ProScan™ v.1.2
Owner’s Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………..…….…….…2
SWITCH KEY FUNCTIONS ……………………………………………………..……......3
OPERATION …………………………………………………………………….…...…….4
TIPS FOR USING PROSCAN TO MEASURE WOOD …………………….….………5
TIPS FOR USING PROSCAN TO MEASURE RELATIVE MOISTURE …….……......6
CARE F OR YOUR METER ..……………………………………………….……….……8
SERVICE YOUR METER …………………………………………………….…….…........9
WARRANTY …………………………………………………………………..….…………..9
ADDENDUM ………………………………………………………………………………11
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ProScan™
VERSION 1.2
OWNER’S MANUAL
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing ProScan, a multi-pur pose met er that can be used in many
applications including lumber and woodworking, flooring, water damage restoration,
home inspection, and indoor air quality. ProScan provides a fast, effective way to
identify moisture problems and determine if further action must be taken.
ProScan is a capacitance-ty pe moisture meter with patented sensor technology, using
the relationship between the moisture content and the dielectric properties of the
material under test. When the meter is placed on wood or other hygroscopic building
material, an electro-magnetic field penetrates approximately ¾ to 1 inch into the
material. The meter reading represents a biased average, with the MC nearest to the
sensor having the greatest effect.
If you require a more complete evaluation of moisture conditions or need to penetrate
through flooring, check behind drywall, or test lumber over 1-1/2” thick, we recommend
using ProScan in conjunction with a Delmhorst resistance (pin-type) moisture meter.
ProScan offers specific gravity settings from 0.30-0. 80 and reads w ood moi stur e
content over a 5%-30% range, depending on the specific gravity (SG). ProSc an al so
includes a 0-100 reference scale for relative indications of moisture levels on non-wood
hygroscopic materials.
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SWITCH KEY FUNCTIONS
1. On/Hold Key: Press to turn meter on, return to reading mode after checking
calibration, setting alarm, or to hold the current reading if pressed while reading.
(There is a slow beeping sound while holding a reading.)
2. Self Check Key: Press once to display battery status. Press again to check
calibration. During calibration check the meter must be held in the air to read
internal reference only.
3. Select Key: Press to select wood species (SG) mode or alarm mode.
4. Up Arrow Key: Press to increase SG settings or alarm settings.
5. Down Arrow Key: Press to decrease SG settings or alarm settings.
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OPERATION
Checking the Battery and Calibration
• Press the Self Check key once to display the battery status. “bAtt” will be
displayed followed by “PASS”, “FAIL”, or “LO”. PASS indicates there is sufficient
battery voltage to operate the meter. LO indicates the battery should be replaced
soon. FAIL indicates the battery no longer has sufficient capacity to operate the
meter. NOTE: the meter automatically checks the battery when the meter is
turned on and will display the status if it is FAIL.
• Press the Self Check key twice to check the meter calibrati o n. The meter will
display “CAL”. The meter should read between 11.5 and 13.5 if set to a wood
species; 50-55 if set to the reference scale. If the meter reads out of c ali br ati on,
replace the battery. If a new battery does not resolve, refer to the Service for
Your Meter section (p 9).
Taking a Reading
• Press the On/Hold key to turn the unit on.
• Press the Select key to enter Species mode. This will be confirmed by a red LED.
The defaul t SG is 0.46. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to select the correct SG
or “reF” to select the 0-100 reference scale for non-wood materials. When the
meter is set to the reference scale, the meter switches to a lower sensitivity mode
which is suitable for a wide range of materials.
• Press the On/Hold key while reading to hold the current reading. The meter will
beep slowly and continue to hold the reading until the On/Hold key is pressed
again.
• The alarm (fast beep) will sound whenever the current reading is above the alarm
setting.
Setting the Alarm
• With the meter turned on, pr ess the Select key to enter Alar m mode. The red
LED confirms you are in Alarm mode. Use the Up or Down arrow keys to adjust
the alarm setting. The range of alarm settings is 5.0 to 30.0 for wood and 1 to
100 for the reference scale. The meter stores separate wood and reference
alarm settings.
• To turn the alarm off, use the Up or Down key to scroll to “OFF”.
• Exit the Alarm mode by pressing the On/Hold key and return to read mode.
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Auto Shut-off
• The meter automatically turns off when no keys are pressed for three minutes.
• Five seconds before the meter turns off, the beeper will sound and the display
will count down the 5 seconds.
• To prevent the meter from turning off, press any key before the meter turns off.
HELPFUL TIPS FOR USING PROSCAN TO MEASURE MC IN WOOD:
• Turn the meter on and select the appropriate SG for the wood you are testing.
The entire sensor plate should be in contact with the surface of the board.
The sensor plate measures 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”.
• Readings obtained with ProScan and pin-less moisture meters in general, are
affected by the amount of press ur e appl i e d to the material. Apply and
maintain uniform, firm pressure to the meter when taking readings.
• The meter’s RF signal penetrates to ¾” – 1”. When measuring thinner
material the material underneath the wood may influence the readings. If
possible place a piece of glass, rubber or styro-foam under the sample to
avoid false readings.
• The meter works best on smooth lumber. Rough, uneven, or cupped boards
yield lower readings due to the air pockets bet ween the sensor plate and the
surface. Avoid readings on knots or splits.
• Surface moisture slightly increases the readings. Wipe obvious moistur e fro m
the board surface to minimize this effect.
• The meter is influenced by a moisture gradient but cannot detect it. If you
suspect a gradient, use a Delmhorst resistance meter with insulated pins to
determine if a normal gradient (wet core to drier outer surface) is present or if
surface moisture has just soaked into the board.
• Before installin g a wood floor, if possible allow the flooring to acclimate in its
environment for several days before installation. During this period, check
both the floor and the sub floor to ensure that moisture levels of both
materials remain stable and are within recommended MC guidelines.
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• The “right” moisture content depends on the final use of the wood and is
climate-driven. Recommended moisture content for indoor woodworking /
furniture ranges from 6%-9%. Outdoor construction grade lumber is usually
19% or less; 10%-15% for safe painting or staining.
Corrections for Specific Gravity (SG)
Measurements obtained with capacitance type moisture meters such as ProScan are
greatly influenced by the specific gravity of the material (specifically the wood) being
measured. Materials with higher specific gravity produce higher moisture readings than
materials with lower specific gravity at the same moisture content. Since ProScan is
calibrated for wood at a speci fic gr av i ty (SG) of 0.46, a correction is required when
measuring wood species with SG values other than 0.46. At the end of this manual you
will find a listing of common species with published average values for SG and also a
table to correct meter readings for wood species. Use these values with the knowledge
that specific gravity varies within a single species and may even vary within the same
board. The following resources can be helpful if you are working with a species that is
not included in these tables. When referring to published data use the SG values based
on green volume and oven-dry weight (sometimes referred to as “green basis”).
www.wood-database.com
www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ (Wood Handbook 2010)
www.woodworkerssource.com
HELPFUL TIPS FOR USING TECHSCAN TO ME ASURE RELATIVE MOISTURE
LEVELS IN NON-WOOD MATERIALS:
• Set the scale to “reF”. The 0-100 reference scale is for relative wet/dry
indications only. The numbers on this scale are relative, or qualitative
indications of moisture levels – not % moisture content. Select when
testing building materials such as drywall, concrete, plaster, EIFS, etc.
Readings in the low end of the scale usually indicate a drier condition;
readings in the upper end of the scale usually indicate a higher moisture level
in the material.
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To establish a benchmark or “dry standard” for the material you are
measuring, first take readings in areas that you know are dry, or acceptable.
Then take readings on areas that you know are wet. These “dry to wet”
readings should be used as the reference points against which subsequent
readings are compared. One should not expect that the reference scales for
meters of different bra nds a nd t y pes (resistance /capacitance) will read alike
on the same material. The benchmark may be different from one meter
type/brand to anoth er because a given meters’ response depends on the
material used for calibration and on the meter’s range.
• The entire sensor plate should be in contact with the surface of the material
being measured. The sens or pl ate me asur es 2-1/2” x 3-1/2”.
• Readings obtained with ProScan and pin-less moisture meters in general, are
affected by the amount of press ur e appl i e d to the material. Apply and
maintain uniform, firm pressure to the meter when taking readings.
• The meter’s RF signal penetrates to ¾” – 1”. Material underneath or behind
the surface being tested may influence the readings. This includes metal
studs, wiring, and in the case of concrete, rebar and aggregate.
• The meter works best on smooth, clean surfaces. Surface moisture slightly
increases the readings. Wipe obvious moisture from the board surface to
minimize this effect.
• Testing Concrete Slabs for Flooring Applications
Pinless moisture meters can be an effective tool to check comparative
moisture conditions in concrete slabs. They can tell you where there may be
excess moisture and help determine if you need to conduct further testing,
and identify specific areas on which that testing should be per for me d.
ProScan cannot provide quantitative results as a basis for acceptance of a
slab for installatio n of moi sture-sensitive flooring systems. ASTM Test Method
F2170 (RH using in situ probes), F1869 (calcium chl or ide) , and F2420 (RH on
surface using insulated hood) provide quantitative information for determining
if moisture levels are within specific limits.
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• Using ProScan I n A Water Damage Restoration Or Mold Remediation
Job:
ProScan is a useful tool in identifying moisture in walls, ceilings and floors in a
water restoration or mold remediation. In order to establish pre-loss
conditions, find an area of the building that was not damaged and take
several readings on various materials. This will provide you with a “dry
standard” or target moisture levels when drying damaged areas.
Take several readings on each wall. Pay special attention near the base,
around doorjambs, electrical and plumbing fixtures, and other places where
water may have entered. Use the meter continuously during the drying
process to monitor drying progress.
• Testing EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finishing System):
Moisture intrusion problems in EIFS (synthetic stucco) stem from leaking
window and door frames, improper use of or lack of sealant, and faulty
installation of flashing . f you suspect a problem conduct a visual inspection.
Look for gaps around wi ndows , doors, ai r co ndit ioni ng uni ts , light fixtures,
hose bibs, dryer vents and oth er areas of potential penetratio n. Also look for
visible signs of water damage. If you believe a problem exists, use ProScan
as a quick scanning tool to determine the general location of the moisture.
Then use a pin- type meter to better identify exact problem areas and depth
of moisture intrusion.
CARE OF YOUR METER:
• Store the meter in a clean, dry place. The protective carrying case provided is
an ideal storage place when the meter is not in use.
• Change the 9-Volt battery as needed. Continued use with a low battery may
cause the meter to go out of calibration. Use only Duracell, Eveready, or other
battery brand designed for digital electronics.
• Clean the meter with any biodegradable cleaner. Use the cleaner sparingly
and on external parts only .
• Remove the battery if the meter will not be used for one month or longer.
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SERVICE FOR YOUR METER
If your meter is not working properly, replace the battery with a new one and check the
calibration. If this does not resolve the problem, go to www.delmhorst.com and follow
the instructions under Product Support. If you require further assistance please call 877DELMHORST (335-6467) or 973-334-2557.
WARRANTY
Delmhorst Instrument Co., referred to hereafter as Delmhorst, guarantees its ProScan
meter for one year from date of purchase against defects in material or workmanship. If
within the warranty period of the ProScan you find any defect in material or
workmanship return the meter following the instructions in the Service for Your Meter
section. This limited warranty does not cover abuse, alteration, misuse, damage during
shipment, improper service, unauthorized or unreasonable use of the meter. This
warranty does not cover batteries. If the meter has been tampered with, the warranty
shall be void. At our option we may replace or repair the meter.
Delmhorst shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages for the breach of
any express or implied warranty with respect to this product or its calibration. With
proper care and maintenance the meter should stay in calibration; follow the instructions
in the Care of Your Meter section.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL DEL MHO RST BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECI AL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY
TYPE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOST PROFITS OR
DOWNTIME ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED IN ANY RESPECT TO ITS METERS
OR ELECTRODES AND NO OTHER WARRANTY, WRITTEN, ORAL OR IMPLIED
APPLIES. DELMHORST SHALL IN NO EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY BREACH OF
WARRANTY OR DEFECT IN THIS PRODUCT THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF
PURCHASE OF THIS PRODUCT.
The express warranty set forth above constitutes the entire warranty with respect to
Delmhorst meters and no other warranty, written, oral, or implied applies. This warranty
is personal to the customer purchasing the product and is not transferable.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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For more than 65 years Delmhorst Instrument has been the leading manufacturer
of high quality, US-made moisture meters and thermo-hygrometers. Today we
offer a wide range of meters for applications including water damage restoration,
construction, flooring, lumber/woodworking, paper, and agriculture.
Delmhorst Instrument Co info@delmhorst.com
51 Indian Lane East www.delmhorst.com
Towaco, NJ 07082
973-334-2557
877-DELMHORST (335-6467) 510INS-0033
April 2014 - rev1
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