YSI pH10 Portable Pen-Style pH and Temperature Meter

Overview

The YSI pH10 is a compact, rugged pen-style pH and temperature meter engineered for field-deployable electrochemical measurements in environmental monitoring, wastewater treatment, aquaculture, education, and routine quality control labs. It operates on the fundamental principle of potentiometric measurement: a glass pH sensing electrode generates a voltage potential relative to a stable reference electrode, which is converted into a pH value via the Nernst equation (−59.16 mV/pH unit at 25 °C). Integrated platinum resistance (Pt1000 or equivalent) temperature sensing enables real-time automatic temperature compensation (ATC), ensuring pH accuracy across variable thermal conditions without manual input. Designed for reliability in uncontrolled environments, the pH10 meets IP67 ingress protection—fully dust-tight and submersible up to 1 meter for 30 minutes—making it suitable for outdoor sampling in rain, humid soil, or splash-prone industrial settings.

Key Features

• Rugged, waterproof housing rated IP67 for field durability and incidental immersion
• Simultaneous dual-parameter display: pH (0.00–14.00, 0.01 resolution) and temperature (0.0–99.9 °C, 0.1 °C resolution) on a high-contrast graphical LCD
• Auto-buffer recognition for both USA (pH 4.01, 7.00, 10.01) and NIST (pH 4.01, 6.86, 9.18) calibration standards—eliminates manual buffer selection errors
• Flexible calibration options: 1-, 2-, or 3-point calibration with automatic slope and offset calculation
• Real-time automatic temperature compensation (0.0–99.9 °C) using integrated temperature sensor
• Data hold and stable-value lock function for recording transient or low-conductivity samples
• Non-volatile memory storing up to 50 measurement records, each with full metadata: pH value, temperature, date, and time stamp
• Integrated real-time clock (RTC) supporting GLP-compliant data traceability
• Tool-free electrode replacement—standard BNC-compatible pH electrode with protective sleeve and hydration cap
• Auto-power-off after 8 minutes of inactivity; battery life ≈35 hours on four LR44 cells
• Belt clip included for hands-free operation during mobile surveys or plant walk-throughs

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The YSI pH10 is validated for aqueous solutions with conductivity ≥200 µS/cm, including natural waters (freshwater, estuarine, seawater-diluted), municipal effluents, hydroponic nutrient solutions, swimming pool water, and buffered laboratory standards. It is not intended for non-aqueous, highly viscous, or protein-rich media where junction clogging or reference electrode poisoning may occur. The instrument supports Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements through timestamped calibration logs and measurement records, enabling audit-ready documentation for ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratories. While not certified for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance (due to lack of electronic signature capability), its calibration history retention and immutable timestamps align with core elements of regulatory data integrity frameworks under ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 quality management systems.

Software & Data Management

Data export is performed manually via visual readout and transcription, as the pH10 does not feature USB, Bluetooth, or IR connectivity. All stored records—including calibration date/time, buffer IDs used, slope (%), offset (mV), measured pH, temperature, and sample timestamp—are accessible directly on-device via scroll navigation. The internal RTC ensures temporal coherence across sessions, critical for trend analysis in long-term environmental monitoring programs. For integration into LIMS or ELN workflows, users typically log entries into standardized templates compliant with ASTM D1293 (Standard Test Method for pH of Water) or EPA Method 150.1. Firmware is not user-upgradable; calibration coefficients and system parameters are factory-programmed and protected against accidental overwrite.

Applications

• Field-based water quality assessment: rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater monitoring per USGS or EPA protocols
• Wastewater treatment plant process control: influent, aeration basin, and effluent pH verification
• Aquaculture and hatchery management: real-time pH and temperature tracking in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS)
• Educational laboratories: undergraduate chemistry and environmental science experiments requiring portable, intuitive instrumentation
• Food and beverage pre-process checks: rinse water, cleaning solution verification, and brine tank monitoring
• Swimming pool and spa maintenance: rapid spot-checking of disinfectant efficacy correlates (pH-dependent chlorine speciation)

FAQ

What calibration buffers are supported?
The YSI pH10 automatically recognizes standard USA (pH 4.01, 7.00, 10.01) and NIST (pH 4.01, 6.86, 9.18) buffers during calibration.
Is the electrode replaceable without tools?
Yes—the pH electrode connects via a standard BNC interface and can be swapped in seconds without disassembly tools or technical training.
Does the device comply with ISO 9001 or GLP requirements?
It supports GLP documentation through timestamped calibration logs and measurement records, satisfying key traceability criteria for ISO 9001-certified quality systems.
What is the operating temperature range for measurements?
The instrument performs accurate measurements between 0.0 °C and +50.0 °C ambient; the pH sensor itself compensates from 0.0 °C to 99.9 °C.
How is data retrieved from the internal memory?
All 50 stored records—including pH, temperature, date, and time—are viewable on-screen via menu navigation; no external interface is provided.