So what is conductivity? Conductivity is the total soluble salts contained within a liquid solution. Because pure water does not conduct electricity it has a conductivity measurement of zero. By adding soluble elements to the water, electricity is able to move through the solution giving it a conductivity rating.
So why is it important? Using hydroponics as an example, different crops grow well at different levels of nutrient strength (Electrical Conductivity - EC or CF). Controlling this nutrient strength is all important in providing the best conditions for your crop. Without proper measurement your crop could fail from root burn brought on by too high a nutrient level, or death by natural causes from not receiving the vital elements they need to grow.
Bluelabs products measure Conductivity using EC (Electrical Conductivity) or CF (Conductivity Factor). We also provide measurements in ppm, but this is only a conversion from EC. Below is a measurement conversion chart.
|
mS/cm2
millisiemens per cm2
|
EC
|
CF
|
ppm 500/ TDS
|
ppm 700
|
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
1
|
50
|
70
|
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
2
|
100
|
140
|
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
3
|
150
|
210
|
|
0.4
|
0.4
|
4
|
200
|
280
|
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
5
|
250
|
350
|
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
6
|
300
|
420
|
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
7
|
350
|
490
|
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
8
|
400
|
560
|
|
0.9
|
0.9
|
9
|
450
|
630
|
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
10
|
500
|
700
|
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
11
|
550
|
770
|
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
12
|
600
|
840
|
|
1.3
|
1.3
|
13
|
650
|
910
|
|
1.4
|
1.4
|
14
|
700
|
980
|
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
15
|
750
|
1050
|
|
1.6
|
1.6
|
16
|
800
|
1120
|
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
17
|
850
|
1190
|
|
1.8
|
1.8
|
18
|
900
|
1260
|
|
1.9
|
1.9
|
19
|
950
|
1330
|
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
20
|
1000
|
1400
|
|
2.1
|
2.1
|
21
|
1050
|
1470
|
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
22
|
1100
|
1540
|
|
2.3
|
2.3
|
23
|
1150
|
1610
|
|
2.4
|
2.4
|
24
|
1200
|
1680
|
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
25
|
1250
|
1750
|
|
2.6
|
2.6
|
26
|
1300
|
1820
|
|
2.7
|
2.7
|
27
|
1350
|
1890
|
|
2.8
|
2.8
|
28
|
1400
|
1960
|
|
2.9
|
2.9
|
29
|
1450
|
2030
|
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
30
|
1500
|
2100
|
|
3.1
|
3.1
|
31
|
1550
|
2170
|
|
3.2
|
3.2
|
32
|
1600
|
2240
|
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
33
|
1650
|
2310
|
|
3.4
|
3.4
|
34
|
1700
|
2380
|
|
3.5
|
3.5
|
35
|
1750
|
2450
|
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
36
|
1800
|
2520
|
