PRECISION MULTI-SPECIES
WOOD MOISTURE METER
USER’S MANUAL
MMD8P
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
Please read this manual carefully and thoroughly before using this product.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 –3
What’s in the Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Setup Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 –5
Install Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Advanced Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 –5
Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 – 10
Select a Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 –7
Select a Species . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 –8
Making Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Storing Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 –9
Recalling and Deleting Records. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Compensating for Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 – 10
Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 – 11
Operating & Maintenance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 – 12
Return for Repair Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing General Tools & Instruments’ MMD8P Precision Multi-Species Wood
Moisture Meter. Please read this user’s manual carefully and thoroughly before using the meter.
The MMD8P is tailored for use in woodworking and lumber purchasing. Examples include:
• Measuring the moisture content of wood before painting, wallpapering, sealing,
treating or joining
• Selecting dry lumber
The meter infers the moisture level of a piece of wood by measuring the electrical resistance it
presents between the meter’s test pins. The electrical resistance of any material can be used as
a proxy for its moisture level. The wetter a material, the lower its resistance.
The measurements made by the MMD8P mostly represent surface moisture content because:
1) Moisture close to the surface has a greater effect on a reading than moisture deep below it;
and 2) At a length of 0.2 in. (5mm), the pins at the top of the MMD8P are too short to be driven
deep into a hard material.
KEY FEATURES
• Readings are species-specific, derived from industry-standard moisture-resistance
curves for 48 popular species of wood
• Joystick makes species selection fast and easy
• Also measures and displays ambient temperature (in °F or °C) and RH
• Measurements can be compensated for ambient temperature, improving precision
• Super-bright yellow OLED (organic light-emitting diode) dot matrix display
2
• 99 record memory with manual or automatic (time-based) recording
• Multiple display options, including analog bar graph
• Measurement hold button
• Audible moisture alarm
• Pin cover doubles as calibration checker
• Replaceable pins
• Auto power off function (can be disabled) with adjustable “time-out” trigger
• Separate indications of remaining battery charge and low battery charge
• 1 year limited warranty
WHAT’S IN THE PACKAGE
The MMD8P comes in a custom hard carrying case inside a white box along with a “9V” battery
and this user’s manual.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
The figure shows all of the controls, indicators and physical features on the front, top and back of
the MMD8P. Familiarize yourself with their positions and functions before moving on to the Setup
Instructions and Operating Instructions.
CALIBRATION
PIN COVER
CHECK HOLES
TEST PINS
OLED DISPLAY
(MR MC) MULTI-FUNCTION
BUTTON
1. PRESS AND HOLD TO POWER METER
ON & OFF
2. PRESS BRIEFLY TO HOLD READING
3. PRESSED IN MEMORY STORE MODE,
STORES DISPLAYED RECORD
4. PRESSED IN MEMORY VIEW MODE,
DELETES DISPLAYED RECORD
5. PRESSED IN TEMPERATURE
COMPENSATION MODE, SAVES
SELECTED TEMPERATURE
BATTERY COMPARTMENT
(ON BACK OF METER)
JOYSTICK
TEMPERATURE
& RH SENSORS
FULL
66%
33%
LOW
BATTERY
MODE (SELECT) MULTI-FUNCTION BUTTON
IN REAL-TIME MEASUREMENT MODE (WITH
INITIAL DIGITAL DISPLAY):
1. PRESSED ONCE, SWITCHES TO ANALOG BAR
GRAPH DISPLAY
2. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO FULL-SCREEN
DISPLAY OF MOISTURE LEVEL READING
3. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO DISPLAY OF
MOISTURE LEVEL READING ABOVE AMBIENT
RH AND TEMPERATURE READINGS
4. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO MEMORY
STORE MODE
5. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO MEMORY
VIEW MODE
6. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO
TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION SET MODE
7. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES TO DISPLAY OF
REMAINING BATTERY CHARGE
8. PRESSED AGAIN, SWITCHES BACK TO INITIAL
DIGITAL DISPLAY
PRESSED IN MEMORY STORE, MEMORY VIEW
AND TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION SET
MODES, ADVANCES TO NEXT DISPLAY MODE
3
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
INSTALL BATTERY
To open the battery compartment, turn the meter over and lift the tab on the bottom of the
battery compartment cover. Remove the cover and set it aside. Then plug the included “9V”
battery into the wired socket inside the compartment. The terminals of the battery and the socket
mate in only one way, with the smaller male terminal plugging into the larger female terminal.
Close the battery compartment by replacing its cover and snapping it shut.
ADVANCED SETUP
Before using the meter, General recommends that you adjust five operating and “housekeeping”
parameters to your preferences. They are:
1. The Auto Power Off (APO) “time out” trigger point, and whether the function is enabled
2. The low threshold of the moisture level alarm (beeper), and whether the alarm is
enabled
3. Whether the meter’s memory is activated, and if so the number of moisturemeasurement records to provide space for
4. Whether records are stored manually or automatically. If automatic storage is chosen,
how often readings are stored
5. The temperature measurement unit (°F or °C)
It is not necessary to enter Advanced Setup mode if you are willing to use the default settings for
each of the above five parameters. The default settings are:
1. APO:
2. Moisture alarm:
3. Memory storage:
4. Memory timer:
5. Temperature unit:
To enter Advanced Setup mode
MODE
showing the default settings. On the right side of the top (APO) line,
flashing.
ON
, with a 2-minute “time out” trigger point (2 minutes of inactivity at the front-
panel buttons)
OFF
OFF
MANUAL
°F
, power on the meter in a special way by pressing and holding the
button as you press and hold the button. The following setup screen will appear,
2Mins.
SETTING
APO. 2Mins.
Alarm OFF
Store Mem. OFF
Mem. Timer MANUAL
Temp Unit °F
EXIT
will initially be
To change any of these operating and housekeeping settings:
A. Navigate to its line by pressing the ▲ and ▼ pads of the joystick ( button). When a
setting is ready to be changed, it will begin to flash.
B. Use the and/or pads to select a new value.
MODE
C. Press the
one setting), exit Advanced Setup Mode, and enter real-time measurement mode.
4
button to save the selection (or selections, if you change more than
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