This is a great pH meter and you get all you need, standard.

• 1 x P6008 pH meter IP67 rated with batteries
• 3 x different buffer powders to make into solutions
• 100ml 3 mol KCl

You can buy really cheap pH meters, I will leave you to make your own decision.

Over the last 5 years a pretty reliable and well priced style has become increasingly available at the sub $40 level. These are not analytical instruments by any means but are just what the homebrewer needs. But before purchasing one you should think about what you are getting and what you have been sold, yes it is very much a buyer beware situation.

You need to be aware that the probes have a limited life. If you look after them well, say not dip them in boiling wort, indeed not even in mash liquid, if you rinse them immediately after use and wick not rub (there is a genie in there) and immediately store them in >= 3mol KCl solution then 300 uses is a fair call.

You need a device with removeable electrode housing and a supplier who holds spares.

The claimed accuracy on these inexpensive devices is great bang for buck, assuming they have been calibrated !! It is +- 0.05 pH. The resolution is 0.01 pH.

Lets talk about ATC, all these devices have ATC but in our range of mash pH it is not worth a pinch of CaSO4. For a start ATC does not work accurately above 50C in these devices so forget " no need to cool the mash". You are only looking a small amount and this will rapidly chill with almost no effort and of top of that the temperature variation between 25C calibration , 15C and 35C @ 5.5 pH is less than the 0.05 accuracy of these devices..

When you get your pen type pH meter first thing you absolutey need to do is is soak the electrode in >= 3 mol KCl solution for 24 hours. Give it a rinse for preference in DI water and use a tissue to wick the water, please not rub the electrode. The calibrate as instructions, we live in the acid world so a close to 7 H buffer followed by a close to 4pH will work rather well.

Next you need to keep the electrode wet, yes wet but not with water, with the 3mol KCl mentioned above. If you are doing multiple tests in a day clean tap water is OK but it needs to be returned to storage fluid after rinsing and wicking at the end of the day. Further the meter should be stored upright, a simple tool clip will do the job.

I believe that this device is as good or better than any available on the brew scence in the sub $70 range in Australia.

I hope this short guide gives you some direction and honest advice.