Premium Series Pocket pH/ORP Tester Kit

What the PR60F Is

The Apera PR60F is a 3-in-1 pocket tester in Apera's Premium 60 Series, sold by Hydro Supply Co. under SKU AI317. Unlike single-parameter pen testers, it reads pH, ORP (oxidation-reduction potential in millivolts), and temperature at the same time from a single probe dip — no mode-switching, no taking a second reading after conditions have shifted.

The defining feature is the flat dual-channel sensor: an advanced flat glass pH element and a flat platinum ORP electrode on the same probe tip. That flat geometry is what allows it to test both conventional aqueous solutions and semi-solid or surface samples (culture media, soil, substrate). For most indoor cannabis and hemp operators the primary use case is nutrient solution and irrigation water, but the versatility matters in a facility where testing needs shift between veg and flower, coco and rockwool, or different water sources.

The body is IP67-rated — fully dustproof and submersible — and the unit floats, which matters in wet environments where a dropped meter can mean a wasted calibration or a lost instrument.

Who This Is Built For

Commercial cannabis and hemp cultivators running recirculating systems, fertigation setups, or hand-watering programs need pH and ORP verification at multiple points: source water, nutrient mix, runoff, and reservoir. A single instrument that captures all three parameters simultaneously speeds up that workflow and eliminates the sequencing errors that come from using two separate testers.

ORP is the measurement most operators skip — and shouldn't. In licensed facilities running peroxide treatments, ozone sanitation, or chlorination for root-zone pathogen control, ORP is the direct indicator of sanitation efficacy. A nutrient solution can test at a correct pH while ORP is out of spec, meaning disinfection is failing. Having ORP in the same pocket instrument as pH removes the barrier to checking it routinely.

The PR60F is also a practical fit for cultivation managers, IPM leads, and compliance staff who need a portable, field-ready instrument that doesn't require a lab bench to operate — one that can be handed to a grow tech without a lengthy training curve.

Key Features and Engineering

StableRead™ mode automatically locks in a fully stabilized reading rather than requiring the operator to judge when the display has settled. In nutrient-rich solution with temperature variation — common in large reservoirs — this matters for consistency between readings and between operators.

The ORP sensor uses a flat platinum electrode with a macro-molecule coating, which Apera rates at up to 60% faster response time compared to standard ORP sensors, with superior oxidation resistance for extended service life. The premium double-junction electrode construction resists junction clogging in complex or high-nutrient sample matrices — a common failure mode in cheaper single-junction designs used in grow facilities.

Calibration supports 1–3 point automatic pH calibration with recognition of both USA and NIST buffer series, plus 1-point ORP calibration. Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC) runs from 0–50°C (32–122°F). The large backlit LCD displays all three parameters simultaneously. Auto power-off activates after 8 minutes of inactivity to protect battery life.

What's in the Kit and How It Fits a Facility Build

The AI317 ships as a complete, ready-to-use kit: the PR60F tester unit, pH calibration buffer solutions, ORP calibration standard solution, KCl storage/soaking solution, AAA batteries, lanyard, and a rigid carrying case. Everything needed to calibrate and begin testing on arrival is included — operators don't need to source calibration consumables separately for initial setup.

For facilities standardizing on a single pocket tester that covers both pH and ORP without carrying two devices, the PR60F is a practical consolidation. It works alongside automated dosing and monitoring systems as a handheld verification tool — a cross-check against inline sensors during reservoir fills, fertigation runs, and pre-harvest water flushes.

Apera backs the instrument body with a 2-year warranty and the probe with a 6-month warranty. Replacement probes (PR60F-DE) are available separately, so the body doesn't need to be replaced when a probe reaches end of life after extended use in high-frequency testing environments.