ACII pH probe issue

[kimoyo]

Hi Curt,

I've had my ACII since late last year. Every so often my ph probe would go wacky, start oscillating between high and low numbers and then it would be okay again later. But for the past month or two its just been way off. Reading in all sorts of different ranges and when I touch the probe it would jump and start oscillating again. So I got some calibration fluid and tried to calibrate it today but during the process it was hard to get the values to settle. If I moved the probe a little higher the number would fluctuate and take around 20 seconds to start stabilizing again. Now its just off again and if I move the probe up or down in the water it changes value. The serial cable is unplugged, do you have any ideas? Is there anyway to physically tell if the probe isn't working? Could it actually be the ACII?

What types of probes can I use with the ACII, can I use othe brands? I would like a probe that could be submerged, is that possible with the ACII?

Thanks.

 

[clp]

It could be a broken wire in the probe or its connector. Try wiggling the cord/connector and seeing if you can replicate the problem. I don't think that the AC2 is the problem unless all the probes show similar erratic readings at the same time.
You can fully submerge the pH probe, however, we don't necessarily recommend it as long term the cable will become brittle, and may cause the probe to fail prematurely.

Curt

 

[kimoyo]

Wiggling the cord doesn't change anything. When I submerge the probe the ph drops done to the 6 area. When the probe is half way submerged it goes up to the 9 area.

Also when I disconnect the probe the reading stays in the same area.

Should there be fluid in the bulb on the bottom of the probe?

 

[cali_reef]

I would try a new probe before driving your self crazy chasing the problem.

 

[clp]

Yes, there should be fluid in the bulb of the probe. It really sounds like the probe is broken internally.

Curt