pH probe issues, head unit?

Basic / Standard Reef Angel hardware
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clw143
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Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:20 pm
Location: Louisiana

pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

My pH probe started reading 1.09, it even reads this with the probe unplugged. I took it to my LFS and had him plug it into his meter and it read fine.

Any thing I can do or is my head unit bad?
paulvisco
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Joined: Fri May 17, 2013 2:27 am

Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by paulvisco »

start by putting tank water in a cup and place the probe into that if it reads right then start looking for possible electrical leaks, ato switches can be a good starting place unplug items one at a time until you see the ph read right. anything in the water could be the casue of the bad readings if there is a current leak causing the ph probe to read wonky

if the cup test fails the head unit could be it.
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clw143
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

It reads 1.09 even while I am trying to calibrate it.
paulvisco
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by paulvisco »

I see that now that the reading is the same pluged in or not pluged in have you tried to reload the controller code others have had some luck with this but I doubt that it will effect your readings
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clw143
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Location: Louisiana

Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

Neither a Reboot or Reload changes anything, comes out reading 1.09
rimai
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by rimai »

What numbers do you get when you go to pH calibration?
Roberto.
clw143
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

While attempting a calibration, both pH 7 and pH 10 are 0 and will not change.

I changed the memory location of pH 7 and pH 10 to some random numbers, and my reading changed from being stuck at 1.09 to 6.99, but going into a calibrate they still read 0, and then write 0's to the memory location.
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cosmith71
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by cosmith71 »

I had a similar issue. Turned out to be electrical interference. I could calibrate fine, and a cup of water did OK because I would hold the probe and wire differently when I was doing those things. Once I put it back in the sump the wire would be close to all the other wires and would cause problems. Either pH 1 or 11. Long term fix was a shielded extension cable from Radio Shack.

Try calibrating while holding the probe wire away from all the other wires (float switches, temp probes, drivers, ballasts, etc) and see if it changes.

--Colin
clw143
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

The only cables near it is for the temp probes on the head unit. I unplugged those and calibrate, even wiggling wires, the calibrate value never comes off zero.
clw143
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

Anything else I can try? Something in the code? Some kind of reset?
rimai
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by rimai »

Zero sounds very strange.
If you would like to send it back for me to look at it, please PM for RMA.
Roberto.
clw143
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Location: Louisiana

Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by clw143 »

I received the new head unit today, it was like Christmas.

... until I swapped it out. So the new head unit drops out T3 temp probe every few seconds (defective head unit).

In terms of the pH issue, calibrate still reads 0 for pH 7 and pH 10. So I ran the reef angel wizard and got a bare bones stock program, nothing fancy, just wifi. This changed nothing. I disconnected everything that has a wire in the water, ATO floats, pumps, temp probes, etc. No change. I went back to the LFS I bought the probe and had him double check it once again, he plugged the probe into his calcium reactor system, good numbers and even calibrated it. I swapped back to my original head unit and the T3 temp probe works correctly.

So I have a pH probe that was originally pretty unstable, then worked great for about 2 months, and then just stopped being compatible with reef angel? Can't I just use any pH probe with a BNC connector? I am going to order a new pH probe before I send the new head unit back. Other than the reef angel one (which might be the one I get) any recommendations on what probe to buy?
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lnevo
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Re: pH probe issues, head unit?

Post by lnevo »

Sounds like a hardware issue to me. I don't think code would cause that.
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