Exotek Instruments MC-380XCA User manual

ENGFRADEUSUOPYCSVENOR
MC-380XCA
Electronic Moisture Meter
for Wood & Building Material
with RH Presentation
USER MANUAL

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leere Seite
Figure 1
Figure 2

MC-380XCA
- 3-
User’s Manual............................... 4
Electronic Moisture Meter for Wood & Building
Material
Manuel........................................ 12
Humidimètre électronique pour le bois
et les matériaux de construction
Anleitung.................................... 20
Elektronisches Feuchtigkeitsmessgerät für Holz &
Baustoffe
Käyttöohje.................................. 27
Elektroninen kosteusmittari puu- ja
rakennusmateriaalille
Руководство пользователя...... 35
Электронный гигрометр для древесины и
строительных материалов
Bruksanvisning........................... 42
Fuktmätare för trä- och byggmaterial
Manual........................................ 50
Fuktighetsmåler for tre- og byggematerialer
Wood group table........................ 58
- 3-

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 4 -
INTRODUCTION
With the MC-380XCA moisture-measuring instrument, EXOTEK INSTRUMENTS
has introduced a hand-held moisture-measuring unit, incorporang electronic
circuitry perfected over years of development and praccal applicaons with
the latest technology.
It is easy to determine moisture content in wood and building materials with
the contact measurement procedure without destroying the material. Reli-
ability, durability and a high standard of accuracy are assured by modern digital
components built to cope with the stress of everyday use.
The seng of wood-groups and building material groups combined with an
automac zero-correcon, allow more accurate measurements on all European
as well as Tropical mbers, as well as on a great number of building materials.
The Unique switchable dual Scanning Depth of 10 and 100 mm makes it easy
to determine Moisture Content even in floors with built in Central Heang.
SWITCH-ON
By pressing this key once, if the device is off, the unit is switched on.
SWITCH-OFF
By pressing this key once, if the device is on, the unit is
switched off. Or:
Automac offaer approx. 30 seconds if the value is stable.
ALARM FUNCTION
The MC-380XCA has the possibility to give an acousc
alarm in case of an user selectable alarm threshold is
reached or exceeded. This funcon is most useful for
sorng out mbers.
By pressing this key once, a L-sign is indicated on the display. During this
indicaon, the key has to be pressed again. Now the actual threshold value (L6
– L30 or; L 0.6-L 3.0 or; 60-99% in RH mode) if the Building material group CC2
– b30 is selected) is indicated and the alarm funcon is acvated. In case this
key is pressed again, while the limit is indicated, the threshold value is being in-
creased by 1% moisture in the range of 6 – 30% or If the CC2 to b30 is selected
the alarm threshold is increased with 0,1%. For RH mode the step increases
by 1% when the key is pressed). Aer 2 sec. the unit is ready to take measure-
ments. To turn offthe alarm funcon, select only a different funcon.
INSTALLING BATTERY
Open the baery lid on the backside of the meter.
Install a 9 volt L6R22.
Close the lid.
A low voltage is indicated with at the upper leside of the display when
the baery needs to be replaced. A new baery should be inserted to achieve
correct measuring results.
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•
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ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 5-
SENSOR SWITCHING
By pressing the L/S key once, a L-sign is indicated on the display. Wait unl the
S-sign is shown. During the S-sign indicaon, the key has to be pressed again.
Now the previous selected sensor top ( ) or boom ( ) is
indicated. If during this display, this buon is pressed again, the device toggels
to the other sensor.
Upper Sensor Indicaon Lower Sensor Indicaon
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
According to the regulaons for baery dispose, all
baeries must be returned to the trade or to baery
collecng points. You are not allowed to dispose baeries
through the household waste.
ONLY FOR EU COUNTRIES
Do not dispose of electrical tools together with household
waste material! In observance of European Direcve
2002/96/ EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment
and its implementaon in accordance with naonal law,
electric tools that have reach the end of their life must be
collected separately and returned to an environmentally
recycling facility.
BACKLIGHT
To increase baery life, the backlight dims down to OFF automacally aer
about 5 seconds if no measuring value changes. Immediate reacvaon of
backlight aer key-press or changing of measuring value.
SELECTION OF WOOD GROUPS OR
BUILDING MATERIAL GROUPS
Aer the unit has been switched on, the previous selected
sensor (top sensor with or boom sensor with
followed by the wood density 200-1180 kg/m3,
or building material CC2-b30 is indicated on the Display.
If this key is kept pressed, the group increases by itself
automacally while increasing the velocity, as longer it is kept pressed. Or aer
releasing and pressing the key E repevely, the wood group will increase by
20kg/m³ or the next Material group is selected. Aer 2 sec. the unit is ready
to take measurements. The indicated wood group is equivalent to the density
of the mber.

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 6 -
MATERIAL CODE
200 Balsa, Sugi
300 Aspen, Cypress, Cedar
400 Fir, Poplar, Pine, Alder, Small
Leaved Lime tree
500 Maple, Larch, Douglas Fir
600 Oak, Birch, Beech, Pear, Teak
700 Silver Birch, Hickory, Wengé
800 Stone Oak, Zebra
900 Boxwood, Rosewood
1000 Ebony
CC2-4 Cellular concrete
AC5-7 Asbestos-cellulose-cement
C18-19 Light-weight concrete
E20 Cement mortar
C21-22 Concrete
L23-24 Lime-sandstone
E25 Lime-cement mortar
P26 Plaster
E27-28 Sandstone, Limestone
b29-30 Brick
For a wider selecon and more precise of wood materials, please
see the Wood Group Table at the end of the manual.
SET. DENSITY RANGE MATERIAL
CC2 1200 – 1300 kg/m³ Cellular concrete
200 – 400 kg/m³
CC3 1300 – 1400 kg/m³ Cellular concrete
500 kg/m³
CC4 1400 – 1500 kg/m³ Cellular concrete
>500 kg/m³
porosity 75 - 85%
AC5 1500 – 1600 kg/m³ Asbestos-cellulose-
cement 1500kg/m³
porosity 40 - 45%

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 7-
SET. DENSITY RANGE MATERIAL
AC6 1600 – 1700 kg/m³ Asbestos-cellulose-cement
1900kg/m³ porosity 35
- 40%
AC7 1700 – 1800 kg/m³ Asbestos-cellulose-cement
2000kg/m³ porosity 30
- 35%
C18 1800 – 1900 kg/m³ Light-weight concrete
open porosity
C19 1900 – 2000 kg/m³ Light-weight concrete
building stones
E20 2000 – 2100 kg/m³ Cement mortar 1:4
porosity 20 - 25%
Tiles and Stone ware
C21 2100 – 2200 kg/m³ Concrete K 200 - 250
C22 2200 – 2300 kg/m³ Concrete K 300 - 400
L23 2300 – 2400 kg/m³ Lime-Sandstone
1700 - 1800kg/m³
L24 2400 – 2500 kg/m³ Lime-Sandstone
>1800kg/m³
E25 2500 – 2600 kg/m³ Lime-Cement mortar
P26 2600 – 2700 kg/m³ Plaster
1200 - 1300kg/m³
Marble, Cement screed
E27 2700 – 2800 kg/m³ Sandstone
E28 2800 – 2900 kg/m³ Limestone
b29 2900 – 3000 kg/m³ Brick 1600 - 1800kg/m³
open porosity 40 - 50%
b30 3000 – 3100 kg/m³ Brick >1800kg/m³
open porosity 10 - 30%

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 8 -
MEASURING WITH SPRING ELECTRODES
(penetraon depth up to 100 mm (4”))
Aer selecng the appropriate material-group the measuring springs must
be hold up in the air for automac 0-correcon.
The unit is ready for measuring aer about 2 sec.
Hold the spring electrodes without excessive force and in an approx. 40o
angel to the material. All of the 3 measuring springs must be in good contact
with the material to be measured. See Page 2 figure 1.
Measurements may be taken in different spots of the material, or the
measuring springs could be slided across the material.
MEASURING WITH INTEGRATED
BOTTOM SENSOR (penetraon depth up to 10 mm (½”))
Aer selecng the appropriate material-group the boom of the unit must
be hold up in the air for automac 0-correcon.
The unit is ready for measuring aer about 2 sec.
Place the unit in upright posion onto the material to be measured or press
the boom of the unit against the material. See page 2 Figure 2.
The surface of the material that is to be measured have to be flat and even.
Measurements may be taken in different spots of the material.
SELECTING MEASURING FUNCTIONS
F I: Measurement without hold funcon.
When the spring electrodes are moved over a surface,
the MC-380XCA connuously takes a new measurement.
This funcon is used for fast scanning of an area.
F2: Measurement with hold funcon, indicated by “HOLD“.
The MC-380XCA only takes one measurement when the spring electrodes
touch a surface. The value is kept on the display aer the MC-380XCA
being removed from a surface. This is used for viewing the result where
it is difficult to see the display during operaon. A new reading is taken
when the unit is placed on a surface again.
F3: Measured value is calculated into Relave Humidity,
indicated by „RH:“ (only for material codes CC2 - b30).
To be used for building materials only not wood. The MC-380XCA
automacally calculates the Moisture content value (% H2O) into Relave
Humidity (% RH). This funcon is used when relave humidity is a more
appropriate term.
F4: MC measurements are stored and the average value is calculated.
Up to 16 measurements can be stored in the memory. The MC-380XCA
then calculates the average of values stored in the memory.
“AVE+“ is showed in the lecorner of the display when a value is stored.
The average value is flashing on the display if the green buon is
pushed.
To reset the memory turn the unit off.
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•
•

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 9-
THIN MATERIALS
For single materials, thinner than 5 mm, the sensivity of the meter is normally
not enough even with the boom sensor. To obtain a more accurate measuring
result we recommend measurements in a pile without air spaces between the
single parts and with a minimum thickness of 15 mm for the pile.
BASE
With material thickness < 50 mm the base material is very important To avoid a
metal base. The best results are achieved if the material to be measured is held
into the air. Polystyrene material with a minimum thickness of 20 (8”) cm can
also be used when using the Measuring Springs. It is sufficient with 2.5 cm (1”)
of polystyrene mateial if the internal (boom) sensor is used.
WET SURFACES
In case of material with a wet surface a PVC-foil can be used between the
material and measuring springs. For the Internal (boom sensor) a PVC foil is
not necessary.

ENG
Pinless Moisture Meters MC-380XCA
Manual
ENG
- 10 -
APPROXIMATE REFERENCE VALUES MOISTURE
CONTENT (% H2O):
BUILDING MATERIAL
BUILDING MATERIAL
DRY
DRY
MOIST
MOIST
WET
WET
Breezeblock
Breezeblock
(cellular lightweight
(cellular lightweight
concrete)
concrete)
0 - 4
0 - 4
4 - 5
4 - 5
> 5
> 5
Bricks, plaster
Bricks, plaster
0 - 2.5
0 - 2.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
> 3.5
> 3.5
Asbestos cement
Asbestos cement
0 - 5
0 - 5
5 - 7
5 - 7
> 7
> 7
Clinker-clay floor
tiles, wall tiles
0 - 1.5
0 - 1.5
1.5 - 2
1.5 - 2
> 2
> 2
Concrete, cement
wash floor
0 - 3
0 - 3
3 - 4
3 - 4
> 4
> 4
Gypsum
0 - 1
0 - 1
1 - 2
1 - 2
> 2
> 2
Marble, sandstone
0 - 1.5
0 - 1.5
1.5 - 2
1.5 - 2
> 2
> 2
WOOD
WOOD
DRY
DRY
MOIST
MOIST
WET
WET
Parquet flooring
Parquet flooring
6 - 8
6 - 8
Furniture (indoor)
Furniture (indoor)
6 - 9
6 - 9
Door/ window
Door/ window
(outdoor)
(outdoor)
12 - 15
12 - 15
(Mold: 18 - 20 %, Rot: >28 %)
When examining wood, make sure that measurements are carried out in accor-
dance with its fibre direcon – otherwise the measured values will be too low.
The measuring direcon is correct when the wood fibre direcon is parallel to
the indicator (see below).
REFERENCE MEASUREMENT
How to locate moist and leakage:
Set the Material code to 200 or CC2
Hold the spring electrodes or the boom sensor to a surface you know
is dry
The received value corresponds to a “dry material” and could be used
as reference value
Now it is possible to locate moist and leakage using the reference value
By moving the measurement springs over the surface you could quickly
locate the leakage and find out about the extent of the moist damage.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.