the storage solution before using.

b) When the tester is not in use, we recommend adding one to two drops of tap water to the

probe cap, and close the cap (be careful not to add too much water). This way, the pH

probe’s sensitivity can be maintained and users can start using the tester right away next

time.

c) Do not soak the pH electrode in purified (e.g. distilled/deionized) water for a long time, which

will make the electrode response slow. If this happens, soak the pH electrode in 3M KCl

solution for 3~5 hours, and then re-calibrate it before using.

d) The storage solution is 3M KCL (SKU: AI1107), and the tester kit comes with a bottle of

10mL storage solution (can be used repeatedly). If it is contaminated, replace it with a new

one. Please do not use other brands’ storage solutions as they may contain other chemicals

that can cause damage to the electrodes.

4) For PH60S-Z Spear pH Tester:

◼NEVER store the spear probe in a dry condition because permanent damage CAN be

caused. The spear probe should always be stored in the 3M KCL soaking solution.

- 6 -

6 pH Calibration

6.1 Calibration Steps

1) Short press to turn on the meter; rinse the probe in distilled water, shake the meter in the

air and use tissue paper to dap off excess water (never rub or wipe the sensor tip).

2) Pour certain amount of pH 7.00 and pH 4.00 buffer solution into the corresponding calibration

bottles (to about half volume of the bottle);

3) Long press to enter calibration mode; Short press to exit.

4) Place the probe in pH7.00 buffer solution, shake it for a few seconds, and allow it to stand still in

the buffer solution until a stable reading is reached. When stable icon stays on the LCD

screen, short press to complete 1st point calibration and the tester returns to measurement

mode. Indication Icon will appear at the bottom left of the LCD screen.

5) Rinse the probe in distilled water and dry it. Long press to enter calibration mode to perform

2nd point of calibration.

6) Place the probe in pH 4.00 buffer solution, shake it for a few seconds, and allow it to stand still

in the buffer solution. When stable icon stays on the LCD screen, short press to

complete 2-point calibration and the tester returns to measurement mode. Indication icon

will appear at the bottom left of the LCD screen.

7) If necessary, rinse the probe in distilled water and dry it, and place the probe in 10.01 buffer

solution (sold separately) to complete 3rd point of calibration according to the steps in 6),

will appear at the bottom left of the LCD.

6.2 Notes

1) Tester will automatically recognize pH buffer solution. Users can perform one-point, two-point,

or three-point calibration. For the 1st point calibration, only 7.00 pH/6.86 pH solution can be

used. Then use other buffer solutions to conduct 2nd or 3rd point calibration. Perform the 2nd

point calibration (4.00 pH) immediately after the 1st point. Do NOT turn off the meter before

you perform 2nd point calibration. If the meter is turned off after 1st point calibration, users will

need to restart the calibration process with the 7.00 pH or 6.86 pH first and the 2nd point

following after. Otherwise, Er1 will occur.

2) The tester will automatically recognize 5 kinds of pH buffer solutions in both USA and NIST

series of standards. Refer to the table below:

Calibration

USA Series

NIST Series

Calibration

Indication Icon

Recommended

Accuracy and

Range

1-point

1) 7.00 pH

1) 6.86 pH

Accuracy ≥ 0.1

2-point

1) 7.00 pH

2) 4.00 or 1.68 pH

1) 6.86 pH,

2) 4.01 pH or 1.68

Measurement

Range＜7.00 pH

1) 7.00 pH

2) 10.01 or 12.45

1) 6.86 pH,

2) 9.18 pH or 12.45

Measurement

Range＞7.00pH

3-point

1) 7.00 pH

2) 4.00 or 1.68 pH

3) 10.01 or 12.45

1) 6.86pH

2) 4.01 or 1.68pH,

3) 9.18 pH or 12.45

Wide

Measurement

Range

- 7 -

3) For pH Calibration buffer solutions, we recommend that users replace new buffer solution after

10 to 15 times of use to keep the standard buffer’s accuracy. Do NOT pour the used calibration

solutions back into the solution bottles in case of contamination.

4) When calibrating strong basic solutions (pH>10), use 7.00 pH and 12.45 pH to calibrate; When

measuring strong acidic solutions (pH<4), 7.00 pH and 1.68 pH should be calibrated.

5) For the self-diagnosis information, please refer to the table below:

Symbol

Self-Diagnosis information

Potential problems and how to fix

The pH calibration solution

cannot be recognized by

the meter.

1. Make sure the probe is fully immersed in the

calibration solution.

2. Check if calibration solution is expired or polluted.

3. 1st point of pH calibration must be pH 7.00 or 6.86.

See 6.2 (1).

4. Please check whether pH electrode is damaged or

broken. If so, please replace with a new one.

5. The glass bulb or junction is severely

contaminated. Please use a soft brush with soap

water to clean it thoroughly. Then soak it in 3M

KCL 3-5 hours before performing calibration again.

6. If none of the above, please contact us at

info@aperainst.de

Is pressed before

measurement is fully stable

Wait for to come up and stay on screen

before pressing

During calibration, readings

being unstable for over 3

minutes

1. Please check whether pH electrode is damaged or

broken. If so, please replace with a new one.

2. The glass bulb or junction is severely

contaminated. Please use a soft brush with soap

water to clean it thoroughly. Then soak it in 3M

KCL overnight before performing calibration again.

3. The electrode is aged (used for over a year and

has a much slower response). A replacement is

needed.

4. If none of the above, please contact us at

info@aperainst.de

pH electrode zero electric

potential out of range (<-

60mV or >60mV)

1. Check whether pH buffer solutions comply with the

USA or NIST standard.

2. Check whether pH buffers are expired or

contaminated.

3. Please check whether pH electrode is damaged or

broken. If so, please replace with a new one.

4. The electrode is aged (used for over a year and

has a much slower response). A replacement is

needed.

5. The electrode is invalidated (Er4/Er5 repetitively

appears, and problems 1, 2, 3 are excluded). A

replacement is needed.

6. If none of the above, please contact us at

info@aperainst.de

pH electrode slope out of

range

(<85% or >110%)

The calibration reminder is

triggered. It’s time to perform

a new pH calibration

Perform pH calibration or cancel calibration reminder in

ZenTest settings.

- 8 -

7 pH Measurement

Short press to turn on the tester. Rinse the probe in distilled water and dry it. Dip the probe in

sample solution, stir gently, and allow it to stand still in the solution. Get readings after comes

up and stays on screen.

Notes

For solutions with low ionic strength (e.g. distilled or deionized water), the pH measurements will

be fluctuating and difficult to get a stable reading. A specialized pure water pH electrode is

required. For more information, please contact us at info@aperainst.de. Likewise, when testing

clean water such as drinking water, RO water or tap water, the test time could be longer, usually 2-

4 minutes.

7.1 Applications of different models

Model/Probe

Application

PH60-Z – glass bulb

sensor

General water solutions’ pH measurement such as hydroponics,

aquaculture, pools and spas, water treatment, beverage, etc.

PH60S-Z – Spear tip

sensor

Solid samples such as cheese, meat, fruit, vegetables, sushi rice,

bread, and soil; also works well for general water solution.

PH60F-Z – Flat glass

membrane

Flat surface measurement such as skin, paper, fabric, leather and

so on; micro sample testing; also works well for general water

solution.

1) PH60S-Z Spear pH testers are widely used for solids containing water or semi-solid medium.

When performing such tests, pay attention to insert probe evenly, and be careful to prevent

probe from damage. If the medium is too hard (such as meat or fruits), please bore a small

hole with a knife before inserting the probe.

◼For food pH measurement (e.g. sushi, cheese, meat, fruit, etc.), it should always be a sampling

test. That means test samples should no longer be edible.

2) For soil direct pH test with PH60S-Z

a) If soil is dry, add small amount of distilled or RO water to moisten the soil (do NOT add tap water

since it will affect the pH value significantly). Ideally wait 24 hours before you take a

measurement.

b) Rinse the probe with distilled water/RO water before inserting it to the soil.

c) If measuring outside of solution, rockwool or small pots, remove the top 5cm/2inch soil from the

surface of the sample area. Insert the spear probe approximately 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15cm) into

the soil samples from various locations (3 to 4), wait for the stable readings before recording

(smiley face icon stays on the screen).

d) Users can save all the data in ZenTest App. Then take the average of the saved data as the

representative pH level of the soil.

e) Do NOT use extra force to insert probe. If you feel like the probe can’t be inserted any deeper,

stop inserting. The spear tip could break.

f) Rinse off the soil residue between tests using distilled water or RO water for the best results.

Use the probe cleaning brush if needed.

- 9 -

3) PH60F-Z Flat probe testers are mostly for flat surface sample test.

a) For skin test: skin should be without sweat or dirt, nor be overly cleaned (do not use facewash

products before testing) to avoid affecting measurement results, dampen skin with some distilled

water, slightly force flat probe onto the skin, get readings after value stabilized.

b) For paper, fabric and leather test: add a few drops of distilled/deionized water on surface before

performing tests.

c) For micro sample testing, use a container with an inner diameter<=19mm and a flat bottom. The

tester can test volume >=0.5ml.

8 ORP Measurement

ORP stands for Oxidation-Reduction Potential, measured in mV. It’s also called redox. ORP is a

measure of the cleanliness of water & its ability to break down contaminants. A separate ORP

probe (ORP60-DA) needs to be installed to be able to measure ORP.

Power on the PH60-Z tester, unscrew the original probe, and install the ORP60-DA probe, then the

tester will automatically switch to ORP measurement mode (Refer to Section 14 for how to replace

a probe).

Rinse the probe in distilled water and dry it. Dip the probe in sample solution, shake for a few

seconds, and allow it to stand still. Get the ORP readings after appears and stays on screen.

9 Parameter Setting

9.1 Table of Settings

9.2 Parameter Setting

1) When the meter is turned off, long press to enter parameter setting →short press to

switch P01-P02… →P14. Short Press , parameter flashes → short press to adjust

parameter → short press to confirm →Short press to exit parameter setting and go

back to measurement mode.

Symbol

Parameter Setting Contents

Content

Factory Default

Temperature Unit

˚C – ˚F

˚F

Select automatic lock

5-20 seconds –Off

Off

Automatic Backlight Off

1-8 minutes –Off

Automatic Power Off

10-20 minutes –Off

pH Buffer Series Selection

USA –NIST

USA

pH Resolution

0.1 –0.01

0.01

pH Calibration Reminder

H-hours D-Days (set up in

ZenTest App)

pH back to factory default

No –Yes

- 10 -

2) Auto. Lock (P02) –Users can set the auto lock time from 5 to 20 seconds. For example, if 10

seconds is set, when the measured value is stable for more than 10 seconds, the measured

value will be automatically locked, and the HOLD icon will be displayed. Short press to

release the lock. When the setting is "Off" , the Auto. lock function is turned off, that is, the

measured value can only be manually locked. Short press to lock or unlock the measured

value. The HOLD icon will be displayed when reading is locked.

3) Auto. Backlight (P03) ─Users can set the automatic backlight time for 1 to 8 minutes. For

example, if 3 minutes is set, the backlight will turn off automatically after 3 minutes; when the

“Off”is set, the auto. backlight function will be turned off, and short press to manually

turn the backlight on or off.

4) Auto. Power off (P04) ─The auto. power off time can be set to 10 to 20 minutes. For

example, if 15 minutes is set, the meter will automatically shut down after 15 minutes if no

operation; when “Off” is set, the auto. power off function will be turned off. Long press to

manually shut down the meter.

5) pH Calibration Reminder (P07) –set X hours (H) Or X days (D) in ZenTest mobile app –

settings –Parameter –pH –Calibration Reminder. On the meter, you can only check the

values that’s been set up on ZenTest App. For example, if 3 days is set up, the Er6 icon (see

Figure-4) will appear in the lower right corner of the LCD screen in 3 days to remind you to

perform calibration, also in the ZenTest App there will be a pop-up reminder. After calibration

is finished or the reminder setting is cancelled in the ZenTest App, the Er6 icon will disappear.

6) pH Back to Factory Default (P08) –Select “Yes” to recover instrument calibration to

theoretical value. This function can be used when instrument does not work well in calibration

or measurement. Calibrate and measure again after setting the instrument back to factory

default.

10 Technical Specifications

Range

-2.00 to 16.00 pH

Resolution

0.01 pH

Accuracy

±0.01 pH ±1 digit

Calibration Points

1 to 3 points

Auto. Temperature Compensation

0 –50˚C (32 – 122˚F)

ORP (mV)

Range

-1000 mV to 1000 mV

Accuracy

±0.2% F.S

Temperature

Range

0 to 50˚C (32-122˚F)

Accuracy

±0.5˚C

Graph-3

LCD Display

Graph-4

pH calibration reminder

Graph-5

pH alarm triggered

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