Bluelab Guardian Monitor User Manual

Care and use guide

In just one glance the
Bluelab Guardian Monitor
magically measures all
3 critical parameters for
successful growth:

pH, conductivity AND
temperature

Contents

page page

English

Features 3

Bluelab Guardian Monitor 3

What’s in the box? 4

IMPORTANT - Bluelab pH
Probe care 5

Mounting the Bluelab Guardian
Monitor - if wall mounting 6

Mounting the Bluelab Guardian
Monitor - if mounting on a
support or bar 6

Install correct plug adaptor 6

Connect power adaptor
and Bluelab pH Probe 6

Power up 7

Select the desired
conductivity unit 7

Select the desired
temperature unit 7

Select the desired brightness
level of the LED displays 7

pH calibration 8

Placement of probes 10

Set alarms (optional) 11

Cleaning the conductivity/
temperature probe 13

Cleaning the pH probe 14

Hydrating the pH probe 14

Troubleshooting guide 15

Technical speci cations 16

Bluelab pH Probe replacement 17

Bluelab Probe Care 17

Product guarantee 18

Limitation of liability 18

Contact details 18

Congratulations on
purchasing the Bluelab
Guardian Monitor

The Bluelab Guardian Monitor is a
continuous indicator of the current
levels of EC, pH and temperature
of your nutrient solution, enabling
you to optimise these parameters
as your crop progresses through
each growing phase.

2

English

Features

‘Plant Safe’ green LED display Visual alarm for both high and low settings

Large easy to read displays

Greater tolerance to RF/electronic
interference provided

No calibration required for conductivity
or temperature

Water resistant design

Selectable units for conductivity and
temperature

International power supply

Simple push button pH calibration Adjustable display brightness

Replaceable double junction pH probe

Settings retained when power lost
(non volatile memory)

What is Plant Safe? Green LED’s are safe for continued growth during a plant’s fruiting
stage when hours of darkness are required.

Bluelab Guardian Monitor

Bluelab

Conductivity/

Temperature

Probe

Conductivity

display

Conductivity
units button

Temperature

display

Temperature

units button

pH display

pH calibration

button

Conductivity/

temperature

3

probe shroud

Display

brightness

button

Down button

ATTENTION

If it dries, it dies!

Keep your pH probe tip wet

at all times to avoid permanent damage

Bluelab
pH Probe

Conductivity
LEDs

Temperature
LEDs

pH calibration
LEDs

pH probe
storage cap

Alarm on LED

Alarm button

Power input

Up button

pH probe BNC
connector

PLEASE FOLLOW THE MANUAL STEP BY STEP BEFORE FIRST USE BEGINS

1.0 What’s in the box?

Please verify the box contents from the information below.



English

5 6 7 8 9

11

1

3

10

2

4

12

1

Bluelab Guardian Monitor

2

Bluelab pH Probe with storage cap

3

Bluelab Conductivity/Temperature Probe

4

Bluelab pH Probe holder with suction cup

5

5V DC power supply

6

North American plug adaptor

4

7

NZ / Australian plug adaptor

8

UK plug adaptor

9

European plug adaptor

10

4 x mounting fasteners

11

2 x cable ties

12

pH 7.0, pH 4.0 and EC 2.77 single

use calibration solution sachets

2.0 IMPORTANT - Bluelab pH Probe care

The Bluelab pH Probe is the only part of the Bluelab Guardian Monitor that should
ever require replacing. pH probes DO NOT last forever. They age through normal use
and will eventually fail. The life time of a pH probe depends on the environment it is
used in and the way that it is treated. To receive a long life from your pH probe, please
ensure you follow the guide below.

English

pH probes contain glass and are therefore FRAGILE. With good care, they will
give a long service life.

Bluelab pH Probe

pH probe holder
suction cup

BNC connector

pH probe tip

pH probe
storage cap

Glass tube inside
plastic barrel

Glass bulb

DO NOT let the pH probe tip dry. IF IT DRIES IT DIES!

DO NOT bend the probe; this will break its internal glass tube.

DO NOT knock the probe; this will break its internal glass tube or external glass bulb.

DO NOT plunge a cold pH probe into a hot liquid - sudden temperature changes can crack the

glass and permanently damage the probe.

DO NOT immerse in oils, proteins or suspended solids that will leave a coating on the glass bulb.

DO NOT ‘kink’ or bend the lead sharply.

DO NOT attempt to lengthen the lead on the pH probe.

DO NOT wet the BNC connector at the end of the lead.

Always remove pH probe storage cap before use

1. Grip the top of the cap and gently twist the base one rotation
clockwise to loosen slightly.

2. Next slowly slide the cap off the pH probe. DO NOT completely
remove the base of the cap from the top of the cap.

3. Store the storage cap in a safe place.

Storing the pH probe

When storing the pH probe, the pH probe tip must be kept moist.

To prepare the pH probe for storage, 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.

Removing pH probe

storage cap

If the pH probe has been accidentally allowed to dry out;

The pH probe must be ‘hydrated’ for 24 hours in KCl storage solution (never use

5

RO, Distilled or De-ionized water). Following this; carry out a calibration to check if
the probe has already suffered permanent damage.

Ensure probe tip is covered by

the KCl storage solution in cap

3.0 Mounting the Bluelab Guardian Monitor ­ if wall mounting

Select a suitable location that is less than 2 meters
from your reservoir, and less than 1.5 meters from an
electrical mains outlet.

NOTE: Avoid placing the Guardian Monitor where it can
be damaged by direct sunlight, water or nutrient salts.

Option 1

a) Install two fasteners (top and bottom) to the wall

172mm / 6.¾” apart.

b) Slide the Guardian Monitor onto the fasteners

using the keyholes.

Option 2

a) Fix the four fasteners through each mounting hole

in each corner of the case.

3.1 Mounting the Bluelab Guardian Monitor ­ if mounting on a support or bar

Select a suitable location that is less than 2 meters
from your reservoir, and less than 1.5 meters from an
electrical mains outlet.

NOTE: Avoid placing the Guardian Monitor where it can
be damaged by direct sunlight, water or nutrient salts.

Fix each of the cable ties provided through the small
mounting holes in the top of the case and wrap
around the support or bar and secure.

4.0 Install correct plug adaptor

Select the appropriate mains plug adaptor for your
country.

Connect the plug adaptor to the power supply.

5.0 Connect power adaptor and Bluelab pH Probe

Connect the power adaptor into the base of
the Guardian Monitor where ‘Power Input’ is
labelled. Plug the adaptor into mains power
supply.

Connect the pH probe to the Guardian Monitor
by lining up the lugs of the BNC fi ttings.

Fasten securely by pushing the pH probe
connector on and twisting one quarter turn.

1

Option 1

Mounting keyholes
top and bottom

English

2

Option 2

Mounting holes
top and bottom

1

2

1

Cable ties fi xed through small
mounting holes around a
support or bar.

2

6

1

2

Inserting Twisting Attached