The short answer: For occasional pH checks, the PH20 (±0.1 pH, IP67, full kit) is all you need. If you measure daily or want lab-grade ±0.01 accuracy with a replaceable electrode, choose the PH60. For nutrient strength, the EC20 covers hobby use while the EC60 adds TDS/salinity and a replaceable probe. If you measure both pH and EC regularly, the PC60-Z combines six parameters with Bluetooth logging into the DrainMaster Plus app and replaces two devices at once.
Comparison table
| PH20 Value | PH60 Premium | EC20 Value | EC60 Premium | PC60-Z Smart | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measures | pH, temp | pH, temp | EC, temp | EC, TDS, salinity, temp | pH, EC, TDS, salinity, temp (+ORP opt.) |
| Range | 0.0–14.0 pH | -2.00–16.00 pH | grow range | grow range | full range |
| Accuracy | ±0.1 pH | ±0.01 pH | BPB precision | BPB precision | premium class |
| Electrode | fixed | replaceable (PH60-E) | fixed BPB | replaceable (EC60-E) | replaceable (PC60-DE) |
| Waterproof | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 | IP67 |
| Battery life | months | up to 1,000 h | up to 1,000 h | up to 1,000 h | long |
| Special | full kit incl. case | 3-colour display, heads-up alerts | 1,000 h runtime | dual-colour display | Bluetooth + DrainMaster Plus app |
| Best for | starters, occasional checks | precision, longevity | nutrient basics | serious EC work | data-driven growers |
Which pH meter: PH20 or PH60?
Both meters share the essentials: IP67 waterproof housing, automatic temperature compensation from 0 to 50 °C, auto buffer recognition during calibration and a complete kit with solutions, batteries and carrying case. The difference is precision and serviceability. The PH20 reads to ±0.1 pH, which comfortably covers the 5.8–6.2 window most growers target. The PH60 reads to ±0.01 pH across an extended -2 to 16 range, adds a three-colour display with heads-up warnings, and, decisively, has a replaceable PH60-E electrode. Since every pH electrode is a wear item, the PH60 is the meter you buy once; the PH20 is the meter you buy for the price. If you run a single tent and check pH twice a week, take the PH20. If you mix reservoirs daily, keep records, or simply hate replacing gear, take the PH60.
Which EC meter: EC20 or EC60?
Both use Apera’s brush-resistant platinum black (BPB) electrode, which is the reason these meters hold calibration where cheap pens drift. The EC20 is the straightforward choice: EC and temperature, 1,000 hours on a battery set, one-point calibration at 1413 µS/cm. The EC60 adds TDS and salinity readouts, a dual-colour display and a replaceable EC60-E probe. For runoff monitoring with a DrainMaster tray, either works; the EC60 earns its premium if you also use TDS-based feeding charts or want the meter to outlive its first electrode.
When the PC60-Z multi-parameter meter makes sense
The PC60-Z merges both worlds: pH, EC, TDS, salinity and temperature in one IP67 device, with an optional ORP electrode. Its unique feature is Bluetooth logging into the free DrainMaster Plus app: every reading lands in a per-plant dashboard, building input-vs-runoff history across the whole cycle. That turns spot checks into trend data, which is exactly how commercial growers catch salt build-up early. If you were about to buy a pH meter AND an EC meter, the PC60-Z usually is the better spend than two separate devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the Apera PH20?
The PH20 measures pH from 0.0 to 14.0 with an accuracy of ±0.1 pH. That is more than enough for checking irrigation water and runoff in growing, where target windows such as 5.8 to 6.2 matter rather than the second decimal place. Automatic temperature compensation (ATC) corrects for temperature effects between 0 and 50 °C, so cold tap water and warm nutrient solution both read reliably. If you need ±0.01 pH for lab-grade work, step up to the PH60 from the premium series.
Do I need to calibrate the PH20, and how often?
Yes, like every pH meter. The matching calibration solutions (pH 4.01 and 7.00) are included in the box. Calibration takes about two minutes: dip the electrode into the buffer and the meter recognises the value automatically. For daily use in a grow we recommend calibrating every one to two weeks, and always before an important measuring session. Store the electrode wet, ideally in 3M KCl storage solution, and it will stay accurate for much longer.
EC, TDS, PPM: which one should I use?
They all describe the same thing: dissolved salts in water. EC is the direct physical quantity in mS/cm or µS/cm and the international standard. TDS (in ppm) is an estimate converted from EC, and different manufacturers use different conversion factors, which causes endless confusion. Our advice: work directly in EC and your numbers will match every feeding chart and every forum discussion. The EC20 displays EC directly.