APERA INSTRUMENTS 60-Z Series Smart PH Tester Instruction Manual

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

60-Z Series Smart PH Tester

ATTENTION

1. 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.
2. 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.

Introduction

Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing Apera Instruments PH60S-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

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

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)

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.

Keypad Functions

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

| 1. When turned off, short press to turn on the testerlong press to enter parameter setting.
2. In calibration mode or parameter setting, shortpress to return to measurement mode.
3. In measurement mode, long press to turn off the tester, short press to turn on/off backlight.
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| 1.In measurement mode, long press to turn on/offBluetooth®  receiver. When turned on, will be flashing; when connected to smartphone, will stay on.
2. In parameter setting, short press to changeparameter (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.

Complete Kit

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.

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 1 st 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| Indication Icon| Recommended Accuracy and  Range
   ---|---|---|---|---
   1-point| 1) 7.00 pH| 1) 6.86 pH| | Accuracy ?. 0.1
   pH
   2-point| 1) 7.00 pH

2. 4.00 or 1.68 pH| 1) 6.86 pH,
3. 4.01 pH or 1.68 PH|

| Measurement
Range<7.00 pH

1. 7.00 pH
2. 10.01 or 12.45 pH| 1) 6.86 pH,
3. 9.18 pH or 12.45 pH| | Range >7.00pH
   3-point| 1) 7.00 pH
   2)  4.00 or 1.68 pH
   3)  10.01 or 12.45 pH| 1) 6.86pH
4. 4.01 or 1.68pH,
5. 9.18 pH or 12.45 pH|

| Wide
Measurement
Range
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
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| 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 ofrange
(<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.

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 24 minutes.

7.1 Applications of different models

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

Technical Specifications

Icons and Functions

Stable reading
indicator| | WaterproofRating| IP67, floats on water
Reading Lock| HOLD| Power| DC3V, AAA batteries*4
Bluetooth Signal| | Battery Life| ＞200 Hours
Low power reminder| | Backlight| White: Measurement；Green:
Calibration；Red: Alarm
Auto. Power Off| Automatically power off if no operation for 10 minutes
Dimension/Weight| Instrument ：40×40×178mm/133g; case：255×210×50mm/680g;

Probe Replacement

To replace a probe:

1. take off the probe cap; screw off the probe ring; unplug the probe
2. plug in the new replacement probe (pay attention to the probe’s position)
3. screw on the probe ring tightly.

The replacement probes that are compatible with PH60S-Z are:

• PH60-DE (Regular pH glass bulb probe),
• PH60S-DE (Spear pH probe for solids/semi-solids pH testing),
• PH60F-DE (Flat pH probe for surface pH testing)
• ORP60-DA (ORP Probe).

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: accidental damage, 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 | www.aperainst.de | Tel. +49 202 51988998

Documents / Resources

| APERA INSTRUMENTS 60-Z Series Smart PH Tester [pdf] Instruction Manual
PH60S-Z, PH60F-Z, PH60-Z, 60-Z Series, 60-Z Series Smart PH Tester, Smart PH Tester, PH Tester, Tester
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References

• Apera Instruments
• Apera Instruments

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