Measuring the Material Moisture Content

The moisture content is determined via the electrical conductivity of the object to be measured.

  • It is only possible to obtain optimal measuring results if the relevant material has been set for the object to be measured. Materials have different conductivity and density.

Characteristic values for various wood and construction materials are saved in the measuring tool. In the settings see Overview of Menus, you can define favourites from the available materials that will be available as quick selection options in the standard screen.

  1. The currently set material is shown on the material display (e).
  1. Press the  button at the top to switch to a different favourite material.
  1. If the background of the material display (e) is bright, this indicates that the material setting can be changed.
  1. Press the right or left of the button  until the required material is displayed.

The bright background of the material display (e) goes out: by pressing the  button in the centre or a few seconds after the last time the button was pressed or when starting a measurement.

For each saved material, you can define the threshold value from which the measured value is displayed as being too high (red) or correct (green) on the measured value display (h).

The maximum threshold value that can be set depends on the material:

Material

Threshold range

All wooden materials

0 % to 30 %

<Gas concrete>

0 % to 30 %

<Brick>, <Drywall>, <Gypsum>, <Concrete filler>, <Concrete screed>, <Anhydrite screed>, <Cement screed>, <Cement mortar>, <Lime mortar>

0 % to 10 %

  1. The relevant threshold value for the currently selected material (e) will appear on the threshold value display (f).
  1. Press the  button at the bottom to change the threshold value.
  1. If the background of the threshold value display (f) is bright, this indicates that the threshold value can be changed.
  1. Press the right or left of the button  until the required value is displayed. The value will change in faster steps if the button is pressed and held.
  1. The threshold value will be saved for the current material and will be available again after changing the material.

The bright background of the threshold value display (f) goes out: by pressing the  button in the centre or a few seconds after the last time the button was pressed or when starting a measurement.

  • The measuring accuracy is greatest when the temperature of the object to be measured is the same as the ambient temperature. If necessary, allow the object to be measured to reach the correct temperature.
  • If the object to be measured has been dampened from the outside (e.g. by rain or condensation), only the surface moisture is measured. Choose a side that has not been dampened or, if necessary, wipe the object to be measured dry so that you can measure the material moisture content.
  • It is not possible to carry out measurements of frozen material.
  • The area in the wood to be measured must be untreated and free of branches, dirt, resin, rot, knurls or other defects so as not to impair the measuring result.
  • For measuring the humidity of fuels, it is advisable to split up the wood sample before measuring.
  • For construction materials, the area to be measured should be free of dirt. In particular, if there are salts on the surface, they may distort the measuring result.

  1. Make sure that the correct material is set on the display (e).
  1. Push the probe tips (3) into the object to be measured. Optimal measuring results are achieved when the probe tips are inserted approx. 4−5 mm (to the detent) into the object to be measured.
  • Do not use force to insert the probe tips into the object to be measured. Do not use other objects to hit the measuring tool into the object to be measured. This may result in damage to the measuring tool.
  1. If necessary, push the probe tips (3) into the object to be measured using left-right motions.
  1. The measured material moisture content is shown on the measured value indicator (h).

If the measured value is less than or equal to the set threshold value, this is indicated by green. If the measured value is higher than the threshold value, this is indicated by red.

Saving Measured Values:

  1. Press the centre of the button  to save the current measured value.
  2. The saved measured value (g) will appear above the current measured value.

You can save a maximum of two measured values. Every time you save another value, the older value will be automatically deleted.

You can also manually delete the saved measured values by pressing the  button (in this case the last measured value will be deleted first).

When you change the material and when you switch off the measuring tool, both of the saved values will be deleted.

General Information About Measuring:

  • Keep sources of temperature or moisture that may distort the measurement (e.g. hands) away from the probe tips (3).
  • Always carry out measurements at multiple points. The moisture may be distributed differently in the object to be measured.
  • The measurement is only performed in the area in which the probe tips (3) are in contact with the object to be measured. Any deeper-lying moisture cannot be measured. Different insertion depths of the probe tips may affect the measuring results.
  • The measuring tool can inherently only measure moisture approximately. If exact values for wood are required, carry out a measurement using the oven dry method according to EN 13183.

Taking Measurements in Construction Materials/Substrates:

  • For substrates made from mixed materials or loose, crumbly substrates, a higher degree of measuring accuracy should be expected.
  • The displayed values greatly depend on the construction material/manufacturer used and the environmental conditions. If in doubt, measure a reliably dry area as a reference or a sufficiently large, dry test piece from the same material.

Taking Measurements in Wood :

  • Measure across the direction of the wood grain. Measurements taken parallel to the grain or along the growth rings may lead to higher measured values.
  • Always take measurements at least 5 cm away from cut edges and do not perform any measurements on end surfaces. Wood dries particularly quickly at edges and end surfaces.
  • Do not measure the outer sides of the wood. Water that may have accumulated here as a result of rain or dew can lead to higher moisture values.
  • Heartwood may have a different moisture content to sapwood from the same piece of wood.
  • For measuring the humidity of firewood, it is advisable to measure the freshly split wood at three different points: 5 cm from the left and right cut edges respectively, and in the centre of the piece of wood.
  • Because they are natural materials, the conductivity may vary and lead to different measured values.
  • If you are not sure about which type of wood you are measuring, select <Construction wood> on the material display (e).