Lab-grade flat-surface pH measurement with GLP data logging — built for commercial cultivation environments.
The Apera PH8500-FT (AI5562) is a portable pH meter engineered for professional flat-surface measurement — culture medium, growing substrates, wet solids, and semi-solids — paired with the Swiss LabSen 373 3-in-1 flat pH/temperature electrode and a full GLP-compliant data logging suite. IP57-rated and AA battery-powered, it runs without a bench or power outlet anywhere on the floor.
The Apera PH8500-FT is a Premium Series portable pH meter built around one specific problem: getting reliable pH readings from surfaces and semi-solid media where a standard probe won't seat properly. It ships as a complete kit — meter, Swiss LabSen 373 3-in-1 flat pH/temperature electrode, calibration solutions (pH 4.00, 7.00, 10.01), storage solution, and a rugged carrying case. Everything needed to start measuring is in the box.
The meter body is IP57-rated, meaning it handles full dust ingress protection and can be submerged in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. A soft silicone case wraps the housing for grip and impact resistance. Power comes from AA batteries and a foldable stand lets it double as a benchtop unit when you need both hands free. The large backlit LCD shows pH or mV, temperature, stability icon, calibration status, and time simultaneously.
In commercial cannabis and hemp cultivation, the PH8500-FT earns its keep in a few specific use cases. Coco, peat, and other compressed substrate blocks can't always be slurried fast enough to get a consistent liquid-phase reading mid-run — the flat electrode contacts the wet surface directly. Culture medium plates and agar-based propagation media are the same story. Post-harvest, if your team is checking pH of fresh-pressed or whole-plant material before processing, a flat-tip probe is the right tool.
Beyond those direct-contact scenarios, the GLP data logging capability matters for operators under compliance programs or third-party audit frameworks. Every measurement can be time-stamped and stored (up to 500 data sets), then pulled via USB to a PC for export to CSV or PDF. If you're running a Quality Management System or need to demonstrate calibration traceability, this meter documents it automatically — no manual log sheets.
The included LabSen 373 is a 3-in-1 combination electrode: flat pH sensor, temperature sensor, and reference — all in one probe body. The electrode body is POM (Polyoxymethylene), a chemically resistant engineering polymer that holds up to the organic acids and nutrient solutions found in cultivation environments. The flat glass membrane is paired with a PTFE ring junction — PTFE is anti-clogging and resistant to contamination from the particles and organic matter common in substrate testing.
Apera's proprietary blue gel inner solution is non-flowing, which means no air bubble formation inside the reference chamber — a common failure mode in conventional liquid-filled electrodes. The gel formulation also eliminates heat convection artifacts across the glass membrane, improving reading stability. The AgCl long-life reference system uses a cotton-stuffed glass tube to prevent reaction between AgCl and the electrolyte under temperature swings, extending electrode service life beyond what standard reference systems typically deliver.
Calibration is automatic with 1-to-3 point recognition of standard pH buffers (1.68, 4.00, 7.00, 10.01, and 12.45). The meter displays electrode slope after each calibration — a direct indicator of probe health — and flags when the slope falls outside acceptable limits. The self-diagnosis system monitors for out-of-range readings, electrode invalidation, and calibration errors, alerting the operator instead of silently returning a bad number. A due-calibration reminder and last-calibration-date check are also built in.
Temperature compensation runs automatically (0–100°C range, manual override available). The stability icon — a smiley face on the LCD — tells the operator exactly when the reading has settled, eliminating the guesswork of knowing when to record. Data logging runs in manual or auto (timed interval) mode, storing up to 500 stamped records that survive power-off. Connect via USB to pull data into a web-based PC-Link software — no drivers or installation required, works in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox — for real-time charts and one-click export to CSV or PDF reports that include calibration date, slope, offset, meter model, and serial number.
| SKU | AI5562 |
| pH Measurement Range | −2.00 to 16.00 pH |
| pH Resolution | 0.1 / 0.01 pH (selectable) |
| pH Accuracy | ±0.01 pH ±1 digit |
| Temperature Compensation | 0–100°C, automatic (ATC) or manual |
| mV Range | ±1,999 mV |
| Electrode | LabSen 373 POM-body 3-in-1 Flat pH/Temperature; flat glass membrane, PTFE ring junction |
| Data Storage | 500 data sets, GLP-compliant; manual and auto (timed) logging modes |
| Data Output | USB; web-based PC-Link software (no install), CSV and PDF export |
| Waterproof Rating | IP57 |
| Calibration | 1–3 point auto; recognizes pH 1.68, 4.00, 7.00, 10.01, 12.45 buffers |
| Power | AA batteries; foldable stand for benchtop use |
Standard bulb-tip electrodes need to be fully immersed in a liquid sample to get a stable reading. When you're testing compressed coco coir blocks, agar culture medium, wet growing mats, or fresh plant tissue, there often isn't enough free liquid to submerge a bulb tip without slurrying the sample first — which adds steps and potential contamination. The LabSen 373's flat glass membrane contacts the surface directly, so you get a reading from the material as it is, not as a prepared slurry.
The meter stores up to 500 time-stamped pH measurements with calibration metadata (date, electrode slope, offset, meter serial number) in non-volatile memory — data survives power-off. Pull everything via USB into the PC-Link web application, then export a PDF or CSV that includes all measurement records and calibration history. For operators under third-party audit, metrc-adjacent SOPs, or ISO-style quality programs, this replaces hand-written log sheets with a verifiable, traceable electronic record.
Yes. The PH8500-FT meter body uses a standard BNC connector and is compatible with Apera's full LabSen Series electrode lineup. If you need to measure reservoir or fertigation solutions with a conventional bulb or flat-tip probe, you can swap electrodes without buying a new meter — though temperature compensation depends on a 3-in-1 electrode that includes a thermistor, so verify compatibility with Apera before substituting.
The kit includes calibration solutions at pH 4.00, 7.00, and 10.01, plus electrode storage solution. The meter's built-in due-calibration reminder lets you set a recalibration interval appropriate to your use frequency. For commercial cultivation environments where accuracy is critical to crop decisions, a 1-to-2 point calibration at the start of each test session is standard practice — the meter's auto-recognition of all five standard buffers (1.68, 4.00, 7.00, 10.01, 12.45) makes this fast.
IP57 means the meter is fully dust-tight (6 = total protection; the '5' in IP57 refers to the dust rating scale used — confirmed protection against dust ingress) and rated for temporary immersion in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. High-humidity greenhouse or indoor grow environments, accidental splashes from irrigation lines, and working near NFT channels or reservoirs are all within spec. The silicone case adds mechanical impact protection on top of the ingress rating.
Get operator-direct pricing and availability. We supply licensed commercial cultivators nationwide.
Request a Quote