Milwaukee PH600 PH meter

The cheapest way to stop guessing at your pH. One-point calibration, a 0.0 to 14.0 range, and around 700 hours of battery life.

The Milwaukee PH600 is a pocket meter for anyone who wants a real reading without the price of a professional instrument. Accuracy 0.1 pH, resolution 0.1 pH, supplied complete with storage case, calibration screwdriver, batteries and instructions.

One calibration point or two: what is the difference?

This is the honest distinction between this meter and the pricier ones, and it is worth understanding before you choose.

Calibrating means showing the meter a liquid of precisely known acidity so it can correct itself. With one-point calibration you set the meter against a single known value, usually pH 7.01. That corrects the zero point: the meter knows what "neutral" is again.

What it does not correct is the slope. An electrode translates a voltage into a pH value, and the relationship between the two shifts as the probe ages. With two-point calibration you also show the meter pH 4.01, which lets it account for that slope.

In practice: close to pH 7 this meter is as good as a dearer one. The further you work from that single point, the more error can creep in. And growers work around 5.5 to 6.5. Not far from 7, but not on it either.

For a soil grower who wants to know whether they are around 6, that is plenty. If you want to steer to 0.1 in hydroponics, choose a meter with two calibration points.

Technical Specifications:

• Range: 0.0 to 14.0 pH
• Resolution: 0.1 pH
• Accuracy: ± 0.1 pH
• Calibration: manual, 1 point
• Environment: 0 to 50 °C, max. 95% relative humidity
• Battery: 3 x 1.5 V alkaline (included)
• Battery life: approx. 700 hours continuous use
• Dimensions: 150 x 30 x 24 mm
• Weight: 85 g

Frequently asked questions

Is this accurate enough to grow with?
For soil and coco, where you steer to one decimal around 6: yes. For hydroponics, where small errors compound faster, a two-point meter is the better choice.

How often should I calibrate?
Monthly, and any time you distrust a reading. With one-point calibration, calibrating regularly matters more than on a two-point meter, because you have less correction available.

Can I replace the electrode?
Not on this model. That is part of the price. For a pocket meter with a replaceable electrode, look at the Milwaukee pH51 or pH55.

What else do I need?
pH 7.01 calibration solution, and storage solution to keep the tip wet. Never store it dry.