Value Series Portable Spear pH Meter Kit for Food

What It Is

The Apera PH850-SS is a handheld portable pH meter from Apera's Value Series, configured specifically for direct pH measurement of food-grade and semi-solid samples. It ships as a complete kit: the PH850 meter body, the LabSen 753 food-grade titanium-body spear pH/temperature electrode, calibration buffer solutions, storage solution, a protective carrying case, and a screwdriver for battery access.

The meter measures pH across the full 0–14 range with ±0.01 pH accuracy and simultaneously reads temperature from 0 to 80 °C (32–176 °F) with ±0.5 °C accuracy. Resolution is 0.01 pH and 0.1 °C. The large LCD displays pH and temperature simultaneously, with on-screen icons confirming stable readings and completed calibration points. An ORP (mV) mode is also available with a compatible ORP probe (sold separately).

Who It's For

Any cultivation or processing operation that needs to verify pH in non-liquid matrices will get direct use out of this kit. On the cultivation side, that includes direct tissue testing of plant material, coco coir and other substrate slabs, and compost or amended soil without full slurry prep. On the post-harvest and processing side: fresh and cured flower, concentrates, edibles production, infused food products, fermented inputs, and canning verification.

Licensed cannabis operators running extraction, infusion, or edibles programs often need to verify pH at multiple steps in the process. A standard liquid pH probe requires a slurry or liquid homogenate; the PH850-SS with the LabSen 753 spear electrode can be inserted directly into soft-solid and semi-solid samples, cutting prep time and reducing cross-contamination risk between samples. The IP57 waterproof rating and soft silicone case make it a practical choice in wet post-harvest or processing environments.

Key Features & Electrode Technology

The LabSen 753 spear electrode is the core of this kit. Built with proprietary sensor technology and materials sourced from Switzerland, it uses an S-type spear glass membrane that is engineered for low resistance and high firmness — delivering fully stabilized readings in 15 to 30 seconds, and rated approximately 10 times stronger than traditional glass membranes. The sturdy tip can be pressed directly into cheese, meat, fruit, dough, plant tissue, and other semi-solids without breakage.

The electrode uses an open-and-ceramic double-junction design with polymer electrolyte, which ensures full contact with test samples while minimizing junction clogging — a common failure point in food and substrate testing. The long-life reference system (AgCl / silver wire in a sealed glass tube with polymer electrolyte) requires no electrolyte refilling. The titanium-alloy body is food-grade, easy to clean, and provides additional mechanical durability. An integrated NTC 30KΩ temperature sensor enables automatic temperature compensation (ATC) directly through the electrode.

On the meter side, the PH850 platform includes smart self-diagnosis functions: out-of-range value alerts, electrode invalidation warnings, and auto-recognition of up to 12 standard buffer solutions for 1–3 point calibration (pH 1.68, 4.00, 7.00, 10.01, 12.45). Electrode slope is displayed after the second and third calibration points — a direct indicator of electrode health. Auto power-off, auto-hold/stable reading mode, and a foldable stand for benchtop use round out the feature set.

Build Integration & Practical Notes

The PH850-SS runs on AAA batteries (3 × 1.5V), making it independent of facility power and usable anywhere on the floor — trim rooms, processing suites, extraction prep, or in-field tissue checks. The foldable stand converts the handheld unit to a quasi-benchtop configuration for lab or bench workflows. The IP57 rating covers temporary immersion (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes) and total dust ingress protection, which is meaningful in environments with particulates, powder, or frequent rinse-down.

The meter body dimensions are 86 × 196 × 33 mm at 335 g — compact enough for a single-hand grip with the silicone boot. The electrode connects via standard BNC (pH/ORP) and RCA (temperature sensor) connectors; this makes the LabSen 753 replaceable and the meter body reusable with other compatible Apera electrodes for different applications. Warranty coverage is 3 years on the meter and 6 months on the electrode. The meter is CE and RoHS certified.