Delmhorst FX-30 User manual

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Owner’s Manual FX-30

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Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................4
2. Safety .......................................................................................................................................................5
3. Meter Features.......................................................................................................................................6
4. Menu Features .......................................................................................................................................9
5. Read Menu .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Material Selection .............................................................................................................................10
Live Reading Area .............................................................................................................................11
Set Point...............................................................................................................................................12
Material Temperature ......................................................................................................................13
5. Set Menu .......................................................................................................................................... 14
Setting Selection................................................................................................................................14
Bluetooth® Indicator.........................................................................................................................14
7. Stats Menu ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Stats Selection ....................................................................................................................................16
Stats Details.........................................................................................................................................16
8. Delmhorst EDGE ™App Features .................................................................................................. 18
9. Specifications and Operating Conditions...................................................................................... 19
Temperature Compensation Range: (not operating temperature) ....................................19
Reading Range:..................................................................................................................................19
Power:...................................................................................................................................................19
Size: .......................................................................................................................................................20
Weight:.................................................................................................................................................20
Regulations/Compliance: ...............................................................................................................20
Dispose of your Meter......................................................................................................................20
For private households: Information on Disposal for Users of WEEE................................20
For professional users in the European Union..........................................................................21
For disposal in countries outside of the European Union .....................................................21
10. Meter Care, Service and Warranty ................................................................................................ 22
Care for your Meter ..........................................................................................................................22
Service Your Meter ...........................................................................................................................22
Limited Warranty...............................................................................................................................22
11. Appendix........................................................................................................................................... 25

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Testing Baled Hay .............................................................................................................................25
Testing Hay in the Windrow...........................................................................................................26
Factors Affecting Your Readings ..............................................................................................27
Range of Moisture Content ........................................................................................................27
Curing ...............................................................................................................................................28
Density..............................................................................................................................................28
Use of Preservatives .....................................................................................................................29
Sample Size.....................................................................................................................................29
Testing Hemp .....................................................................................................................................29
Testing Hops .......................................................................................................................................30
Testing Tobacco.................................................................................................................................31
Testing Brazil Nuts ............................................................................................................................32
Testing Dates......................................................................................................................................32

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1. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the new FX-30 multi-use moisture meter, the
latest in Delmhorst’s legacy “F-series” moisture meters and part of the new
Navigator™family of meters. Delmhorst F-series meters are known to
agriculture producers worldwide for their unmatched reliability and ease of
use.
The FX-30 meter is the ideal tool for producers and quality control
technicians and offers the latest in features and functionality. It is packaged
in a robust and ergonomically designed ABS case (patent pending) to
provide a premium, tactile feel, and intuitive user interface with dashboard-
like display.
Together with the new Delmhorst EDGE™app, users can customize meter
settings and share MC data or graphs from any location quickly and
accurately.
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-30 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).

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2. Safety
Sharp Measurement Prods and Electrodes: The prods and
electrodes are very sharp as they are intended to penetrate through
dense bales and hard materials. Keep the electrode(s) 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 is electrically accurate.
Proper Use: When used properly, the FX-30 can help users make
informed decisions on the moisture levels of the materials under test
at the various stages of production. 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.

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3. Meter Features
Figure 1: Meter components
1. Screen –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.
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.

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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. LED Details
The LEDs are a visual aid to help quickly determine the moisture level
that each reading indicates. Readings that activate the green light
indicate a sufficiently dry moisture level, those that activate the yellow
light indicate a borderline situation, and those that activate the red light
indicate material that is wet. Specific applications require different MC
thresholds. The Delmhorst EDGE™app enables users to adjust these
thresholds accordingly.
The default LED thresholds are as follows:
Hay
Green: 6.0 % to 15.9%
Yellow: 16.0% to 18.9%
Red: ≥19.0%
Hemp
Green: 6.0 % to 7.9%
Yellow: 8.0 % to 9.9%
Red: ≥10.0%
Hops
Green: 7.0% to 9.9%
Yellow: 10.0% to 11.9%
Red: ≥12%

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Tobacco
Green: 8.0% to 16.9%
Yellow: 17.0% to 19.9%
Red: ≥20%
Brazil Nuts
Green: 6% to 11.9%
Yellow: 12.0% to 14.9%
Red: ≥15%
Dates/Dried Fruit
Green: 6% - 11.9%
Yellow: 12% - 14.9%
Red: 15% - 25%
6. 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.
7. Electrode Connector –Connect any external special application
Delmhorst electrode. Refer to our website (www.delmhorst.com) for
the common prods and electrodes for the materials in the meter.

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4. Menu Features
The Delmhorst FX-30 meter 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 (Material, 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
•Change species/
material type
•Take readings
•Change set point
•Change material
temperature
•Cal check
•Bluetooth*
•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. Material Selection
Info: The FX-30 meter features calibrations for the following materials:
•Hay
•Hemp
•Hops
•Tobacco
•Brazil Nuts
•Dates/Dried Fruit
Any unwanted material can be removed from the meter via the
EDGE™app.
Use: Select the Read menu. While the underline flashes, press the down
button to enter the material selection field. Press the left or right
buttons to scroll through available materials. Any changes to the
material selection field will NOT be saved until the center button
is pressed to confirm. When the material is changed, the user will
be asked if they want to erase the data in the meter. Selecting NO
will return the user to the original material and keep all readings.
Selecting YES will delete all saved readings within the meter and
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3
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change the material. If connected to the EDGE™app, users will be
prompted to export readings before they are deleted from the
app. Please see Delmhorst EDGE™App User Guide for further
instructions regarding exporting readings and changing the
available material corrections in the FX-30.
2. Live Reading Area
Info: The live reading area displays the corrected moisture value of the
selected material, corrected for the Material Temperature (3). (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 and exported 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: Attach the appropriate electrode to the meter and
initiate contact with the material being tested. (see Application
section below) The moisture content of the material 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
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

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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. Unlimited
number of readings may be saved when connected to the app.
3. 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 (--.-).
When changing the active material of the meter, the Set Point will
reset to the default values for the new material, with one exception.
If the Set Point has been turned off (--.-), it will remain off for the
new material.

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4. Material Temperature
Info: The FX-30 temperature compensation function is based on HAY
and can be used as a guideline for the other materials in the meter.
The meter 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.
For best accuracy, it is important to 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.
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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5. 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.
2. Bluetooth® Indicator
The FX-30 is equipped with Bluetooth®technology, allowing users to
connect their meter(s) to a mobile device (smartphone or tablet). The
Bluetooth®icon is visible on all meter screens when turned on. Please
refer to the Delmhorst EDGE™App User Guide for more information.
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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)
Bluetooth®
•When Bluetooth is on but not connected, the
Bluetooth symbol will be on screen and flashing
•When Bluetooth is on and connected, the Bluetooth
symbol will be on screen and solid
•When Bluetooth is off, no symbol will be visible on
screen
•Factory default is off
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
•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 to 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

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7. 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.
Contrast
•Adjust the contrast level of the screen from 1 (low)
to 10 (high)
•Factory default is contrast level 5
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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 the stats details box from the stats selection. Use the left
and right buttons to scroll the list of latest readings or select the desired
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 with the %MC
and temperature.
Erase Data
•Clears all saved readings and statistics from the
meter.

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8. Delmhorst EDGE ™App Features
The Delmhorst EDGE™app expands upon many features found within the
FX-30. These features include:
1. Export full data sets or selected readings from meter to app to be
viewed on a single page and further analyzed.
2. Exclude extraneous readings from Statistics calculations.
3. View a customizable plot of all readings.
4. Export readings from app to spreadsheet for long term storage and
analysis.
5. Change the species/materials available in the FX-30 meter.
6. Adjust the moisture values at which the LEDs change colors.
7. Change meter language.
8. Upgrade meter firmware.
Please refer to the Delmhorst EDGE™App User Guide for more details on
how to connect the meter to the app and a detailed explanation of the
features mentioned above.

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9. Specifications and Operating Conditions
Temperature Compensation Range: (not operating temperature)
0-255 °F / -18-124 °C
Reading Range:
Hay: 6%-40%
Hemp: 7%-34%
Hops: 8%-23%
Tobacco: 8%-37%
Brazil Nuts: 6%-25%
Dates /Dried Fruit: 6%-25%
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 turning

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Bluetooth® off in the meter when not in use, 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
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