Bluelab Combo Meter User Manual

Care and use guide

Contents page

Features 2

Bluelab Combo Meter 2

Introduction 3

Preparing for use 3

Calibration 4

Changing nutrient and
temperature display units 6

Measuring hydroponic
elements 7

Battery replacement 7

Cleaning the conductivity/
temperature probe 8

Cleaning the pH probe 9

Hydrating the pH probe 10

Storing the Bluelab
Combo Meter 10

Error messages 11

Technical speci cations 11

Troubleshooting guide 12

Bluelab pH Probe replacement 13

Bluelab probe care 13

Product guarantee 14

Limitation of liability 14

Contact details 14

English

Features

Measures pH, conductivity / nutrient (EC, CF, ppm 500 and ppm 700)
and temperature (°C, °F)

Lightweight and portable Replaceable double junction pH probe
Large easy to read display Over range and under range indicators
Simple push button pH calibration Low battery indicator
Successful pH calibration indicator 2 x AAA alkaline batteries included

No calibration required for conductivity
and temperature

Auto off function

pH probe

connection

socket

(BNC fi tting)

Display

Bluelab

Conductivity/

Temperature

Probe

pH/calibrate

button

Bluelab Combo Meter

Bluelab
pH Probe

Nutrient/units

button

Conductivity/

temperature

probe shroud

pH probe storage cap

The pH probe tip must not be allowed to dry out. Always
place the storage cap back onto the pH probe after each use.
Ensure the cap contains enough Bluelab pH Probe KCl
Storage Solution to cover the probe tip.

Nutrient
units

Low battery

indicator

pH unit

Temperature units
Successful pH

calibration indicators

2

ATTENTION

If it dries, it dies!

Keep your pH probe tip wet

at all times to avoid permanent damage

Temp/units
button

English

1.0 Introduction

The Bluelab Combo Meter has three press buttons; ‘pH / calibrate’, ‘nutrient / units’
and ‘temp / units’. The buttons have a short press and long press function. A short
press means a button is released in about one second. The long press is a button
being held for at least three seconds and released when the display starts fl ashing.

Turning the Combo Meter on

A short press of any button turns the Combo Meter on. The Combo Meter
automatically turns off after four minutes if no buttons are pressed. If the Combo
Meter turns off before the reading is taken, a short press of any button will turn the
Combo Meter on again.

2.0 Preparing for use

The following tasks must be performed before the Bluelab Combo Meter is used for
the fi rst time.

Insert batteries.

See section 6.0.

Connect pH probe

Connect the pH probe to the pH meter by lining
up the lugs of the BNC fi ttings. Fasten securely
by pushing the pH probe connector on and
twisting one quarter turn.

Remove the storage cap

a) Remove the pH probe storage cap by

gripping the top of the cap and gently
twisting the base one rotation clockwise to
loosen slightly. Next slowly slide the cap off
the pH probe.
DO NOT completely remove the base of the
cap from the top of the cap.

CAUTION: When the pH probe is not in use, add
enough Bluelab pH Probe KCl Storage Solution to
the storage cap so the probe tip is covered. Then
replace the cap and store in a secure place.

DO NOT use RO (Reverse Osmosis), Distilled
or De-ionized water. Pure water changes the
chemistry in the reference, causing the probe
to die.

Calibrate the pH

Calibrate the combo meter by following the
instructions in section 3.0 of this manual.

This must be done before the
Combo Meter is used for the fi rst time.

1

1

2

3

Inserting Twisting Attached

Attaching the

Bluelab pH Probe to the Meter

Removing pH probe

storage cap

3

4

Ensure probe tip is covered by

the KCl storage solution in cap

See section 3.0
for calibration
steps

3.0 Calibration

pH calibration is required before fi rst use to ensure that the fi rst reading is accurate.

• The Bluelab Conductivity/Temperature Probe DOES NOT require calibration.

• The pH of the Bluelab Combo Meter DOES require calibration.

For accurate pH readings the pH probe is cleaned and recalibrated when:

• The reading is different to what you were expecting.

• The batteries have been removed or changed.

• The pH probe is replaced with a new one or is disconnected from the Combo Meter.

• The pH calibration indicators have disappeared.

When calibrating the pH after fi rst use the pH probe needs to be cleaned. See pH probe
cleaning in section 8.0.

For best pH calibration

pH reading accuracy is dependant on the accuracy and age of the calibration
solutions used, and use and cleanliness of the pH probe tip.

• Ensure the pH probe has been cleaned and rinse the pH probe with clean water
between calibration solutions to reduce contamination of the pH solutions.

• Only fresh uncontaminated solutions should be used.

• Calibrate the pH at the same temperature as the solution to be measured.

• ALWAYS calibrate the pH probe with pH 7.0 then pH 4.0 or pH 10.0.

NOTE: The conductivity/temperature probe does not need to be calibrated, but must be
cleaned to remove any build up of nutrient salts. See Section 7.0.

The pH calibration involves cleaning the pH probe tip and then calibrating in
TWO SOLUTIONS.

If a reading below pH 7.0 is expected, use pH 7.0 and pH 4.0 calibration solutions.
If a reading above pH 7.0 is expected, use pH 7.0 and pH 10.0 calibration solutions.

Follow the steps on the following page for Combo Meter pH calibration.

Storage and use of calibration solutions

• Always place the lid back onto the bottle after use or evaporation will occur rendering
the solution useless.

• Store in a cool place.

• DO NOT measure directly into the bottle. Tip a small amount into a clean container
and discard after use.

• Never add water to solutions.

pH reading accuracy is dependant on the accuracy
and age of the calibration solutions used, and use
and cleanliness of the pH probe tip.

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4

3.0 Calibration cont.

To calibrate the pH

Clean pH probe tip.

See Section 8.0 (the pH probe does not require
cleaning before the fi rst use).

pH 7.0 calibration

a) Turn pH meter on. Rinse pH probe tip in fresh

water, shake off excess water and place in a
pH 7.0 calibration solution. Wait for at least
one minute or longer if required for reading to
stablize to a constant value.

b) Long press the ‘calibrate’ button. When the

display shows CAL release button.

pH 7 indicator is displayed indicating

a successful pH 7 calibration.

The pH 4 indicator will now fl ash

indicating pH 4.0 or pH 10.0
calibration is now required.

c) If Err appears during the calibration process see

Section 11.0.

d) The combo meter must be calibrated to two

points. If after an hour the combo meter has not
been calibrated with a second calibration point
the calibration indicators disappear and the
combo meter reverts to an uncalibrated state.
Calibration is required.

pH 4.0 / 10.0 calibration

a) Rinse the pH probe tip in fresh water, shake

off excess water and place the pH probe tip in
either pH 4.0 or pH 10.0 calibration solution.

b) Wait for at least one minute for reading to

stabilize to a constant value.

c) Long press the ‘calibrate’ button. When the

display shows CAL release button.

pH 7 / pH 4 is displayed

or pH 7 / pH 10 is displayed

d) The pH meter is now calibrated and ready for use.
e) After 30 days, the calibration indicators

disappear to let you know calibration is required.

Store the pH probe

Add enough Bluelab pH Probe KCl Storage Solution
into the probe storage cap to fully submerge the pH
probe tip. Place storage cap on probe.

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1

2

3

clean the pH probe

pH 7.0
calibration
solution

rinse in tap water

pH 4.0 or
pH 10.0
calibration
solution

4

5

Successful pH 7

and pH 4 calibration

Ensure probe tip is covered by

the KCl storage solution in cap