How To Use A Conductivity Meter

To use a conductivity meter, start by calibrating the device with a standard solution to ensure accurate readings. Next, prepare your sample by ensuring it’s clean and at the correct temperature. Immerse the probe into the sample, press the measurement button, and wait for the reading to stabilize. Record the conductivity value displayed. For consistent results, calibrate regularly and clean the probe after each use. Atlas Scientific conductivity meters offer reliable, precise measurements with easy-to-use features like automatic temperature compensation and data storage.

Conductivity meters are essential tools for measuring the electrical conductivity of liquids, particularly water. This property is crucial in various fields like water treatment, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and scientific research. Whether you are testing the purity of water, monitoring industrial processes, or ensuring the quality of a chemical solution, understanding how to properly use a conductivity meter is key to obtaining accurate results.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps of using a conductivity meter, from calibration to measurement, and provide tips for maintenance and troubleshooting. Along the way, we will highlight how Atlas Scientific’s high-quality conductivity meters can make your testing more efficient and precise.

What is Conductivity & The Importance Of Measuring It

Electrical conductivity (EC) is the ability of a solution to conduct electricity, which is directly related to the concentration of dissolved ions such as salts, minerals, or impurities within the solution.

Conductivity is measured using a conductivity meter, offering readers an insight into the solution’s ion concentration. Higher concentrations of ions result in higher conductivity. This occurs because conductivity rises when water dissolves more ionic compounds, as the ions in the solution carry an electrical current.

In practical terms, conductivity measurements are often used to:

Monitor water quality: For example, measuring the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in drinking water or wastewater.
Test chemical solutions: In industries like pharmaceuticals and food production, conductivity can indicate the purity or concentration of chemicals.
Control industrial processes: In applications like boiler water treatment, conductivity meters help control TDS buildup and ensure efficient operation.

Measuring Conductivity Using A Conductivity Meter

Atlas Scientific’s conductivity meters provide high-precision measurements, ideal for industries and laboratories that require reliable, repeatable results. To simplify how to use a conductivity meter, we have broken it down into 6 main steps.

Step 1: Calibration of the Conductivity Meter

Before you start measuring, it’s crucial to calibrate your conductivity meter. Calibration ensures that your readings are accurate by aligning the meter with a standard solution of known conductivity.

How to Calibrate Your Conductivity Meter:

1. Turn on the Meter: In this case, make sure either the EZO-complete Conductivity, EZO-Conductivity Circuit, or the Industrial Conductivity Transmitter is correctly connected to your setup and has power.

2. Prepare Calibration Solution: Use a standard solution that has a known conductivity value. Atlas Scientific offers a variety of calibration solutions tailored to different measurement ranges.

3. Immerse the Electrode: Place the electrode of your conductivity meter into the calibration solution. Make sure the sensing area on the electrode is completely submerged.

4. Give the Calibration command: Depending on the type of Atlas Scientific Conductivity meter you are using, these commands are a bit different. Please see the datasheet for more information on these commands.

5. Wait for Stabilization: Allow the meter to stabilize and adjust automatically if necessary. Once the reading aligns with the known value of the calibration solution, the process is complete.

Regular calibration is essential, especially if you are measuring a range of solutions or if the conductivity of the liquid changes significantly over time.

Step 2: Preparing the Sample

Once your meter is calibrated, the next step is to prepare your sample for testing. The quality of the sample can have a significant impact on the accuracy of your conductivity readings.

Tips for Preparing Your Sample:

Ensure Cleanliness: The container holding the sample should be free from any contaminants. Even small traces of previous solutions can skew results.
Check Temperature: Conductivity readings can be affected by temperature, as warmer liquids typically conduct electricity better. Many modern conductivity meters come with automatic temperature compensation (ATC) to account for this.
Mix the Solution: If you are measuring a solution, ensure it’s well-mixed to avoid localized differences in conductivity.

At Atlas Scientific, we offer Platinum RTD (Resistance Temperature Detector) sensors that provide a wide operating temperature range while maintaining exceptional high-temperature performance. Platinum’s unique resistance-to-temperature response ensures reliability and consistency, making it the preferred material for critical temperature-sensing applications alongside conductivity measurements.

Platinum RTD sensors are widely utilized in industrial processes and laboratories globally, earning a strong reputation for their accuracy, repeatability, and stability. This reliability has established Platinum RTD sensors as the industry standard for temperature measurement.

Step 3: Taking the Measurement

With the meter calibrated and the sample prepared, it’s time to measure the conductivity.

How to Measure Conductivity:

Insert the Probe: Immerse the conductivity probe into the sample. The electrodes sensing area must be fully submerged for accurate readings.
Enable Continuous reading: By default our conductivity meters all use continuous reading mode; If you had turned this mode off in previous uses, make sure its on before taking readings.
Wait for Stabilization: Before moving on to the next sample (if available) allow the meter to stabilize for a few seconds to ensure accuracy.

Step 4: Interpreting the Results

The conductivity reading you obtain will give you insights into the concentration of ions within the solution. Here’s a general guide for interpreting your results:

Low Conductivity: A low reading indicates that the solution has few dissolved ions—usually a sign of pure water or a very dilute solution.
High Conductivity: A high reading indicates a solution with high ion concentration, which could suggest high salinity or contamination by salts or other minerals.
Comparison with Standards: Compare the measured conductivity to known standards for the specific application (e.g., acceptable TDS levels in drinking water or industrial processes).

For example, in drinking water, a TDS level of less than 500 mg/L is typically considered safe, while values above this could indicate contamination.

Step 5: Data Storage and Further Analysis

Atlas Scientific conductivity meters are designed to make data collection and analysis easy. Although they are designed to provide real-time measurements upon request or in continuous mode, they do not have built-in data logging capabilities.

To record and store sensor data, you’ll need to integrate the Conductivity meter with an external microcontroller or data logger that can request readings and save them to memory or storage media like an SD card.

Storing and reviewing historical data can help you identify trends or inconsistencies in your measurements, which is especially valuable in industries like water treatment and pharmaceuticals.

Step 6: Cleaning and Maintenance

To maintain accurate results, regular cleaning and maintenance of your conductivity meter is essential. Here are some maintenance tips:

Clean the Probe Electrode: After each measurement you take, rinse the conductivity probe with distilled water to get rid of any residue from the sample.
Check for Scale Buildup: In environments with hard water or high mineral content, scale may build up on the electrode. If this happens, gently clean the probe with a mild acid solution to prevent interference with measurements.
Calibrate Regularly: As mentioned earlier, frequent calibration is necessary to ensure the meter remains accurate over time.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your conductivity meter isn’t providing accurate readings, here are some troubleshooting steps to consider:

Check Calibration: Ensure the meter is properly calibrated using a standard solution.
Inspect the Probe: Make sure the conductivity probe is clean and free from any buildup or damage.
Watch out for air bubbles: Make sure to watch out for air bubbles, as they can get caught between the two graphite plates and throw off your results. Lightly tap your conductivity probe to knock out any bubbles caught in the probe.

Atlas Scientific’s conductivity meters are known for their high accuracy and reliability, with advanced features like error detection and diagnostic alerts to help troubleshoot any issues.

Summary

Using a conductivity meter is a straightforward process that involves calibrating the meter, preparing the sample, taking accurate measurements, and maintaining the equipment for long-term use. By following these steps, you can confidently measure the conductivity of any liquid and ensure your readings are accurate and reliable.

Atlas Scientific’s conductivity meters provide an ideal solution for a wide range of applications, offering high precision, ease of use. Whether you are in a laboratory, industrial facility, or field setting, their meters are designed to meet the needs of professionals across industries.