In an era of increasing attention to quality of life and healthy eating, controlling the consumption of resources is becoming a habit for many users of smart technology. One popular gadget for monitoring has become a smart aquatic environment, namely a portable analyzer from Xiaomi. This compact device often raises questions for beginners, because its readings are not always intuitive without prior preparation.
The device, often referred to as simply a tester, is actually a tester. TDS-It measures dissolved solids in a liquid, which is an indirect indicator of its purity and potability, and owners of reverse osmosis systems and jar filters use it to assess cartridge life and cleaning efficiency.
In this article, we will take a closer look at how the device works, interpret the numbers on the screen, and determine when water really requires additional filtration, and understanding these nuances will help you avoid buying unnecessary filters or, conversely, drinking poor-quality water.
Principle of operation and measured parameters
The main purpose of the device is to determine the electrical conductivity of a liquid: pure distilled water conducts almost no electric current, because it lacks free ions, but natural water always contains salts, minerals and other impurities that break down into charged particles, and that is the concentration that the electronic sensor detects.
The measurements are shown in ppm units (parts per million), which means the amount of impurities per million water particles. The higher the figure, the more dissolved substances in water. It's important to understand that the instrument doesn't distinguish between beneficial calcium and harmful lead, it only sees general mineralization.
Many users mistakenly believe that a low ppm value guarantees perfect security. TDS-Xiaomi is unable to detect bacteria, viruses or organic compounds that do not have electrical conductivity.
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Remember: TDS-The meter only measures conductive salts. It doesn't see chlorine, pesticides or microorganisms unless they dissociate into ions.
However, for household use, this is a great indicator: a sharp jump in readings in purified water immediately signals that the filter membrane has depleted its life and needs to be replaced, which saves money and be sure of the quality of drinking water.
Decoding of readings: table of values
When you get a measurement, you see a number, but you don't always know if it's good or bad. Standards can vary depending on the water source and local quality standards. In Russia and CIS countries, there are certain sanitary standards that you can use to evaluate.
The following is a table that helps you quickly navigate values, based on generally accepted WHO standards and recommendations from filter manufacturers.
| Range ppm | Water quality | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 50 | High purity | Perfect for drinking (after osmosis) |
| 50 – 150 | Good. | Bottled water, suitable for drinking |
| 150 – 300 | Satisfactory | Water filtering is desirable. |
| 300 – 500 | Increased rigidity | Requires cleaning, possible scale in the kettle |
| More than 500. | Unacceptable | Drinking is not recommended, cleaning is necessary. |
It is worth noting that water above 500 ppm is considered hard and can have an unpleasant taste. such water can lead to the formation of scale in household appliances, reducing its life. For humidifiers and steam generators, it is recommended to use water with a minimum content of salts.
Why can a statement jump?
How to use the Xiaomi Mi Water Quality Tester
The measurement process is as simple as possible and requires no special skills, and the device is equipped with a hidden sensor that extends when the cap is opened, and to start working, you need to remove the protective cover and immerse the bottom of the device in the liquid under study.
It's important to keep the tester from going deeper than the label line, so that the water doesn't get into the battery compartment or onto the screen, and as you dive into the display, the numbers will start to change, and you have to wait a few seconds for the values to stabilize.
When the readings stop changing, you can pull the device out, and the colored circle water indicator will light up on the screen: green is excellent, orange is acceptable, and red is low, and you need to close the cap again to turn off the device or press the button if it is provided by the model.
☑️ Proper measurement algorithm
After each use, it is recommended to wipe the sensor element with a soft dry cloth. Residues of water with a high salt content can be krillized on the sensor, which in the future will lead to distortion of readings and the need for calibration.
Checking the effectiveness of filters and membranes
One of the main uses of the tester is to monitor the water treatment system, and if you have a reverse osmosis filter installed, you can easily calculate the degree of purification, and you can measure the TDS of the original tap water, and then compare it to the purified water.
A high-quality reverse osmosis membrane retains up to 90-98% of dissolved substances, and if the difference between system input and output is smaller, this may indicate membrane damage or improper installation of pre-treatment filters.
⚠️ Attention: If TDS With the purified water dramatically increased compared to previous measurements, this is a sure sign that the resource of the post-carbon filter or the membrane itself is exhausted. Don't ignore this signal, because then the filter can begin to release accumulated contamination back into the water.
It's also useful for checking filter jugs, and the new cartridge should significantly reduce ppm. If the water is still "hard" after the filter is replaced, you may have come across a defective element or a fake.
Device limitations and common myths
Despite the utility, TDS-The meter is not a panacea, and it's not a substitute for a full-fledged chemical lab. There's a common myth that if the device goes "0," the water is perfectly pure. It's not quite true: there may be organic substances in the water that don't conduct current, but can be harmful.
Another misconception is mineral water. Many people think that low TDS is always a good thing. However, completely demineralized water (distillate) is not recommended for continuous drinking, because it flushes minerals out of the body. The optimal drinking water should contain a healthy balance of salts.
Also, the device does not see:
- 🦠 Bacteria and viruses (unless they form conductive colonies).
- 🧪 Organic solvents and pesticides (some types of pesticides).
- 💊 Drugs and hormones.
Therefore, you cannot rely on screen numbers alone to assess the safety of water from an unknown source (such as a spring), and in such cases, deeper analyses are needed.
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TDS-The meter is a great tool for monitoring the stability of filters, but not for fully assessing the safety of water from unknown sources.
Care, calibration and maintenance
To ensure accuracy, the device must be properly cared for, and the main enemy of the sensor is pollution and oxidation. After every contact with water, especially if it is chlorinated or contains a lot of salts, wipe the metal part with a dry soft cloth.
Store the device in a dry place, always close the protective cap. Moisture entering the housing can lead to corrosion of contacts and failure of electronics. Replacement of batteries is made as needed, usually the battery lasts for several hundred measurements.
At home, Xiaomi budget models are usually unincorporated or require special equipment (calibration solutions).If the device starts showing clearly incorrect values (for example, "0" in salt water or "999" in distillate), most likely, the sensor is damaged or oxidized.
In some cases, cleaning the sensor with a cotton swab dipped in a weak solution of citric acid, followed by a thorough rinse, helps, but this is a risky procedure, and you should only do it if you are confident in your actions.
⚠️ Warning: Never use aggressive chemicals or abrasive materials to clean the sensor. scratches on the sensor surface will cause irreversible distortion of electrical conductivity readings.