7
8
Probe Cleaning
8.1
The tester is only as accurate as the probe is clean. Always
thoroughly rinse off the probe before and after each measurement
with clean water in a container or with a wash bottle.
8.2
Use the probe cleaning brush with water to clean off all the dirt on
the probe, especially the white
PTFE junction ring. Avoid wiping
or rubbing the blue spear tip.
The white PTFE ring junction will become slightly brownish after the first soil pH test. This is
normal. The slightly brownish ring will not affect the accuracy as long as the soil particles are
eliminated by the cleaning brush in water.
8.3
For tough contaminants,
soak the probe in Apera’s cleaning solution or detergent water
for 30 minutes. Then use a soft brush to remove the contaminants. Afterwards, soak the
probe in 3M KCL soaking solution for 1 hour. Rinse it off, then re-calibrate the tester
before using again. These cleaning tools can be found in the Probe Care Kit (refer to
section 15).
9
Probe Storage
9.1
The spear probe must be soaked in 3M KCl soaking solution when not in use. Fill in 3M
KCl soaking solution to about 1/3 of the probe cap, store the probe in it, then screw on
the cap ring tightly.
If you find white crystals inside or outside the probe cap, it is perfectly normal. It is the 3M KCl
soaking solution that crystalizes over time by its nature. Just rinse them off and add in new
storage solution. This chemical is not poisonous nor dangerous, and the probe’s performance
will not be affected at all.
