PCE Instruments PCE-WP24 Users guide

MANUAL

Moisture Analyser

PCE-WP24

1. Application ...........................................................................................................................3

2. Technical data .....................................................................................................................3

2.1 Wood..............................................................................................................................3

2.2 Building material.............................................................................................................3

2.3 Other parameters common for wood and building material.......................................3

3. Description of controls .........................................................................................................4

4. Material selection.................................................................................................................4

5. Wood moisture contents measurements .............................................................................4

5.1 Preparing the instrument without changes to density and thickness parameters ......4

5.2 Preparing the instrument with changes to density or/and thickness parameters...... 5

5.3 Measurements ...............................................................................................................5

5.4 Remarks.........................................................................................................................5

5.5 Density of selected wood types......................................................................................6

6. Building materials moisture contents measurements (described with the example of

concrete)..................................................................................................................................7

6.1 Preparing the instrument without changes to density and thickness parameters ...... 7

6.2 Preparing the instrument with changes to density or/and thickness parameters....... 7

6.3 Measurements ...............................................................................................................8

6.4 Remarks.........................................................................................................................8

6.5 Determining the density of building materials................................................................. 9

7. Errors...................................................................................................................................9

8. Changing the battery ...........................................................................................................9

9. Service...............................................................................................................................10

1. Application

Moisture Meter PCE-WP24
and building materials. The device measures the dielectric constant (SIC) of the material. The material is
penetrated by the electromagnetic field generated by the device. The moisture meter is equipped with knobs for
setting the density and thickness of wood and density and thickness of concrete and other building materials.
The characteristic is based on the following assumptions:

• for wood – doublesided natural drying process of

• for concrete – singlesided natural drying process of concrete.

In both cases the moisture meter measures the average moisture contents.

is designed for quick and non-damaging measurement of moisture contents in wood

timber,

2. Technical data

2.1 Wood

Range 4% - 60%
Max. depth of penetration 60 mm
Settings range:

• density 0.3 – 1.1 g/cm³

• thickness 10 – 60 mm

Minimal settings’ step:

• den

• thicknes

sity

0.02 g/cm³

s

2 mm

2.2 Building material

Range 0 – 10%
Max.depth of penetration 50 mm
Settings range:

• density 0.8 – 2.8 t/m³

sity

s

30 lub 50 mm

0.2 t/m³

• thicknes

Minimal settings’ step:

• den

2.3 Other parameters common for wood and building material

Display LCD, 12.7 mm
Resolution 0.1
Power battery 6F22, 9V
Battery life approx. 5000 meas.
Low power indication yes
Size:

• device 165 * 80 * 33 mm

• case 270 * 180 * 55 mm

3. Description of controls

There are two control knobs on the front panel:
upper – to select the operating function,

OFF – power off
MATERIAL SELECTION – start-up of material (diodes) switching, the moment the knob is moved to
DENSITY sets the material type
DENSITY – setting the density with the lower knob
THICKNESS – setting the thickness with the lower knob
SETTINGS CHECK – alternately displaying the previously set density and thickness
MEASURE – automatic calibration (approx. 4 sec.) and measurement

lower – to set the density and thickness of the material. This knob is active only when the upper knob is set to

DENSITY or THICKNESS

4. Material selection

In order to set the type of material switches the upper knob to MATERIAL SELECTION. The diodes beside
signs WOOD and BUILD. MAT. start to blink alternately. To start wood moisture contents measurements switch
the upper knob to DENSITY when the WOOD diode is lit.
Measurements of moisture contents in building materials can be started by switching the upper knob to
DENSITY when the BUILD. MAT. Diode is lit.

5. Wood moisture contents measurements

5.1 Preparing the instrument without changes to density and thickness parameters

Quickly switch the upper control from OFF to SETTINGS CHECK. The diode WOOD will light up. The LCD will
display the density and thickness set during the previous measurements (e.g. 0.56 and 42). Hold the device in
the air (fig. 1), switch the upper control knob to MEASURE. The device will calibrate automatically (the display
shows - - -). The end of calibration is indicated by the number 4.0 (the lower range limit) displayed on the LCD.
The device is ready for measurements.

Fig. 1

5.2 Preparing the instrument with changes to density or/and thickness parameters

Follow these steps:

• set the upper knob to MATERIAL SELECTION

• when the WOOD diode is lit set the upper control knob to DENSITY and then set the required density

using the lower control knob,

• set the upper control knob to THICKNESS and set the required thickness with the lower control knob,

• set the upper control knob to SETTINGS CHECK. The LCD will display the density and thickness

alternately,

• hold the instrument in the air (fig. 1) and set the upper control knob to MEASURE. The device will
calibrate automatically (the display shows - - -). The end of calibration is indicated by the number 4.0
(the lower range limit) displayed on the LCD. The device is ready for measurements.

A table with the density values for the most popular wood types is on the back of the moisture meter.

5.3 Measurements

The measurements should be conducted in at least several places. These places should be as flat, smooth and
clean as possible. The actual result of the measurements is the arithmetic average of all the measurements. A
line drawn between the electrodes should be perpendicular to the fibres. If the timber is too thin, place the
electrodes parallel to the fibres.
Hold the device as shown on fig 2. Press the electrodes hard against the wood. Read the result. There should
not be any metal elements, wet wood or concrete etc under the timber. It’s best if the timber is supported only
by it’s ends or placed on a layer of Styrofoam several centimeters thick.
The instrument is equipped with an automatic power off which activates 5 minutes after the last change in upper
control knob setting. Moisture meter can also be switched off instantly by setting the upper control knob to OFF.

Fig. 2

5.4 Remarks

The size of the timber should not be less than 80 x 40 mm. Measuring moisture contents of smaller pieces leads
to results lower than the real moisture contents.
The electrodes are made of special silicon bronze and during normal operation should not get deformed. If due
to excess force or accidental fall the electrodes get deformed, they should be bend to their original shape.
Deformed or misplaced electrodes are the source of errors and in extreme cases can prevent proper calibration
of the device.
Avoid measurements when the timber or the operator of the device is loaded with high electrostatic charges.
Such charges (sparks) make measurements difficult and can damage the instrument.

5.5 Density of selected wood types

Woo

d type (brand name)

Density

(g/cm

Abacji 0,35
Abura 0,53
Afara white 0,52
Afrormosia 0,65
Alder, Blackalder 0,51
Alerce 0,34
Ash common 0,65
Ash japanese 0,61
Ash white 0,64
Aspen, Poplar 0,45
Balsa 0,08
Basswood, Lime 0,49
Beech 0,68
Birch common 0,61
Californian Redwood 0,39
Mountain Cherry 0,54
Chestnut, Sweet 0,55
Douglas Fir, Oregon 0,47
Eberesche 0,73
Ebony Macassar 1
Elm 0,64
European Cherry 0,55
Spruce European 0,43
Hickory, White heart 0,76
Hornbeam common 0,79
Iroko 0,63
Larch European 0,55
Larch japanese 0,49
Lauan White 0,52
Locust black 0,74
Mahogany Broad 0,55
Mahogany Grand, Bassam 0,47
Mansonia 0,6
Maple 0,59
Maple 0,58
Maple sugar 0,63
Maple soft 0,47
Meranti dark red 0,67
Meranti White 0,82
Merbau 0,77
Niangon, Wishma 0,6
Oak, European 0,65
Oak, White 0,74
Okoume, Gaboon 0,41
Pear 0,7
Pine insignis 0,4
Pine, Weymouth 0,37
Pine, Europ. Black 0,53
Pine, Redwood 0,49

3

)

Popular Black Populus nigra 0,41
Ramin 0,56
Rubberwood 0,49
Redoak, Northern 0,66
Sapele 0,62
Silver Fir 0,41
Spruce W.H. Alaska pine, 0,44
Teak 0,63
Utile 0,59
Walnut 0,64

6. Building materials moisture contents measurements (described with
the example of concrete)

6.1 Preparing the instrument without changes to density and thickness parameters

Quickly switch the upper control from OFF to SETTINGS CHECK. The diode BUILD. MAT. will light up. The
LCD will display the density and thickness set during the previous measurements (e.g. 1.6 and 50). Hold the
device in the air (fig. 3), switch the upper control knob to MEASURE. The device will calibrate automatically (the
display shows - - -). The end of calibration is indicated by the number 00.0 (the lower range limit) displayed on
the LCD. The device is ready for measurements.

Fig. 3

6.2 Preparing the instrument with changes to density or/and thickness parameters

Follow these steps:

• set the upper knob to MATERIAL SELECTION

• when the BUILD. MAT. diode is lit set the upper control knob to DENSITY and then set the required

density using the lower control knob,

• set the upper control knob to THICKNESS and set the required thickness with the lower control knob,

• set the upper control knob to SETTINGS CHECK. The LCD will display the density and thickness

alternately,

• hold the instrument in the air (fig. 3) and set the upper control knob to MEASURE. The device will
calibrate automatically (the display shows - - -). The end of calibration is indicated by the number 00.0
displayed on the LCD. The device is ready for measurements

A table with approximate density values for the most popular building materials is on the back of the moisture
meter.

6.3 Measurements

The measurements should be conducted in at least several places. These places should be flat, smooth and
clean. The actual result of the measurements is the arithmetic average of all the measurements.

Hold the device as shown on fig. 4. Press the electrodes hard against the concrete. Read the result.

Fig. 4

The instrument is equipped with an automatic power off which activates 5 minutes after the last change in upper
control knob setting. Moisture meter can also be switched off instantly by setting the upper control knob to OFF.

6.4 Remarks

Besides the moisture contents, the result are also influenced by:

• bulk density of the concrete

• graining and type of aggreg

use of admixture

•

temperature of the concrete

•

• value of the water-cement indicator

• water chemical constitution

•

salinity of the concrete (in case of old co

•

smoothness of the surface

In case a very high accuracy of measurement is required the device should be calibrated to compensate for the
influence of the factors listed above. Such calibration should be done using the dry oven test.

During normal use it is enough to compensate only for the bulk density of the concrete.

The device can not be used to measure the moisture contents of concrete that is densely reinforced or contains
admixtures that conduct electricity. The measurement should not be done closer than 50 mm from the nearest
reinforcement.
The results of the measurement can be totally distorted by the occurrences of stray currents (coming form for
example a malfunctioning electrical installation). The accuracy of the device can also be very low while
measuring very fresh or recently dampened concrete. This is due to the interference from the very moist top
layer of the concrete.

s

ate

(W/C)

ncrete)

6.5 Determining the density of building materials

Determining the density of building materials is based on assumption that for a nearly dry building material the
result should be almost zero percent.

Case A

A sample (fragment) of the material is available. It can be removed and dried separately (e.g. brick, ceramic
plate, concrete slab).

• Dry the sample completely – reduce the moisture contents nearly to 0%. This can be done using a
dryer, microwave oven or hot air

Set the density so that the result of the measurement is close to 0.1 –

•

Conduct the measurements as described in chapter 6.

•

Case B

The only available material is already laid and there is no sample available (fragment).

• Locally dry the material (levelling, plaster) completely. The minimal dried surface should measure
approx. 15x15cm. The layer of the dried material should be at least 3 cm thick. The best way to dry

ce is to use a hot air

surfa

Set the density so that the result of the measurement is close to 0.1 –

•

Conduct the measurements as described in chapter 6.

•

gun.

gun.

0.2%.

3.

the

0.2%.

3.

duct the measurements in other (not dried) places using the determined density.

Con

7. Errors

the instrument can not calibrate properly it indicates the following

If

-AIr ­AIr -

such case power off the device, check the geometry of the electrodes, clean the electrodes, make sure the

In
device is dry and then start the calibration again (see chapter 5.1 or 5.2 or 6.1 or 6.2).
If the instrument still reports error contact the producer.

generator voltage too lo
generator voltage too hig

w

h

error:

8. Changing the battery

device is equipped with a power level control circuit. When the power drops below acceptable level a sign

The
”LO BAT” appears on the left side of the LCD. This indicates that the battery has expired and should be
replaced with a new one.

To replace the battery unscrew the screw on the back of the instrument and carefully remove the back panel.
Store the device in a dry place. Remove the battery if stored for a long time.

9. Service

The Moisture Meter PCE-WP24

• all repairs during the guarantee period will be done within 10 days from the date of

•

all other repairs will be done within 14 days from the date of deliver

GUA

RANTEE

The manufacturer guarantees the correct functioning of the Moisture Meter PCE-WP24 under normal use for a

period of 12 months:

has a 12 months guarantee.

delivery,

y.

NOTE: "This instrument doesn’t have ATEX protection, so it should not be used in potentially explosive

atmospheres (powder, flammable gases)."