Protimeter Digital Mini Operating Manual

PROTIMETER

A

Digital Mini

Protimeter Moisture Meter

Digital Mini

%WME

DRY

Instruction Manual

ProƟmeter

mphenol

Advanced Sensors

INS5702-EN Rev. B

May 2014

1 Safety Considerations

Caution note for the WME pins - The Pin Moisture

measurement pins are extremely sharp and the instrument
should be handled with due care. The pins should be covered
with the cap provided with the unit when the function is not in
use.

Calibration of unit - The accuracy specifications of the

product are valid for one year after the date of calibration,
and the product requires recalibration after this period.

Only operate the measuring instrument properly, for its

intended purpose and within the parameters specified in
the technical data. Readings from moisture meters are not
definitive but are used to help a professional make informed
judgment to the material’s moisture condition. Conductive
material such as salts, carbon and metal can give false positive
readings.

2 Pin (WME) Mode Operation

Digital Mini uses electrical conductance principles to measure
the moisture level of the material between two electrodes. The
instrument has integral pin electrodes that may be firmly pressed
onto surfaces, or it may be used with various auxiliary moisture
probes, including Heavy Duty Pin Probe, Deep Wall Probes, a
Hammer Electrode (optional) or an EIFS probe (optional).

Remove the needle cap from the top of the Digital Mini and
press to switch it on.

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2 Pin (WME) Mode Operation (cont.)

%WME will appear in the display.Push the pins firmly onto the
surface of the material at the required point of
measurement.Read the moisture level value from the display and
note the moisture condition of the material from the color coded
LED scale.

Note: Measurements taken in wood are actual % moisture

content values, whereas readings taken in material other
than wood are % Wood Moisture Equivalent (%WME)
values - see Pin Mode Interpretation for more details.

3 Using Auxiliary Moisture Probes

The Digital Mini is supplied with an auxiliary plug-in moisture
probe and lead for taking measurements at points that cannot be
reached easily with the integral electrode pins. To use, connect
the Moisture Probe jack plug to the socket on the right side of
the instrument and push the Probe pins onto the surface at the
chosen point of measurement.

Optional Deep Wall Probes can also be used for taking readings
at depth in walls and floors. To use, drill two clearance holes of
diameter 6mm (1/4'') roughly 40mm (1 1/2'') apart to the
required depth. Connect the Deep Wall Probes to the instrument
and push the two probe rods into the clearance holes. Hold them
firmly against the base of the holes and take the reading.

The optional Protimeter Hammer Electrode can also be used to
make measurements deep into hard and softwoods.

Note: Deep Wall Probes may be used to investigate high

readings. Deep Wall Probes may be used to determine the
moisture profile through a structure by increasing the
depth of the clearance holes incrementally.

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4 Pin (%WME) Mode Interpretation

Measure mode readings are precise and specific to the area of
contact between the electrode tips. Actual percent moisture
content (%mc) values are measured in wood products. Wood
Moisture Equivalent (WME) values are measured in materials
other than wood.

The WME measurement is the theoretical %mc value that would
be attained by a piece of wood in moisture equilibrium with the
material under investigation at the point of measurement. As the
critical %mc levels of wood are known, WME values may be
used directly to establish if the material is in a dry, borderline or
damp condition as indicated by the color coded LED scale.

5 Instrument Calibration Check

A calibration check device (Calcheck) is supplied with the

instrument for checking the Measure mode calibration. Hold the
Calcheck across the electrode pins as shown. A correctly
calibrated Digital Mini will read 18.2 ±1.0. Contact your
supplier if the instrument is reading incorrectly.

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6 Reference Mode

Measure the material until the meter’s reading is stable then
press for 2 seconds. This will store the reading until the
mode changes or the meter turns off. Now all reading taken after

will be displayed as normal, but below you will see a second
reading that shows you if the material is measured above or
below the original reading. Reference mode can be useful when
trying to establish what materials are above or below a point of
reference or dry standard. See page 6 for further information.

7 Operating Digital Mini

Switch On:

Press the ON/OFF button.

The unit turns on, with the LCD displaying all the segments and
sweeping the LED bar graph.

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Measurements:

The numeric measurement and color LED will be shown as well
as the “DRY” (green) or “AT RISK” (yellow) or “WET” (red),
based on the measurement shown.

7-16.9 DRY (Green), 17-19.9 AT RISK (Yellow), 20-99.9 WET (Red)

Protimeter Digital Mini Page 5

Reference Mode of Measurement:

Note: For application information, see Pin (WME) Mode

Operation> on page 1.

In Measure mode, take the first measurement which needs to be
taken as reference. While the first reading is displayed on the

screen, press and hold the button for 2 seconds to enter the
Reference Mode. The display will be similar to the one shown
on the next page.

To return to the normal measurement mode, press again.

Settings:

Press and hold the button and switch on the unit by
pressing . Hold both the buttons until the Digital Mini

displays the version.

Release both buttons while it shows the version number. The
unit enters Settings Mode.

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DRY, AT RISK and WET Settings:

The first screen to appear in Settings is the DRY, AT RISK and
WET setting screen.

This screen sets whether the indication on the display needs to
be switched ON or OFF. When it is ON, the moisture condition
will be displayed on the screen. When it is OFF, no indication is
displayed on screen.

Use the button to turn ON/OFF the settings.

If the unit detects no key press for 2 seconds in the Setting
screen, it moves to the next setting.

Pressing the button, after you have entered the desired
setting, will save the setting and move the screen to the next

setting.

Protimeter Digital Mini Page 7

Buzzer ON/OFF Settings:

Once the DRY, AT RISK and WET settings are entered, the next
setting turns the Buzzer ON or OFF.

To change the settings, press the button.

If the unit detects no key press for 2 seconds in the Setting
screen, it moves to the next setting.

Pressing the button, after you have entered the desired
setting, will save the setting and move the screen to the next

setting.

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Backlight Settings:

Once the Buzzer settings are entered, the next setting turns the
Backlight ON or OFF.

To change the settings, press the button.

If the unit detects no key press for 2 seconds in the Setting
screen, it moves to the next setting.

Pressing the button, after you have entered the desired
setting, will save the setting and move the screen to the next

setting.

Protimeter Digital Mini Page 9

Auto Off Time Settings:

When Auto Off is set, the unit will shut down automatically at a
specified time between 1 and 6 minutes, if there is no key press
detected within the set time.

For example, if the Auto Off time is set as 1, then the unit will
automatically shut down after a minute when no key is pressed.

The duration will change based on the set time of 1- 6 minutes.

If the auto off time is set to be “0”, then the unit will not
automatically turn off. A user must manually turn it off by

pressing and holding the button for 5 sec.

Turn off time can be set by pressing the button, and can be
saved by pressing .

After you save this setting, the unit will exit to the measurement

screen.

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Battery Low Indication:

Whenever the battery is low, there will appear a battery low
indication symbol on the screen (bottom right). This indicates
that the battery is low and should be replaced soon. The unit will
continue to perform in battery condition within the specified
accuracy, and turns off when the battery reaches the limit.

Holding / Freezing the Reading:

While measuring, if the reading needs to be frozen for any
observation, press during measurement. A text “HOLD”

will be displayed on the screen.

Protimeter Digital Mini Page 11

8 Battery Replacement

A 550mAh battery will last continuously for more than 20 hours

for a Digital Mini in operation. A Battery Low indication on the
screen indicates that the battery needs to be changed in a short
time.

Remove the screw assembled to fix the battery lid on the back
side of the unit

Slide the battery lid downwards applying a little pressure with
the thumb to open the battery compartment.

Remove the battery, and replace. Care must be taken to ensure
that the polarity is correct as below. Place the battery inside the
compartment.

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9 Technical Specifications

Operating Conditions:

Operating temperature range: 0°C to 50°C
Humidity: 0 to 90% RH, non-condensing

Measurement Specifications:

Moisture measurement:

For integrated and remote pin probes:
Strong and reliable integrated pins, with a cap to protect
Pin measurement range (% MC in wood/%WME) -

7.9 to 99% (readings over 30% are relative)

10 Physical Specifications

Power:

9V - Alkaline 550mAh,
Battery low indication on LCD

Size:

19cm x 6.5cm x 3.5cm (7.5" x 2.5" x 1.4")

Gross Weight (without battery)

~228g

Maximum Needle Depth

For WME pins: 0.4" (10mm)

Buzzer

Audible buzzer for key tone and measurement indication,

user configurable

Regulatory Compliance

CE, RoHS, ETL

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Contact Information:

A

U.S.A.

Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.
967 Windfall Road
St. Marys, Pennsylvania 15857, USA
Tel: [phone]

U.K.

Amphenol Thermometrics (U.K.) Limited
Crown Industrial Estate Priorswood Road
Taunton, TA2 8QY, UK
Tel: [phone]

www.protimeter.com
www.amphenol-sensors.com

mphenol

Advanced Sensors

Copyright © 2014 Amphenol Thermometrics, Inc.

St. Marys, Pennsylvania 15857, USA

967 Windfall Road