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      Maintaining your Bluelab OnePen Probe

      This guide contains the steps to help extend and get the best out of your Bluelab OnePen probe.

      1. Before first use hydrate the pH bulb in KCl solution for 24hrs. See steps below on how the hydrate your Bluelab OnePen probe.
      2. After every use rinse the probe in fresh tap water and ensure the sponge in the storage cap is wet with KCl storage solution. If dry add a few drops of Bluelab KCl storage solution.
      3. Every 30 days gently clean both the electrodes and pH bulb with Bluelab pH Probe cleaning solution and brush provided before performing a pH Calibration. You can confirm that the electrodes are clean by taking a measurement in Bluelab 2.77EC solution. The Bluelab ONE Pen should read 2.77EC +/- 0.1EC. See steps below on how to clean you OnePen probe.
      4. Regularly check that the glass bulb has not been damaged.

      Table of Contents

      How to hydrate your Bluelab OnePen probe

      How to clean your OnePen probe

      How to calibrate pH

      Understanding the Health of your Bluelab OnePen probe

      How to hydrate your Bluelab OnePen probe

      Hydration is essential for accurate pH readings.

      Without proper hydration, your readings may drift, and the probe may break. 

      To ensure the probe glass bulb and porous wick are properly maintained, hydrate the Bluelab OnePen glass bulb in Bluelab Probe KCl solution.

       

      IMPORTANT: Never use RO (reverse osmosis), deionized, or distilled water, as they can cause permanent damage to the probe. Learn more about RO water.

      IMPORTANT: Do not soak the titanium electrodes in KCl solution for any length of time.

      Bluelab OnePen hydration 

      To hydrate your OnePen, follow the steps below. 

      1. Make sure the glass bulb is clean and free from contamination. Clean the probe using this guide.
      2. Place a few drops of KCl Storage Solution on the sponge in the storage cap. Learn more about KCl solution. 
      3. Leave to soak for 24 hours. 
      4. After hydration, rise the probe tip in fresh water, discard the solution then follow the instructions to calibrate below. 

      IMPORTANT: Never let your probe dry out. If you accidently let it dry read our pH pen FAQ and troubleshooting guide. 

      IMPORTANT: Never soak the titanium electrodes in KCl solution for any length of time. Use the supplied storage cap when hydrating the pH glass bulb. 

      How to clean your OnePen probe

      Cleaning is essential for accurate pH and EC readings.

      Without proper cleaning, your readings may drift. 

      To ensure the probe glass bulb and porous wick are properly maintained, hydrate the Bluelab OnePen glass bulb in Bluelab Probe KCl solution.

      To clean your OnePen Probe, follow the steps below. 

      1. Rinse in fresh tap water. 
      2. Mix some Bluelab pH Probe cleaner in a small container of fresh water.
      3. Dip the provided brush in this solution and gently scrub the EC electrodes and rinse under running tap water.
      4. Then gently stir the probe in the solution, taking care not to break the glass bulb before leaving to soak for 5 minutes in the cleaning solution.
      5. Rinse again under running tap water. 

      After cleaning perform a pH Calibration and 2.77EC check.

      Note: For stubborn deposits use a Q-tip to carefully remove them. Take care not to damage the glass bulb.

      IMPORTANT: Do not user abrasive cleaners to clean the EC electrodes or pH bulb.

      How to Calibrate pH

      It is important to regularly calibrate your pH probe as the glass degrades slowly overtime and with use. To complete calibration follow these steps:

      1. Select pH/Temp measurement mode. Make sure pH reading is displayed on the main display.
      2. To calibrate to pH7, submerge probe tip in pH7 Calibration Solution & hold the "CAL" button until “CAL” is displayed, then release. Wait until •‘s stop flashing from left to right, and the stops flashing and “PASS PH7” is displayed.
      3. Rinse in fresh tap water.
      4. To calibrate to pH4, submerge probe tip in pH4 Calibration Solution & hold the "CAL" button until “CAL” displays, then release. Wait until •‘s stop flashing from left to right, and the stops flashing and “PASS PH4” is displayed.
      5. On a successful two-point calibration the following icons will be displayed:
        1.  Successfully Calibrated
        2. Calibration status
        3. pH7 calibrated
        4. pH4 calibrated

      Note: Can also be calibrated to pH7 and pH10.

      Understanding the Health of your probe

      After completing a successful calibration, the health of your probe will be indicated by these two icons and .

      If the pH calibration completed is excellent, then the icon will be displayed.

      If the pH calibration completed is acceptable, then the icon will be flashing. To get a better calibration gently clean the OnePen Replacement Probe with Bluelab pH Probe Cleaning and the brush provided, before doing a repeat calibration in fresh calibration solutions. If calibration continues to only be acceptable, this indicates that the probe in reaching its' end of life and may need replacing soon.

      If the pH calibration has been unsuccessful, then the icon will be flashing. Gently clean the OnePen Replacement Probe with Bluelab pH Probe Cleaning and the brush provided before hydrating the pH bulb in KCl for 24hours. After hydration do another  calibration in fresh calibration solutions. If the calibration continues to be unsuccessful then a new Bluelab OnePen Replacement Probe is required.