YSI EXO pH Sensors
Features
- 0 to 14 unit measurement range
- T63<3 sec response time
- ±0.1 pH unit accuracy within ±10˚C of calibration temp
- Expedited repair and warranty service
- Lifetime technical support
- More
Overview
Users can choose between a pH sensor or a combination pH/ORP sensor to measure these parameters. pH describes the acid and base characteristics of water. A pH of 7.0 is neutral; values below 7 are acidic; values above 7 are alkaline. ORP designates the oxidizing-reducing potential of a water sample and is useful for water which contains a high concentration of redox-active species, such as the salts of many metals and strong oxidizing (chlorine) and reducing (sulfite ion) agents. However, ORP is a non-specific measurement—the measured potential is reflective of a combination of the effects of all the dissolved species in the medium. Users should be careful not to overinterpret ORP data unless specific information about the site is known.
Replaceable Sensor Module
The EXO pH and pH/ORP sensors have a unique design that incorporates a user-replaceable sensor tip (module) and a reusable sensor base that houses the processing electronics, memory, and wet-mate connector. This allows users to reduce the costs associated with pH and pH/ORP sensors by only replacing the relatively inexpensive module periodically and not the more costly base.
Electrodes
EXO measures pH with two electrodes combined in the same probe: one for hydrogen ions and one as a reference. The sensor is a glass bulb filled with a solution of stable pH (usually 7) and the inside of the glass surface experiences constant binding of H+ ions. The outside of the bulb is exposed to the sample, where the concentration of hydrogen ions varies. The resulting differential creates a potential read by the meter versus the stable potential of the reference.
The ORP of the media is measured by the difference in potential between an electrode which is relatively chemically inert and a reference electrode. The ORP sensor consists of a platinum button found on the tip of the probe. The potential associated with this metal is read versus the Ag/AgCl reference electrode of the combination sensor that utilizes gelled electrolyte. ORP values are presented in millivolts and are not compensated for temperature.
Signal Quality
Signal conditioning electronics within the pH sensor module improve response, increase stability, and reduce proximal interference during calibration. Amplification (buffering) in the sensor head is used to eliminate any issue of humidity in the front-end circuitry and reduce noise.
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