{"id":291118,"date":"2026-08-24T22:41:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T20:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drain-master.de\/apera-ph-ec-meter-comparison\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T13:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T11:36:26","slug":"apera-ph-ec-meter-comparison","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/drain-master.de\/en\/apera-ph-ec-meter-comparison\/","title":{"rendered":"Apera Meters Compared: PH20, PH60, EC20, EC60 and PC60-Z"},"content":{"rendered":"

The short answer:<\/strong> For occasional pH checks, the PH20<\/strong> (\u00b10.1 pH) is all you need. If you measure daily or want \u00b10.01 pH accuracy with a replaceable electrode, choose the PH60<\/strong>. For nutrient strength, the EC20<\/strong> covers hobby use while the EC60<\/strong> adds TDS\/salinity and a replaceable probe. If you measure both pH and EC regularly, the PC60-Z<\/strong> combines two devices into one and sends readings via Bluetooth to the DrainMaster Plus app.<\/p>\n

All five devices at a glance<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nPH20 Value<\/th>\nPH60 Premium<\/th>\nEC20 Value<\/th>\nEC60 Premium<\/th>\nPC60-Z Smart<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Measures<\/th>\npH, temp<\/td>\npH, temp<\/td>\nEC, temp<\/td>\nEC, TDS, salinity, temp<\/td>\npH, EC, TDS, salinity, temp<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Measuring range<\/th>\n0.0\u201314.0 pH<\/td>\n\u22122.00\u201316.00 pH<\/td>\nup to 20.00 mS\/cm in three ranges<\/td>\nextended range incl. TDS and salinity<\/td>\npH and EC in one device<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accuracy<\/th>\n\u00b10.1 pH<\/td>\n\u00b10.01 pH<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00b11% of full scale<\/td>\n\u00b11% of full scale<\/td>\nPremium class, pH to 0.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Electrode<\/th>\nfixed<\/td>\nreplaceable (PH60-E)<\/strong><\/td>\nfixed BPB platinum electrode<\/td>\nreplaceable (EC60-E)<\/strong><\/td>\nreplaceable (PC60-DE)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Calibration<\/th>\n1 to 3 points, auto buffer recognition<\/td>\n1 to 3 points, auto buffer recognition<\/td>\n1 to 2 points, auto recognition<\/td>\nmulti-point, auto recognition<\/td>\npH and EC separately<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Protection class<\/th>\nIP67, floats<\/td>\nIP67, floats<\/td>\nIP67, floats<\/td>\nIP67, floats<\/td>\nIP67, floats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Power supply<\/th>\n4 \u00d7 AAA, up to 1,000 hours<\/td>\n4 \u00d7 AAA, up to 1,000 hours<\/td>\n4 \u00d7 AAA, up to 1,000 hours<\/td>\n4 \u00d7 AAA, up to 1,000 hours<\/td>\nRechargeable battery, Bluetooth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Special feature<\/th>\nComplete kit with buffers and case<\/td>\nthree-color display, warning zones<\/td>\nthree measuring ranges, long runtime<\/td>\ntwo-color display, TDS and salinity<\/td>\nBluetooth and DrainMaster Plus app<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best for<\/th>\nbeginners, occasional checks<\/td>\nprecision and longevity<\/td>\nfertilizing by numbers<\/td>\nserious EC work<\/td>\ndata-driven growers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

pH: PH20 or PH60?<\/h2>\n

Both devices share the essentials: IP67 housing, automatic temperature compensation from 0 to 50 \u00b0C, automatic buffer recognition during calibration, and a complete set with solutions, batteries, and case. The difference lies in resolution and whether the device can be repaired.<\/p>\n

The PH20<\/a> displays \u00b10.1 pH, which comfortably covers the typical target window of 5.8 to 6.2. The PH60<\/a> resolves to \u00b10.01 pH, ranges from \u22122 to 16 pH, and has a replaceable PH60-E electrode. Since every pH electrode is a wear part, you buy the PH60 once, while the PH20 is the device for the price.<\/p>\n

Which of the two suits you depends less on the datasheet and more on your measuring routine. We compared both devices in a detailed PH20 vs PH60 comparison<\/a>, including follow-up costs over several years.<\/p>\n

Conductivity: EC20 or EC60?<\/h2>\n

Both work with Apera’s brush-resistant BPB platinum electrode, and that’s precisely why these devices maintain their calibration where cheap sticks drift.<\/p>\n

The EC20<\/a> is the straightforward choice: conductivity and temperature, three measuring ranges up to 20.00 mS\/cm, up to 1,000 hours of runtime, and calibration at 1413 \u00b5S\/cm. The EC60<\/a> additionally displays TDS and salinity, has a two-color display, and a replaceable EC60-E electrode. For drain control with the DrainMaster, both are sufficient; the EC60 earns its premium if you fertilize according to TDS tables or want the device to outlast its first electrode.<\/p>\n

How to derive decisions from the numbers is explained in the article Correctly measuring EC value in water<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When the PC60-Z is worth it<\/h2>\n

The PC60-Z<\/a> brings both worlds together: pH, conductivity, TDS, salinity, and temperature in one IP67 device, with an optional ORP electrode. Its special feature is Bluetooth transmission to the free DrainMaster Plus app: every measurement lands in an overview per plant and builds a history of inflow and drain over the entire cycle. This turns spot checks into trends, and that’s how you recognize early signs of salt buildup.<\/p>\n

If you were already planning to buy both a pH device AND an EC device, the PC60-Z is usually a better investment than two separate devices.<\/p>\n

What all devices need<\/h2>\n

No measuring device is better than its last calibration and storage. Two articles go into detail on this:<\/p>\n