PCE Instruments PCE-PMI 2 Users guide

PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way
Suite 8
Jupiter
FL-33458
USA
From outside US: +1
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]

PCE Instruments UK Ltd.

Units 12/13

Southpoint Business Park

Ensign way

Hampshire / Southampton

United Kingdom, SO31 4RF

From outside UK: +44

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.pce-instruments.com/english

www.pce-instruments.com

Manual

Moisture Meter PCE-PMI 2

Version 1.0

Date of creation: 22.03.2016

Date of last change: 22.03.2016

Manual

Contents

1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 2

2 Safety notes ............................................................................................................. 2

3 Specifications .......................................................................................................... 3

3.1 Technical Specifications ............................................................................................................. 3

3.2 Delivery contents ........................................................................................................................ 3

4 Operation ................................................................................................................. 3

4.1 Start-up procedure ...................................................................................................................... 3

4.2 Take a measurement .................................................................................................................. 3

4.2.1 Max hold function ........................................................................................................................... 3

4.2.2 Zeroing / self-calibration ................................................................................................................. 3

4.2.3 Select the density ........................................................................................................................... 4

4.2.4 Alarm function ................................................................................................................................ 4

4.2.5 Battery indication ............................................................................................................................ 4

4.2.6 Auto power-off function .................................................................................................................. 4

5 Disposal ................................................................................................................... 5

6 Contact ..................................................................................................................... 5

6.1 PCE Instruments UK .................................................................................................................. 5

6.2 PCE Americas ............................................................................................................................ 5

1 Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a moisture meter from PCE Instruments.
With the PCE-PMI 2 you can measure the moisture contents of different materials quickly and easily.
There is a variety of pre-set densities available for different materials like cork, different types of wood or
cement. You can also set up threshold levels which trigger an optical alarm signal when exceeded. This
makes the moisture meter an ideal measuring tool for applications where quick moisture measurements
are needed, for example in quality control.

2 Safety notes

Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The device
may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel. There is no
warranty of damages or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual.

 This device may only be used in the way specified in this manual. If used otherwise, this may

cause dangerous situations.

 Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme air humidity or

moisture.

 The case should only be opened by qualified personnel of PCE Instruments.
 Do not touch the instrument with wet hands.
 You should not make any technical changes to the device.
 The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth / use only pH-neutral cleaner without

solvents or abrasives.

 The device must only be used with original PCE accessories or equivalent.
 Before each use, please inspect the case for damage. In case of any visible damage, please do

not use the device.

 The device must not be used be used when the environmental conditions (temperature, air

humidity,…) are outside the limit values stated in the specifications.

 Do not expose the instrument to explosive atmospheres.

 The instrument should never be placed with the user interface facing an object (e. g. keyboard

side on a table).

This user's handbook is published from PCE Instruments without any guarantee.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms, they can be found in our general terms of business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments.

2

Measuring range

0 … 200 digits

Accuracy

± (0.5 % of reading + 0.5 digits)

Resolution

0.1 digits

Measuring depth

50 mm

Measuring principle

capacitive

Sensor

Metal spheroid

Display

LCD

Power supply

4 x 1.5 V AAA batteries

Operating conditions

0 … +50 °C
< 90 % RH

Dimensions

165 x 62 x 26 mm

Weight

119 g (without batteries)

3 Specifications

3.1 Technical Specifications

3.2 Delivery contents

1 x PCE-PMI 2
4 x 1.5 V AAA batteries
1 x carrying case
1 x instruction manual

Manual

4 Operation

4.1 Start-up procedure

Before you can use the device, you have to install the batteries. To do so, take the device and open the
battery compartment on the back. Take the 4 x AAA batteries, which are included in the package, and
install them as shown on the illustration inside of the battery compartment. After that, close the battery
compartment. The device is now ready to use.

4.2 Take a measurement

To take a measurement, turn on the moisture meter by pressing the “Power” button. Once the device is
turned on, you can hold the metal spheroid against a surface in order to measure its moisture content.
The reading is shown on the display of the moisture meter.

Note: The readings can be falsified if your hand is close to the metal spheroid sensor when taking a
measurement. To prevent this from happening, try to hold the device as far on the bottom side as
possible, when taking a measurement.

4.2.1 Max hold function

By using the max hold function, the display shows the maximum value of the measurement (since the

function has been activated). To activate the max hold function, simply press the “HOLD” button on the

device. Now you can see a “max” indication on the display, which means that the max hold function is

active. To deactivate it, just press the “HOLD” button again.

4.2.2 Zeroing / self-calibration

To perform a self-calibration, turn on the device and hold it away from yourself and from any objects.
Now, press and hold the “ZERO” button, until the status LED glows green. The device now has calibrated
itself.

Note: It is recommended to perform a self-calibration after every turn-on procedure, in order to prevent
the readings from being falsified.

3

Manual

Code

Density in kg/m³

Material

01

200

02

220

03

240

Cork

04

320

05

400

06

440

07

480

Spruce

08

520

Pine

09

560

10

600

11

800

Beech, oak, paper

12

1000

Rubber, lime

13

1200

Plaster

14

1400

Bituminous coal

15

1600

16

1800

Concrete, bricks

17

2000

18

2200

Graphite

19

2500

Sandstone, granite

20

3000

Cement

4.2.3 Select the density

To select the density of the material to be measured, press the “SEL” button. Now the display shows a

code, for example “Cd 12”. Press the “HOLD” button to go to the next code or press the “ZERO” button to

go to the previous code. Once you have your desired code selected, press the “SEL” button to confirm

the selection.
The following table shows the different codes and their densities:

4.2.4 Alarm function

You can set up threshold levels, which trigger an alarm signal (LED indication) when exceeded. To do so,

press and hold the “SEL” button and release it, once “AL1” or “AL2” appears on the display. “AL2” is the
high threshold level and “AL1” is the low threshold level. Now you can use the “HOLD” and “ZERO”

buttons to increase/decrease the threshold value. Press the “SEL” button to confirm the input.

When both threshold levels are set, the LED glows green, while the reading is below the lower level.
When the reading is between the lower and the higher threshold level, the LED glows orange and when
the reading is above the higher threshold level, the LED glows red.

4.2.5 Battery indication

Once the battery voltage is low, a low battery indication appears on the display. When this is the case,
you should replace the batteries in order to be able to continue measuring. To do so, turn off the device
and open the battery compartment on the back of the housing. Remove the old batteries and put in 4 x
new 1.5 V AAA batteries. Mind the correct polarity. After that, close the battery compartment and turn the
device back on.

4.2.6 Auto power-off function

Besides turning it off manually by using the “Power” button, the device also comes with an automatic

power-off function for saving battery power. The power-off function turns the device off after 5 minutes of
inactivity.

4

Manual

5 Disposal

For the disposal of batteries, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the
contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste. They must be given to
collection points designed for that purpose.

In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use them or
give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.

If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.

6 Contact

If you have any questions about our range of products or measuring instruments please contact PCE
Instruments.

6.1 PCE Instruments UK
By post:

PCE Instruments UK Ltd.
Units 12/13 Southpoint Business Park
Ensign Way, Southampton
Hampshire

United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
By phone:

02380 987 035

6.2 PCE Americas
By post:

PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way
Suite 8
Jupiter
33458 FL
USA

By phone:
561 320 9162

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