Delmhorst FX-20 User manual

Rev 1 - October 2023
Owner’s Manual FX-20

Rev 1 - October 2023
Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................4
2. Safety .......................................................................................................................................................5
3. Meter Features.......................................................................................................................................6
4. Menu Features .......................................................................................................................................8
5. Read Menu .............................................................................................................................................9
Live Reading Area ...............................................................................................................................9
Set Point...............................................................................................................................................10
Material (Hay) Temperature...........................................................................................................11
6. Set Menu.............................................................................................................................................. 12
Setting Selection................................................................................................................................12
6. Stats Menu ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Stats Selection ....................................................................................................................................14
Stats Details.........................................................................................................................................14
8. Specifications and Operating Conditions...................................................................................... 16
Temperature Compensation Range: (not operating temperature)....................................16
Reading Range:..................................................................................................................................16
Power:...................................................................................................................................................16
Size: .......................................................................................................................................................16
Weight:.................................................................................................................................................16
Regulations/Compliance: ...............................................................................................................17
Dispose of your Meter......................................................................................................................17
For private households: Information on Disposal for Users of WEEE................................17
For professional users in the European Union..........................................................................18
For disposal in countries outside of the European Union .....................................................18
10. Meter Care, Service and Warranty ................................................................................................ 18
Care for your Meter ..........................................................................................................................18
Service Your Meter ...........................................................................................................................19
Limited Warranty...............................................................................................................................19
Testing Baled Hay .............................................................................................................................22
Testing Hay in the Windrow...........................................................................................................23
Factors Affecting Your Readings ..............................................................................................24

Rev 1 - October 2023
Range of Moisture Content ........................................................................................................24
Curing ...............................................................................................................................................25
Density..............................................................................................................................................26
Use of Preservatives .....................................................................................................................26
Sample Size.....................................................................................................................................26

Rev 1 - October 2023
1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the new FX-20 hay moisture meter, the latest in
Delmhorst’s legacy “F-series” moisture meters and part of the new
Navigator™family of meters. Delmhorst moisture meters are known to hay
producers worldwide for their unmatched reliability and ease of use.
The FX-20 is the ideal tool for hay producers large and small. It offers the
latest in features and functionality. The FX-20is packaged in a robust and
ergonomically designed ABS case (patent pending). The meter has large,
tactile buttons to provide a premium, tactile feel, and intuitive user interface
with dashboard-like display.
The FX-30 carries a two-year limited warranty. REGISTER YOUR METER by
using the QR code on the back of the meter to receive an additional three
month’s warranty.
We recommend that you read the following pages in detail to take full
advantage of all the FX-20 has to offer.
Should you need assistance at any time, please contact us via email at
[e-mail] or by calling 877-DELMHORST (335-6467).

Rev 1 - October 2023
2. Safety
Sharp Measurement Prods: The prods are very sharp as they are
intended to penetrate through dense bales. Store prods and other
accessories in the carrying case when not in use to avoid unintentional
injury.
Meter Calibration: Meters are factory-calibrated prior to shipment.
Calibration should be checked before performing a job (using the
internal Cal Check feature or external MCS calibration standard) to ensure
the meter is working correctly and electrically accurate.
Proper Use: When used properly, the FX-20 can help users make
informed decisions on the hay moisture levels throughout
production and storage. A moisture meter is a secondary method of
determining moisture content, and users should be aware of other
potential influences on the accuracy of conductance meter readings.

Rev 1 - October 2023
3.Meter Features
Figure 1: Meter components
1. Display –Easy to read, backlit LCD display.
2. Read Button –When in live reading mode, press this button to hold a
reading. When in any other mode, press this button to enter live
reading mode.

Rev 1 - October 2023
3. Navigation Buttons –Use the up/down/left/right buttons to navigate
through the meter’s display. Use the center button to confirm a
selection.
4. Easy Grip Handle –The handle is contoured to provide a comfortable
grip for right or left-handed users. This shape also allows for
increased leverage when pushing the meter into hard materials. The
battery door is located on the rear of the handle.
5. Ambient Light Sensor –When the backlight is set to Auto, the ambient
light sensor will trigger the backlight to turn on or off (to the
brightness level set by the user) according to ambient lighting
conditions.
6. Electrode Connector –Connect any external special application
Delmhorst electrode. Most common for hay are the 1235 bale prod
and H-4 handle, required for 830-series bale prods and 831 prod for
windrows.

Rev 1 - October 2023
4. Menu Features
The Delmhorst FX-20 has three operating modes: Read, Set, and Stats. The
currently selected menu is marked with an underline. To change the menu,
press the up button until the menu underline is blinking. Then use the left
and right buttons to switch between menus. Use the down or center button
to enter the menu. When a line on the display (Set Point, or Material Temp)
is bracketed by the solid black left and right arrows, it is “active”, and that
selection can be changed by pressing either the left or right key.
Table 1: Menu Features
Read
Set
Stats
•Take readings
•Change set point
•Change material
temperature
•Cal check
•Temperature unit
•Off Timer
•Backlight
ON/OFF/AUTO
•Backlight
brightness
•Screen contrast
•Total Readings
•Average value
•Highest value
•Lowest value
•Standard deviation
•View readings
•Erase all reading
data

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5. Read Menu
Figure 2: Read screen components
1. Live Reading Area
Info: The live reading area displays the moisture value of the hay. The
reading is corrected using the Material Temperature (3 if the user
has input hay temperature (see Figure 2 above).
Indicated readings with a less than (<) or greater than (>) sign are
considered out of range. Out of range readings can be saved to
memory but will not be used in stats calculations.
Use: Use the navigation buttons to move to the live reading area (entry
will be confirmed when a live reading appears on screen). Tip: If a
live reading is not currently being displayed, pressing the Read
button will navigate to the live reading area.
Take a Reading: Insert the bale prod or the pin prod the hay. (See
Appendix). The moisture content of the hay will appear in the live
reading area.
Hold a Reading: Press the Read button to hold the reading on
screen. HOLD will appear in the material selection line and the
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3
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meter will beep. A held reading can be saved, if desired (see
below). Saving a reading or pressing the Read button a second
time will return the meter to live reading mode.
Save a Reading: Press the Center button to save a live or held
reading. This will store the reading, material temperature, and pin
correction type to meter memory. A ‘Saved’ message will appear
followed by the memory slot which the reading occupies (ex. HAY
2/100). This message can be bypassed by pressing the Read
button.
Memory: There are 100 memory slots available in the meter. As
readings are saved, the memory slots will fill in order from lowest
(1) to highest (100). After 100 readings are stored, newly saved
readings will replace the oldest stored readings.
2. Set Point
Info: The Set Point is the user-selectable moisture level at which the
alarm will sound. This feature allows users to take readings without
having to review each one individually, helping to quickly identify
high moisture areas.
Use: When active, press the left and right buttons to adjust the Set Point
down or up. Holding the left or right buttons will cause the Set
Point to change more rapidly.
The Set Point alarm can be turned off by adjusting the set point
value to zero (--.-).

Rev 1 - October 2023
3. Material (Hay) Temperature
Info: The FX-20 has been calibrated at 80°F on various samples of
different types of hay, mostly alfalfa, and on different cuttings and
mixtures. The higher the temperature of the sample, the higher the
meter readings will be. Temperatures lower than 80°F cause lower
meter readings. The correction is approximately 1% point for every
20° difference. For best accuracy, use the temperature
correction in the meter, especially when working in extreme
environments (outside 50-90°F or 10-32°C) and environments
subject to temperature variation such as baled hay in storage.
Use: When active, press the left and right buttons to adjust the Material
Temperature down or up. Holding the left or right buttons will
cause the temperature to change more rapidly.

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6. Set Menu
Figure 3: Set screen components
1. Setting Selection
The setting selection area will display all settings in a scrollable list. Each
setting is listed and explained in Table 2 below. Press the left and right
buttons to view settings. After locating the desired setting, press the
down or center button to enter the setting state. Then press the Read
button to enter the live reading screen.
Table 2: Settings options
Setting
Description
Cal Check
•Allows users to check the electrical calibration of the
meter
•A value between 11.8 and 12.2 means the meter is
in calibration
•A value of <11.8 or >12.2 means the meter is out of
calibration –change the batteries (2 x AA)
Temperature Unit
•Changes the temperature unit between Fahrenheit
and Celsius
•Factory default is Fahrenheit
Off Timer
•Choose 1, 4, or 10-minute screen off timer
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•Factory default is 1 minute
•Manually turn the meter off by depressing the center
button until screen goes blank –approx. 3s
Backlight
•Turn backlight ON enable, and OFF to disable
•Turn the backlight ON when in low ambient light,
and OFF when in bright ambient light
•When set to AUTO, meter will automatically enable
and disable backlight according to ambient light
•Factory default is off
Brightness
•Adjust backlight brightness from 1 (low) to 10 (high)
•The selected brightness level will be used whenever
backlight is enabled (ON or AUTO)
•Factory default is brightness level 2
Contrast
•Adjust the contrast level of the screen from 1 (low)
to 10 (high)
•Factory default is contrast level 5

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6. Stats Menu
Figure 4: Stats screen components
1. Stats Selection
The stats selection area will display all statistics in a scrollable list (see
Table 3 below). Press the left and right buttons to view statistics.
2. Stats Details
Statistics are calculated from the list of saved readings in meter memory,
and only readings taken within the valid measurement range of the
selected material are used for the calculations. Out of range readings
will not be included in statistical calculations for average and standard
deviation.
The meter provides statistics (average, high, low, standard deviation) for
the readings that are currently stored in the meter. Note: The statistics in
the meter are calculated without any out of range readings.
The stats details section can only be selected for the ‘View Data’ and
‘Erase Data’options. For these two cases, press the down or center
buttons to enter stats details box from stats selection. Use the left and
right buttons to scroll the list of latest readings or select the desired
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Rev 1 - October 2023
option for clearing readings. For all other statistics, stats details will
simply reflect the details of the above statistic and cannot be selected.
Table 3: Available Stats
Statistic
Description
Readings
•Displays the total number of readings stored in the
meter
Average
•Displays the average value of the saved readings.
High
•Displays the highest value of the saved readings.
Low
•Displays the lowest value of the saved readings.
Standard
Deviation
•Displays the standard deviation of the saved
readings.
View Data
•Displays a list of all saved readings. The %MC,
temperature, and pin type of each reading are
displayed.
Erase Data
•Clears all saved readings and statistics from the
meter.

Rev 1 - October 2023
8. Specifications and Operating Conditions
Temperature Compensation Range: (not operating temperature)
0-255 °F / -18-124 °C
Reading Range:
Hay: 6% - 40%MC –calibration is primarily alfalfa
Power:
2x AA Alkaline Batteries
Battery life while using the meter in reading mode and active LED’s is
estimated at 125-150 hours. A combination of alarm, backlight and
Bluetooth will reduce expected life to a minimum of 35 hours. A “LOW
BATT” warning will appear on screen when the meter is woken up if battery
voltage is below 1.75V. At this level the meter has 1-2 hours of life
depending on the functions being used. The same alert is sounded and
displayed every 5 minutes. Continued use with a low battery may cause
your meter to go out of calibration. TIP: Extend battery life by setting the
backlight brightness low and using shorter timeout settings.
Size:
8.6 in x 2.9 in x 1.6 in (22 cm x 7.4 cm x 4.1 cm)
Weight:
6.9 oz (0.20 kg) without batteries
8.6 oz (0.24 kg) with batteries

Rev 1 - October 2023
Regulations/Compliance:
WEE, RoHS, CE
Dispose of your Meter
Figure 5: WEEE symbol –crossed out wheeled bin
For private households: Information on Disposal for Users of WEEE
This symbol (figure 5) on the product(s) and / or accompanying
documents means that used electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
should not be mixed with general household waste. For proper treatment,
recovery, and recycling, please take this product(s) to designated
collection points where it will be accepted free of charge. Alternatively, in
some countries, you may be able to return your products to your local
retailer upon purchase of an equivalent new product.
Disposing of this product correctly will help save valuable resources and
prevent any potential negative effects on human health and the
environment, which could otherwise arise from inappropriate waste
handling.
Please contact your local authority for further details of your nearest
designated collection point.
Penalties may be applicable for incorrect disposal of this waste, in
accordance with your national legislation.

Rev 1 - October 2023
For professional users in the European Union
If you wish to discard electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), please
contact your dealer or supplier for further information.
For disposal in countries outside of the European Union
This symbol is only valid in the European Union (EU). If you wish to discard
this product, please contact your local authorities or dealer, and ask for
the correct method of disposal. 
10. Meter Care, Service and Warranty
Care for your Meter
To keep your meter in good working order:
•Store your meter in a clean, dry place. The optional protective
carrying case is an ideal storage place when the meter is not in use.
•Change the AA batteries as needed. Continued use with a low battery
may cause the meter to go out of calibration. Remove the batteries if
the meter will not be used for one month or longer.
•Clean the meter and prods with any biodegradable cleaner. Use the
cleaner sparingly and on external parts only. Keep cleaner out of the
external connector.

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Service Your Meter
If your meter is not working properly, replace the batteries and check the
calibration. If this does not resolve the problem, go to www.delmhorst.com
and follow the instructions under the Support tab. If you require further
assistance, please call 877-DELMHORST (335-6467) or 973-334-2557.
Limited Warranty
Delmhorst Instrument Co. 51 Indian Lane East, Towaco, NJ 07082, referred
to hereafter as Delmhorst, guarantees its FX-20 moisture meter against
defects in material or workmanship for two years from date of purchase.
Optional electrodes are guaranteed for 90 days. See the owner’s manual
or Delmhorst website (www.delmhorst.com) for warranty period on your
specific product. If, within the warranty period of the product, you find any
defect in material or workmanship, return the meter to Delmhorst or an
authorized reseller, using the return form
https://www.delmhorst.com/returns-service-warranty. Include proof of
purchase. Shipping charges to return the product are the customer’s
responsibility.
This warranty does not cover abuse, misuse, damage during shipment,
improper service, unauthorized or unreasonable use of the meter or
electrodes. This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, batteries,
or pins. If the meter or electrode have been altered or tampered with, the
warranty shall be void. DELMHORST RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REPAIR OR
REPLACE THE PRODUCT AT ITS SOLE DISCRETION.
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. The meter should stay in calibration indefinitely with
proper care and maintenance. Follow the manufacture’s guidelines in the
owner’s manual.

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UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL DELMHORST BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, 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 electrodes and no other warranty, written,
oral, or implied applies. This warranty is personal to the customer
purchasing the product either from Delmhorst directly or through an
authorized reseller. Purchases through unauthorized resellers, including
but not limited to unauthorized e-commerce resellers, are not covered by
this warranty, to the extent permitted by law.
This warranty extends to the original owner only and is not transferable.
Contact info:
Delmhorst Instrument Co
51 Indian Lane East
Towaco, NJ 07082
USA