Extech Instruments DT500 User manual

UserGuide
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LaserDistanceFinder
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ExtechDT500
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Introduction
CongratulationsonyourpurchaseoftheExtechModelDT500LaserDistanceFinder.Thismeter
measuresDistanceupto70m(230’)andcalculatesAreaandVolume.Inaddition,theDT500
includesalaserpointerforaccuratetargeting.Thismeterisshippedfullytestedandcalibrated
and,withproperuse,willprovideyearsofreliableservice.Pleasevisitourwebsite
(www.extech.com)tocheckforthelatestversionofthisUserGuide,ProductUpdates,and
CustomerSupport.
SafetyInstructions
Thismeterhasbeendesignedforsafeuse,butmustbeoperatedwithcaution.
WARNING:Donotdirectlyviewordirectthelaserpointerataneye.Lowpowervisiblelasers
donotnormallypresentahazard,butmaypresentsomepotentialforhazardifviewed
directlyforextendedperiodsoftime.
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Laserclassification(Class2)
TheDT500producesavisibleClass2laserbeamfromthetopofthe
instrument.Donotstareintothelaserbeamordirectthebeamtoward
anyone’seyes.Eyeprotectionisnormallyanautomaticresponse(‘blink
reflex’,forexample).
Warning:Donotlookdirectlyintothelaserbeamusingopticalaidssuch
asbinocularsortelescopes.Thiscancreateahazard.
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PermittedUses
MeasureDistances
ComputeAreaandVolume
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ProhibitedUses
Exceedingthespecifiedmeasurementlimits
Compromisingordeactivatingthesafetysystemsbuiltintothemeter
Removalofhazardorexplanatorylabelsaffixedtothemeter
Modifyingorconvertingtheinstrument
Usingthirdpartyaccessories
Operationonscaffoldingorladderswithoutpropersafetyprecautions
Measuringnearmachinesthatareoperatingornearpartsofmachineinstallationsthat
areunprotected
Aimingthemeterintothesunlight
Outdoormeasurementsormeasurementsonroads,nearconstructionsites,etc.without
adequatesafeguards
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Descriptions
FrontPanel
1. LCDdisplayarea
2. Keypad
3. Level
4. Measurebutton
5. LaserPointer
6. SensorTestingBeam
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RearPanel 
1. Laserwarninglabel
2. Batterycompartmentlatch
3. Batterycompartment
4. Positioningbracket
5. Tripodmount
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DisplayDescription
1. LaserContinuousmodeisactive
2. Referencelevel‐front
3. Referencelevel‐rear
4. Referencelevel‐tripod
5. Referencelevel–endpiece
6. Area/Volumemeasurementfunctions
7. Variableindirectmeasurementfunctions:
SinglePythagoreanmeasurement
DoublePythagoreanmeasurement
DoublePythagorean(PartialHeight)
Tiltmeasurement
8. Stake‐outfunction
9. Batterystatus
10. Singledistancemeasurement
11. ContinuousmeasurementandMAX/MIN
12. InstrumentErrormessage
13. Memory
14. Bluetoothicon
15. Time
16. Tilt
17. DisplayLine1
18. DisplayLine2
19. DisplayLine3
20. DisplayLine4(Summaryline)
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KeypadDescription
Bluetooth/TimerButton
PowerON/MeasureButton/Laseron‐off
Tilt/Stake‐outButton
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Area‐VolumeButton
MAX‐MINSingle/ContinuousMeasurementButton
IndirectMeasurementButton
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AddButton
 MemoryStore‐RecallButton
Subtractbutton
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MeasurementReferenceButton
CLEAR/PowerOFFButton
Backlight/UnitButton
 
Note:Ameasurementbuttonisalsolocatedontherightsideoftheinstrument
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OperatingInstructions
MeasurementConsiderations
1. Forbestresults,chooseatargetthatisflat,hardandsmooth
2. Useasectionofcardboardorsimilarmaterialifthetargetsizeneedstobeincreased
3. Replacethebatteryifthebatteryiconflashesonthedisplay
4. Themeterwillnotmeasurethroughglass,liquid,orStyrofoam
5. Inaccuratemeasurementsmayresultfromanyofthefollowing:
Lowbattery
Measureddistanceexceedingspecifiedrange
Irregularshapedobjectsnearthetarget
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PreparationforMeasurements
1. PresstheMEASbutton toswitchthemeterON.TheunitautomaticallyswitchesOFF
afterthree(3)minutesofinactivity.PressandholdtheCLRbuttontoswitchtheunitOFF
manually.
2. PresstheCLRbuttontocancelthelastactionperformedorclearthelastdatadisplayedon
thescreen.
3. PressCLRandMeasurebuttonsimultaneouslywhileinStoragemodetoclearallofthedata
storedinmemory.
4. PressandholdtheUNITbutton tochangetheunitofmeasure(ft=feet,in=inches,m=
meters,and‘“(feetandinches).
5. PressUnitbuttonquicklytoturnthebacklightonoroff.
6. UsethereferencebuttontoselecttheToporBottomdistancereference.
IntheTopmode(2),thedisplayedreadingwillrepresentthedistancefromthetopofthe
metertothetarget.
IntheBottommode(1),thedisplayedreadingwillrepresentthedistancefromthe
bottomofthemetertothetarget.Thisisthedefaultmode.
FormeasuringfromaTripod,corneroredge,refertotheTripodandPositioningBracket
sections.
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SingleDistanceMeasurement
1. MomentarilypresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON;Dashes(‐‐‐)willappearonthe
displayandtheLaserpointerwillswitchON.
2. AimthemeterandmomentarilypresstheMEASbuttontotakeanddisplayareading.The
LaserpointerswitchesOFFafterthemeasurementistaken.
3. Thereadingwillremainonthedisplay.
ContinuousDistanceMeasurement
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.
2. PressandHoldtheMEASbuttonfor3secondstobeginacontinuousmeasurementsession.
Themeterwillbeepandthecontinuouslaserdisplayiconwillappear(asshowninthe
DisplayDescriptionsectionofthisguide).
3. EachsubsequentpressoftheMEASbuttontakesanewdistancemeasurement.
4. SwitchtheContinuousmodeON/OFFbypressingandholdingtheMEASbuttonfor3
seconds.
MAX‐MINContinuousMeasurement‘Tracking’Mode 
Thismodeofoperationisusefulfordeterminingtheshortestandlongestdistancesfromagiven
point.Themetercanbemovedtovarioustargetswhilethedisplayupdateseveryhalfsecondon
thethirddisplayline.TheMINandMAXvaluesaredisplayeddynamicallyonthefirstandsecond
displaylines.
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.
2. PressandHoldtheMAX/MINbuttonfor3secondstobeginacontinuousmeasurement
session.Themeterwillbeep,thelaserpointerwillstayincontinuousmode,andthe
continuouslaserdisplayiconwillappear(asshownintheDisplayDescriptionsectionofthis
guide).
3. Themeterwillbeepwitheachnewmeasurementupdate(approx.everyonehalfsecond).
4. TheMINreadingwillbeindicatedandwillupdateeachtimealowerreading(lowerthan
thecurrentlydisplayed
reading)isencountered.
5. TheMAXreadingwillbe
indicatedandwillupdate
eachtimeahigherreadingis
encountered.
6. Theactualreadingwillbe
indicatedonthebottom
displayline.
7. Toexitthismodeofoperation,momentarilypresstheMEASbutton.
8. Notethatthemeterexitstothenormalmodeofoperationafterapprox.100
measurementsincontinuousmode. 

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Adding/SubtractingMeasurements
Thesumordifferenceoftwomeasurementscanbedisplayed.
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.
2. PresstheMEASbuttontotakethefirstreading.
3. Presstheplussign(+)orminussign(‐)buttonasdesired.Theplusorminussignwillappear
flashing.
4. PresstheMEASbuttontotakethesecondreading.
5. Readthesumordifferenceofthetworeadingsondisplayline4.
6. PressCLRtocancelthelaststep.
7. PressMAX/MINtoreturntosingledistancemeasurement.
AreaCalculation
TheDT500allowstheusertocomputetheareaofaroom.
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoturnthemeterON;waitseveralsecondsandtheLaserpointerwillswitchON.
2. Pressthe buttonfirmlyonce.
3. Aparallelogramwillappearwithitslengthsideflashing indicatingthataLength
measurementistobetaken.
4. AimthemeterandpressMEAStotaketheroomlengthmeasurement.
5. PresstheMEASagaintoswitchtheLaserPointerbackON.
6. TheparallelogramwillnowappearwithitsWidthsideflashing
indicatingthataWidthmeasurementistobetaken.
7. PressMEAStotaketheroomwidthmeasurement.
8. Lines1,2,and4willnowshowtheLength,Width,andArea(inft2orm2)respectively.
Notethatthelaserpointerwillswitchoffautomaticallyiftoomuchtimeistakenbetweenthe
stepsabove.Ifthisoccurs,simplypresstheMEASbuttontoswitchtheLaserpointerbackON
andthencontinuefollowingthesteps.
VolumeCalculation
TheDT500allowstheusertocomputeroomVolume.
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.WaitseveralsecondsandtheLaserpointer
willautomaticallyswitchON.
2. Pressthebuttonfirmlytwice(allowasecondorsobetweenpresses).
3. AcubeshapewillappearwithitsLengthsideflashingindicatingthataLength
measurementistobetaken.
4. PressMEAStotaketheroomLengthmeasurement.
5. Thecube’sWidthsidewillnowbeflashingindicatingthataWidthmeasurementisto
betaken.
6. PressMEAStoswitchtheLaserpointerONagain.
7. PressMEASagaintotaketheroomWidthmeasurement.

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8. Thecube’sHeightsidewillnowbeflashingindicatingthataHeightmeasurementistobe
taken.
9. PressMEAStoswitchtheLaserpointerONagain.
10. PressMEAStotaketheroomHeightmeasurement.
11. Lines1,2,and3willnowshowtheLength,Width,andHeightrespectively.Line4will
displaytheVolumeincubicfeetormeters(ft3orm3).
IndirectMeasurements(UsingTwoMeasurements)
TheDT500canmeasuretheverticalheightfromPoint1toPoint2withtheoperatortakingthe
measurementfromPointX.Thisisaccomplishedusingtwomeasurements.
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1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.
2. Pressthebuttononce.WaitseveralsecondsandtheLaserpointerwillautomatically
switchON.
3. Arighttriangleshapewillappearwithitsdiagonallineflashing.
4. FromexactlyPointX,aimtheinstrumentatPoint1andpressMEAS.Onereadingisnow
completeandthebottomlineoftherighttrianglewillbeginflashing.
5. FromPointX,alignthemeterashorizontalaspossibleandaimforPoint2andthenpress
MEAS.ThelaserpointerwillswitchON.
6. PressMEASagaintotakethesecondmeasurement.
7. Thesecondmeasurementisnowcomplete.Thelowersummarydisplaylineindicatesthe
verticaldistancefromPoint1toPoint2.
X
1
2

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IndirectMeasurements(UsingThreeMeasurements)
TheDT500canmeasureheightintwosegmentsbytakingthreemeasurements.Theoperator
standsatPointX.ThefirstmeasurementisPointXto1,thesecondmeasurementisahorizontal
linefromPointXto2,andthethirdmeasurementisfromPointXto3.








1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.WaitseveralsecondsandtheLaserpointer
willswitchON.
2. Pressthebuttontwotimes.
3. Thedoubletriangleicon willappearwithitsbottomdiagonallineflashing.
4. FromPointXaimtheinstrumentatPoint1andpressMEAS.Onereadingisnowcomplete
andthemiddlelineofthedoubletrianglewillbeginflashing.
5. PressMEASagaintoturnonthelaserpointertoprepareforthenextmeasurement.
6. FromPointX,aimtheinstrumenthorizontallyataPoint2andpressMEAS.Thesecond
readingisnowcompleteandthetopdiagonallineofthedoubletrianglewillbeginflashing.
7. PressMEAStoturnonthelaserpointerandprepareforthethirdmeasurement.
8. FromPointX,aimtheinstrumentatPoint3andpressMEAS.Thethirdmeasurementisnow
complete.
9. ThedistancefromPoint1toPoint3willnowbeindicatedonthebottomsummarydisplay
line.

X
1
2
3

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StoringandRecallingReadings(HistoricalStorage)
TheDT500storesuptotwenty(20)readingsinmemoryforlaterrecall.
1. Takeareadingaspreviouslydescribed.
2. Withthereadingdisplayed,presstheStore‐RecallMemorybutton.
3. Thereadingwillbestoredinlocation1andthememorylocationnumber01willbe
indicatedatthetopoftheLCD.
4. TakeanotherreadingandpresstheStore‐RecallMemorybutton.Thisnewreadingwillbe
storedinlocation1andthepreviousreadingfromlocation1willbemovedtolocation2.
5. Whenalltwentylocationshavebeenfilledthemeterbeginsoverwritingtheexisting
readings.
6. Torecallthestoredreadings,presstheStore‐Recallbutton.Thememorylocationnumber
indicatedatthetopofthedisplaywillincrementandthedisplaywillshowthestoreddata
fortheselectedmemorylocation.Notethatthe+and–buttonscanalsobeusedtoscroll
throughthestoredreadingmemorylocations.
7. Toclearallreadings,enterthememorymodeusingtheStore‐RecallMemorybutton 
andthenpressandholdboththeCLRandtheMemorybuttonsuntilthedisplayedmemory
locationreadingvalueswitchestozero.
TakingameasurementusingaTripod
PressandholdthereferencebuttontoswitchthetripodreferenceOnorOff.
Thetripodarrowindicatorwillappearonthedisplay(see#4inDisplaydescription).
Yourmeasurementswillnowbereferencedtothecenterofthetripodmountinghole.

PositioningBracket–Edgeandcornermeasurements
Theunitcanbeadaptedformultiplemeasuringsituations.
PlacetheReferencetomeasurefromtheBottomedge.

1. Tomeasurefromanedge,foldoutthepositioningbracketuntilitlocksintoplace.
Placethepositioningbracketflatagainsttheedgesurface.


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2. Tomeasurefromacorner,openthepositioningbracketuntilitlocksintoplace.Pushthe
brackettothelefttofolditoutfully.Placethebottomedgeoftheextendedpositioning
bracketintothecorner.
TimerDelay(Self‐Triggering)
1. PresstheTimerbuttonquicklytoseta5secondtimedelay.
2. Tosetadifferenttimedelayvalue,presstheTimerbuttonmomentarilyandthenquickly
pressandholdit.Thedisplaywillrapidlyscrollthroughthetimerselections(maximumof
60seconds).The+and‐buttonscanalsobeusedtochangethetimedelayvalue.
3. PressMEASbuttonandacountdownwillbebegin(e.g.59,58,57...).Thelast2secondswill
flashandbeepquicker.Afterthelastbeepthemeasurementistakenandthevalueis
displayed.

BluetoothCommunications
1. PressandholdBluetooth/TimerbuttonuntiltheBluetoothsymbolisdisplayed.
2. UsetheApp(ExViewDT500)installedfromtheAppleAPPSTOREonaniOSdevicetoread
themeasurements.
3. WhiletheinitialconnectionbetweentheiOSdeviceorPC,andtheDT500isbeing
established,apromptforapincodeisdisplayed.
Enterpincode‘0000’intotheiOSdeviceorPCtoviewthemeasurements.
4. TheBluetoothswitchesOFFassoonastheunitispoweredOFF.Toturnoffmanually,press
andholdtheBluetooth/TimerbuttonuntiltheBluetoothsymboldisappears.
5. TheoperationofthisExViewDT500softwareiscoveredinabookletprovidedwiththe
meter.ThetitleofthemanualisMeterboxiLDMUserManual.

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TiltMeasurement
1. Theinclinationsensormeasurestiltsupto±65°.
2. PresstheTilt/Stakeout buttononce.Thetriangulartiltsymbolwillappearonthe
display.
3. Thetiltanglevaluewillshowonline1ofthedisplayindegrees(o).PresstheMEASbutton
totakethemeasurementandviewthecalculationfortheinclinationandthedistance.
Notethatduringthetiltmeasurementthemeterfacemustbepointingstraightuporbe
heldwithinahorizontaltiltlimitof±10o.
4. Thedistance‘L’isdisplayedinthesummarydisplayline4.Thedistanceoflinesaandbare
calculatedbyαandLandaredisplayedinlines2and3respectively.



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Stake‐outFunction
Thestake‐outfunctionallowsyoutosetuptwoseparatedistances(seeaandbindiagram)that
canbeusedindependentlytomarkdefinedmeasuredlengths(forexampleinwoodframe
construction).
1. PresstheMEASbuttontoswitchthemeterON.
Setthemeasurementreferencetofrontorrear
2. PressandholdtheTilt/Stakeoutbuttonuntilthemeterbeepsandthestakeout
symbolappearsinthedisplayasshowninthedisplaydescriptionsectionofthisguide.
3. Thevaluefor“a”willflash.Usethe+and–buttons,setthevalueofyour"a"stakeout
distance.
4. OncethedesiredvaluehasbeenobtainedpresstheMemoryStore‐Recallbuttontosave
thevalue.
5. The“b”valuewillnowflash.Usethe+and–buttons,setthevalueofyour“b”stakeout
distance.
6. OncethedesiredvaluehasbeenobtainedpresstheMemoryStore‐Recallbuttontosave
the"b"value.
7. PresstheMemoryStore‐recallbuttontotogglefrom“a”or“b”toselectwhatdimension
youwanttouse.
8. PlacethemeterinpositionandPresstheMEASbuttontostartthelasermeasurement.The
displaywillshowthecurrentmeasuringdistanceinthesummaryline.Whenthemeteris
movedslowlyalongthestakeoutlinethedisplayeddistancewilldecreaseorincrease.The
arrowsinthedisplayindicatewhichdirectionthemeterneedstobemovedtomatchthe
distanceprogrammed(aorb).Alsoline4willdisplaya+or–signindicatingwhichwayto
movethemetertomatchtheprogrammeddistance.
9. Themeterwillbeepmorerapidlyatadistanceof0.1mfromthematchingdimension.
10. Assoonasthestakeoutpointisreachedthebeepchangesandtheintermediatelinebegins
flashing.Youcannowmarkyourlocation.
11. ExitthefunctionbypressingMEASandCLRbuttonssimultaneously.



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Maintenance
WARNING:Donotoperatethemeteruntilthebatterycompartmentcoverisinplaceand
fastenedsecurely.
Thisinstrumentisdesignedtoprovideyearsofdependableservice,ifthefollowingcare
instructionsareperformed:
1. Keepthemeterdryandfreefromdust.
2. Useandstorethemeterinnominaltemperatureconditions.Temperatureextremescan
shortenthelifeoftheelectronicpartsanddistortormeltplasticparts.
3. Handlethemetercarefullyandavoidshockandvibration.Droppingthemetermay
damagetheelectronicpartsorthecase.
4. Keepthemeterclean.Wipethecaseoccasionallywithadampcloth.DONOTuse
chemicals,cleaningsolvents,ordetergents.
5. Useonlyfreshbatteriesofthecorrecttype.Removeoldorweakbatteriessotheydonot
leakanddamagetheunit.
6. Ifthemeteristobestoredforlongperiods,thebatteriesshouldbestoredseparatelyto
preventdamagetotheunit.
BatteryInstallation/Replacement
WhenthelowbatterysymbolappearsonthedisplayorwhenthedisplaydoesnotswitchON,
replacethetwo(2)‘AA’batteries.
1. Switchtheinstrumentoffbeforereplacingthebatteries.
2. Pulltheend‐pieceout(away)fromthebodyofthemetersothatthebatterycompartment
coverhasroomtoopen.
3. Slidetherearbatterycompartmentlevertotherightandthenpullopenthebattery
compartment.
4. Replacethetwo(2)‘AA’batteriesobservingpolarity.
5. Replacethebatterycompartmentcover.
BatterySafetyReminders
Neverdisposeofbatteriesinafire.Batteriesmayexplodeorleak.
Nevermixbatterytypes.Alwaysinstallnewbatteriesofthesametype.

Neverdisposeofusedbatteriesorrechargeablebatteriesinhouseholdwaste.
Asconsumers,usersarelegallyrequiredtotakeusedbatteriestoappropriatecollection
sites,theretailstorewherethebatterieswerepurchased,orwhereverbatteriesare
sold.
Disposal:Donotdisposeofthisinstrumentinhouseholdwaste.Theuserisobligatedtotake
end‐of‐lifedevicestoadesignatedcollectionpointforthedisposalofelectricaland
electronicequipment.


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OtherConsiderations
Rangeconsiderations
Therangeislimitedto70m(230’).Atnightorduskifthetargetisinshadowthemeasuring
rangewithouttargetplateisincreased.Useatargetplatetoincreasethemeasurementrange
duringdaylightorifthetargethaspoorreflectionproperties.Inunfavorableconditionssuchas
intensesunlight,poorreflectivesurfaces,orhightemperaturesdistancesover10m(33ft.)can
increaseby±0.15mm/m(±0.0018in/ft.)
Targetsurfaces
Measurementerrorscanoccurwhenmeasuringtowardcolorlessliquids(e.g.water),dustfree
glass,Styrofoamorsimilarsemi‐permeablesurfaces.Aimingathighglosssurfacesmaydeflect
thelaserbeamandleadtomeasurementerrors.Againstnon‐reflectiveanddarksurfacesthe
measuringtimemayincrease.
Care
Donotimmersetheinstrumentinwater.Wipeoffdirtwithadamp,softcloth.Donotuse
aggressivecleaningagents,solvents,abrasives,orsuchsolutions.Handletheinstrumentasyou
wouldatelescopeorcamera.


DisplayErrorCodes
Foranyerrorcodes,cyclepowertotheinstrumenttoseeiftheerrorclears.Iftheerrorpersists
afterseveralpowercycles,followingthedirectivesbelow.Notethata‘wrench’iconappears
witherrorcodedisplays.
204–CalculationError(retrytheprocedure)
208–Receivedsignaltooweak.Measurementtimeistoolong.Distance>50m(Usetargetplate)
209–Receivedsignaltoostrong(Targettooreflective,useatargetplate)
252–HighTemperature(Cooldowntheinstrument)
253–LowTemperature(Warmuptheinstrument)
255–Hardwareerror(Returntheinstrumentforservice)



DT500-en-GB_v1.5 7/16
17
Specifications
GeneralSpecifications
LaserdiodeClass2redlaser(wavelength:635nm)
BatteryTwo(2)‘AA’alkalinebatteries
BatteryLifeUpto8,000measurements
AutoLaserSwitch‐offAfter30seconds
AutoInstrumentSwitch‐offAfter3minutes
Dust/SplashProofIP54
Operatingconditions0to40°C(32to104°F)
Storageconditions‐10to60°C(14to140°F)
Dimensions135x53x30mm(5.3x2.1x1.2”)
Weight160g(5.6oz.)
Recommendeduseindooruseonly
RangeSpecifications
DistanceRange0.05to70m(2”to230’);Useatargetplate>50m(164’)
Resolution0.001inches,feet,ormeters
Accuracy(upto10m)±1.5mm(±0.06”)
RangeofBluetooth10m(32.8’)
DisplayedCalculationRanges
Length99.99m(99’11”)
Area999.99m2(999.99sq.ft)
Volume999.99m3(999.99cu.ft)


Copyright©2014‐2016FLIRSystems,Inc.
Allrightsreservedincludingtherightofreproductioninwholeorinpartinanyform
ISO‐9001Certified
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