The Essentials EC Meter is one of those really necessary items for enthusiastic hydroponics growers to measure the strength of your nutrient solution. This budget EC meter is great for the hobbyist as it won’t break the bank! For more serious growers we would recommend investing in a Bluelab Pen or even better the Bluelab Truncheon.
 
How the Essentials Digital EC Meter works:
For growers on a budget, the Essentials Digital EC meter is a great value-for money piece of equipment. The Essentials EC Meter works by measuring the electrical conductivity of your nutrient solution via electrodes on the bottom end and then displays the measurement on an LCD display. This allows the user to be able to fine-tune the strength of their nutrient solution for optimal plant-growth. The electrodes and temperature sensor (for temperature compensation) are protected by a slotted plastic shroud on the bottom of the unit.
 
The Essentials EC Meter is factory calibrated but we recommend the unit is recalibrated every 10 measurements or so in order to maintain it’s accuracy.
The Essentials EC Meter is shock resistant and water resistant, but not water-proof so it should never be fully submerged. The unit will automatically switch itself off to preserve battery life if it is not used for several minutes.
 
Using the Essentials Digital EC Meter:
Feeding your plants with an appropriate strength nutrient solution for the stage of growth is one of the most important aspects of successful gardening. If the nutrient solution is too weak then your plants will grow slowly. If it’s too strong your plants will become overfed leading to slowed growth and could even burn!
 
Using an Essentials Digital EC Meter in combination with a reliable nutrient manufacturer’s feeding schedule gets rid of the guesswork when making up your nutrient solution. To use, make up your nutrient solution according to the nutrient manufacturer’s recommended schedule and stir it well. Press the ON/OFF button on the Meter and dip the end of it into the solution so that the probe-shroud is submerged and give it a little shake to remove bubbles trapped within the shroud. Keep it still and wait for a few moments so that the probes can equalise to the same temperature as the solution. When the meter beeps, it indicates that it has finished taking it’s measurement. The number displayed on the LCD readout is the the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution in EC. To convert the reading to CF simply multiply the number on the display by 10.
 
The nutrient solution can now adjusted to bring it to the correct strength by adding more nutrient or by diluting with water as necessary. Further readings can be taken after adding more nutrient or diluting it until the nutrient strength is just right.
 
The Meter can be switched off by pressing and holding down the ON/OFF button for 3 seconds. If the Meter is not used for several minutes then it will switch itself off in order to preserve battery life. Always rinse the probes with fresh water and dry before and after every test. Soak the probes in a cup of fresh water for 15 to 30 minutes before replacing the protective cap and storing.
 
Essentials – great value-for-money hydroponic accessories supplier
Made of tough plastic
Simple to use and effective
Easy calibration
Water resistant
Shock resistant
Automatic off to save battery life
Automatic temperature compensation
Takes 4 button-cell batteries (357, 357x, V357, G13, SG13, SR44, SR44W, SR44SW)