Premium Series Research-grade GLP Benchtop Cond./TDS/Salinity/Resistivity Meter Kit with TestBench (printer sold separately)

What It Is

The Apera EC9500 is a research-grade benchtop meter designed to deliver long-term, high-accuracy measurement of conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, and resistivity in a single instrument. The included 2401T-F glass-body conductivity and temperature electrode covers a range of 0 to 200 mS/cm at ±1% F.S. accuracy — sufficient for the full spectrum of nutrient solution concentrations used in commercial cannabis and hemp cultivation, from water-only feeds up through heavy late-stage bloom programs.

The meter's large, backlit LCD simultaneously displays EC, TDS, salinity, resistivity, and temperature on one screen, alongside calibration status and stability indicators. One-tap switching moves between measurement parameters without re-navigating menus. Three salinity modes — general salinity, NaCl, and saltwater — accommodate varied water source profiles. For facilities running RO or high-purity source water, the standard BNC connector also accepts the optional DJS-0.1-F electrode for resistivity measurement in ultra-low conductivity ranges.

The EC9500 carries the SKU AI5632 and is the conductivity-only variant in Apera's 9500 Premium Series. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified and meets GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) documentation requirements — relevant for any operation subject to state-mandated quality records or third-party audit.

Who It's For

Commercial cannabis and hemp cultivators who need defensible, documented nutrient data rather than a spot-check pocket tester. If your facility runs a fertigation system, tracks EC by zone or by cultivar, or submits water quality records as part of a state compliance program, the EC9500 gives you the audit trail to support it. The GLP data logger stores up to 1,000 records with timestamps, electrode ID, user ID, sample ID, and company name — exportable via USB to PC software or to a compatible pin-type mini printer (sold separately).

It also fits the needs of multi-site operations looking to standardize their measurement protocol across facilities. The meter's calibration password protection prevents unauthorized adjustment, and the i-Guide on-screen tutorial system walks new staff through calibration procedures directly on the display — reducing training time and calibration errors in operations with high staff turnover.

Facilities running coco, rockwool, or recirculating deep water culture will particularly benefit from the stable, repeatable readings the glass-body 2401T-F electrode provides in those media's ionic profiles. The included Apera TestBench — with its magnetic stirrer, buffer organizers, and electrode holder — keeps the workspace organized and ensures samples are uniformly mixed before each read.

Key Features

Advanced, intuitive interface: plain-language menus and graphic screen prompts support English, Spanish, German, and Chinese — no thick manual required for day-to-day operation. The i-Guide system provides context-sensitive, on-screen step-by-step instructions for setup and calibration, accessible at any time via a dedicated key press.

Flexible calibration: 1 to 4-point automatic calibration using four standard solutions (84 µS/cm, 1413 µS/cm, 12.88 mS/cm, 111.8 mS/cm) or user-defined standards. Automatic temperature compensation (ATC) runs across 0–50°C. The self-diagnosis function identifies common calibration problems and displays electrode slope data so you know when the probe needs replacement — not just when a reading looks off.

Broad electrode compatibility: the standard BNC conductivity connector accepts the optional 2310T-F electrode for high-range measurement up to 2000 mS/cm, and the DJS-0.1-F for high-purity/RO water resistivity measurement. The RCA temperature connector supports an NTC 30KΩ thermistor. This means the meter body stays useful as your measurement needs evolve, without replacing the instrument.

Data output: USB export to PC via the included PC-Link software flash drive for further analysis, charting, or record archiving. The meter also supports output to a compatible pin-type mini printer for instant bench-side reports. Printer is sold separately.

How It Fits a Commercial Build

In a commercial grow, your EC meter is not a convenience item — it is a process control instrument. Nutrient concentration drift, RO membrane degradation, salt accumulation in recirculating systems, and irrigation controller calibration all depend on a trustworthy conductivity baseline. A pocket tester is fine for a quick walk-through check. For the data that drives fertigation decisions, system troubleshooting, or compliance documentation, you need a benchtop unit with a verified calibration record and a probe you can actually trust.

The EC9500 sits at the fertigation mixing station, the irrigation room, or the in-house lab — wherever your nutrient program gets verified before it goes to plant. The included TestBench keeps the electrode properly supported and the calibration standards organized so the measurement workflow is the same every time, regardless of which staff member is running it. When you need a printed record for a compliance audit or an internal shift report, the USB or printer output is already built in.

Available through Hydro Supply Co. with direct account pricing. Contact us for current lead times and a quote.