Review on 🧪 Apera Instruments Salt20 Portable Salinity Meter by James Gregg

UPDATE. Have used it for about 6 weeks so far. When properly calibrated, as I understand from Apera's docs on this and the EC60, it provides a [NaCl?] equivalent of 0.50 conductivity. The supplied calibration solution has a value of 12.88 mS/cm (6.4 to 6.5 ppt). The resolution is 0.1 ppt (100 ppt), but the SPECIFICATIONS section of the manual lists this as 0.01 ppt (incorrect). The Apera EC60 EC/TDS/Salt is said to have 10x better resolution, but the salinity range is still limited to 10ppt (better resolution). Nowhere in the online PDF user manuals does it state that the conductivity calibration solution is 12.88 mS/cm (6.44 ppt). This is stated in the old printed instructions inside the box. The Salt20 counter can be configured to display mg/l instead of ppt. [EC60 shows: EC, TDS, Salinity and Temperature, and EC Tempo is based on NaCl, but this is controlled by EC60, not Salt20]. Stadion. My local pool shop often tells me that my salinity is well below this meter (10% lower). I think they are trying to sell me more salt which is not bad for my pool but also not needed. This tool saves me money. I still rate it as a good mid-range tool, albeit with a low resolution (good enough for my purposes). An EC60 would give more accuracy, but the TDS reading might not make much sense since I'm really looking at dissolved salt? Salt based pool chlorine generator system. I have several other methods of verifying backups in an order. A sample I provided to a commercial facility for pool testing showed that my system required more salt (<3100ppm). The gauge on my chlorine generator said everything was fine, so it was in the 3400ppm range. This unit showed me it was 3300 3400ppm (3,33,4 ppt) after I did the initial calibration. I'd like a third way of determining salt - I don't have to keep adding 40 bags of salt when it's not needed (I just wonder how often those guys in the shops calibrate their gear, or maybe they don't. Follow those Best practices for using their tools.) I'd rather have my own methods of double checking metrics. If the chlorine generator fails, I might not know. I would like a chlorine tester but they seem quite expensive. I'm not sure if Apera even makes it. ADVANTAGES: no need to calibrate frequently, no need to keep the probe wet during storage, very affordable price range. CONS: small sample of calibration liquid - I need a large bottle although they don't call often.