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What is EC, what is CF, what is ppm, what is TDS, what is mS/cm and uS/cm?

What is pH? | Why do I need to measure pH? | What do I use to measure pH? | What is conductivity? | Why do I need to measure conductivity? | What do I use to measure conductivity? | What is EC, what is CF, what is ppm, what is TDS, what is mS/cm and uS/cm? | What is a Bluelab Meter? | What is the Bluelab Truncheon� Meter? | What is the Bluelab pH Truncheon� Meter? | What is a Bluelab Monitor? | What are replaceable Contact Rings? | What are single and double junction pH probes? | What is a Bluelab Controller? | Why do we use Controllers? | Do any Bluelab products have data logging and PC comms links? | What are pH calibration solutions? | Which Calibration Solution do I use first when calibrating a Bluelab pH instrument? | Why do we need to clean the probes on Bluelab instruments? | What does IP65 mean? | My Truncheon Meter does not work! Why not? | My Truncheon Meter measures lower than expected! Why? | My Truncheon Meter measures higher than expected! Why? | Will low batteries cause my Truncheon to read inaccurately? | Can I use Alkaline Batteries in my Truncheon Meter? | My Truncheon Meter gives varying readings! Why? | Can I recalibrate my Truncheon Meter to my conductivity solution?

A. They are all different types of readings used especially in hydroponics so we know the strength of the nutrient solution the plants are growing in.

EC stands for Electrical Conductivity. Nutrient ions have an electrical charge. EC is a measurement of all those ions that have an electrical charge. The more electrically charged ions in a solution the higher the EC reading.
CF stands for Conductivity Factor. This is exactly the same as Electrical Conductivity (EC), but does not have a decimal point in the reading.
ppm is parts per million. This is not a measure of electrical conductivity in a nutrient solution, therefore cannot be accurately measured by an EC meter. They are present on Bluelab products as a conversion only and the scales of ppm they represent are noted. To convert from EC to ppm, simply multiply EC by the ppm scale required, e.g. 2.5EC x 500scale ppm = 1250ppm. The two scales Bluelab use are; 700ppm and 500ppm scale. There are many ppm scales around, but these two are most common.
TDS is Total Dissolved Solids. This is also the 500ppm scale.
mS/cm² - millisiemens per cm. 1 mS/cm² = 10CF
uS/cm² - microsiemens per cm
One millisiemen = 1000 microsiemens
Check out our Conductivity Calculator for easy automatic conversions of conductivity. You may also view or print our Measurement Conversion Chart