Measuring the Material Moisture Content

In <Pin> operating mode, the moisture content is determined via the electrical conductivity of the object to be measured (resistance measurement).

In <Pad> operating mode, the measuring tool emits an electromagnetic signal. The change in this signal due to the material of the object to be measured and the water it contains is used to determine the moisture content (capacitive measurement).

  • It is only possible to obtain optimal measuring results if the relevant material has been set for the object to be measured. The materials differ in both their conductivity and density as well as their transmission properties when it comes to electromagnetic signals.

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

If <Pad> operating mode is set, <Reference mode> can be selected via the favourites, in addition to the self-defined materials see Measurements with Reference Value (<Pad> Operating Mode).

  1. The currently set material is shown on the material display (f).
  1. Press the  button at the top to switch to a different favourite material.
  1. If the background of the material display (f) 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 (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.

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 (j).

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 (f) will appear on the threshold value display (g).
  1. Press the  button at the bottom to change the threshold value.
  1. If the background of the threshold value display (g) 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 (g) 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.

General:

  • If the object to be measured has been dampened from the outside (e.g. by rain or condensation), this influences the measurement. 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.

<Pin> Operating Mode:

  • 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.

<Pad> Operating Mode:

  • Objects that are narrower than the sensor area (17) cannot be measured.
  • Do not place flat objects to be measured on a surface, otherwise the values of the surface will distort the measurement result and reduce the measuring accuracy.
    Example : A wooden panel that is 20 mm thick is measured while lying on a table. At a measuring depth of 30 mm, the measuring range is made up of a 20 mm wooden panel and a 10 mm table, i.e. the values of the table influence the measurement result. If the wooden panel is kept free during the measurement, only the 20 mm wooden panel is measured.

To take measurements using the probe tips (3), <Pin> operating mode must be set.

  1. Before measuring, ensure that the probe tips are clean and dry. If necessary, use a cloth to dry the measuring tool.
  2. If the measuring tool has been exposed to a significant change in temperature, leave it to adjust to the ambient temperature before taking a measurement.
  1. Remove the protective cap (1) from the probe tips and insert it onto the lower end of the measuring tool.
  2. Press the  button to change the <Pad> operating mode to <Pin>.
  1. <Pin> appears in the operating mode display (c).
  1. Make sure that the correct material is set on the display (f).
  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 (j).

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.

  1. After finishing the measurement, place the protective cap (1) back on the probe tips (3).

To take measurements using the sensor area (17), <Pad> operating mode must be set.

  1. Press the  button to change the <Pin> operating mode to <Pad>.
  1. <Pad> appears in the operating mode display (c).
  1. Make sure that the correct material is set on the display (f).
  1. Press the measuring tool with the entire sensor area (17) onto the object to be measured.
  1. The measured material moisture content is shown on the measured value indicator (j).

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.

  1. Press the centre of the button  to save the current measured value.
  2. The saved measured value (i) 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.

Measurements in <Reference mode> are helpful, for example, if the material of an object to be measured is not known, or if you want to assess whether parts of a surface are wetter or drier than another part of the same surface.

In reference mode, no measured value appears in the measured value indicator (j), but the measurement result is displayed as a marking on the threshold value bar (h).

The threshold value is not set as a numerical value, but is defined via a reference measurement. For example, a reliably dry area of a wall or a dry piece of wood of an unknown wood type can be measured for this purpose.

  1. To take measurements in reference mode, <Pad> operating mode must be set.
  1. To start reference mode, press the top of the  button and select <Reference mode> instead of a favourite material.
  2. <Set reference> appears on the display next to a flashing triangle.
  3. Press the centre of the  button to confirm reference mode.
  4. Press the measuring tool with the entire sensor area (17) onto the material that is intended to act as a reference piece for the following measurements.
  1. The moisture value of the reference piece is saved as a threshold value. The saving of the reference value is confirmed on the display.

For all subsequent measurements, the position of the marking on the threshold value bar (h) indicates how much drier or wetter the current object to be measured is than the reference object.

  1. To define a new reference value, either press the centre of the  button or press the  button.
  2. Then follow the instructions on the display.
  3. To end reference mode, press the top of the  button to set a different material.

The reference value is not saved.

General Information About Measuring:

  • Always carry out measurements at multiple points. The moisture may be distributed differently in the object to be measured.
  • The measuring tool can inherently only measure moisture approximately, especially for construction materials. If values with high measuring accuracy are required, carry out a measurement using the calcium carbide method or the oven-drying method.

Measurements in <Pin> operating mode:

  • Keep sources of temperature or moisture that may distort the measurement (e.g. hands) away from the probe tips (3).
  • 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.

Measurements in <Pad> operating mode:

  • Place the measuring tool with the sensor area (17) as flat as possible onto the object to be measured.
  • The measurement takes place below the sensor area (17) up to the maximum measuring depth. The measuring tool calculates the displayed measured value (j) from the individual values in this measuring range. The layers of the object to be measured that are closer to the measuring tool are weighted more heavily in the measured value than the deeper layers.
  • Keep hands or other objects away from the sensor area (17) during the measurement so as not to influence the measurement results.
  • Metals and electric fields in the object to be measured can distort the measurement result.

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 :

  • <Pin> operating mode: 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 this wood is a natural material, the properties of the wood that are key to the measurement 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 (f), or change to <Pad>pad operating mode and perform a measurement with a reference value.