Extech Instruments MO290-NISTL User manual

User's Guide
Pinless Moisture/Humidity Meter + IR
Model MO290

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Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Extech MO290 Pinless Moisture Meter with Patented Built-in
IR Thermometer. Monitor moisture in wood and other building materials with no surface damage with
the Pinless Moisture sensor (Pin-type Moisture Probe included). Measure Humidity and Air
Temperature with built-in probe plus non-contact InfraRed Temperature with patented IR design.
Advanced functions provide Grains per Pound, Dew Point and Vapor Pressure calculations. This
meter is shipped fully tested and calibrated and, with proper use, will provide years of reliable service.
Meter Description
1. IR temperature sensor
2. Laser pointer
3. Humidity sensor
4. Temperature sensor
5. LCD display
6. Relative Humidity button
7. Mode/Zero Button
8. IR thermometer button
9. Alarm set button
10. Alarm adjust down button
11. ON/OFF power button
12. Remote pin probe input jack (bottom)
13. Battery compartment (rear)
14. Alarm adjust up button
15. Moisture/Relative button
16. Protective cap
LCD Display
1. MIN MAX – Minimum and maximum value
2. HIGH LOW – Alarm limits
3. INT EXT – Internal/External probe
4. mBar – Vapor pressure
5. kPa – Vapor pressure
6. GPP – Grains per Pound
7. g/kg – Grains per kilogram
8. MOIST – Moisture mode
9. RH% - Relative Humidity mode
10. COND – Condensation mode
11. APO – Auto power off
12. DEW – Dew Point temperature
13. C/F – Temperature units
14. - Low battery
15. - Laser pointer On
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Safety
Use extreme caution when the laser pointer beam is on
Do not point the beam toward anyone's eye or allow the beam
to strike the eye from a reflective surface
Do not use the laser near explosive gases or in other potentially
explosive areas
Cautions
This device is not a toy and must not reach children’s hands. It contains hazardous objects as well
as small parts that the children could swallow. In case a child swallows any of them, please
contact a physician immediately
Do not leave the battery and packing material lying around unattended; they can be dangerous for
children if they use them as toys
In case the device is going to be unused for an extended period of time, remove the battery to
prevent them from draining
Expired or damaged batteries can cause cauterization on contact with the skin. Always, therefore,
use suitable hand gloves in such cases
See that the battery is not short-circuited. Do not throw the battery into a fire.
Battery Replacement
1. Turn off the meter.
2. Remove one Philips head screw and lift off the rear battery cover.
3. Replace the 9V battery.
4. Secure the rear battery cover.
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.

OtherBatterySafetyReminders
oNeverdisposeofbatteriesinafire.Batteriesmayexplodeorleak.
oNevermixbatterytypes.Alwaysinstallnewbatteriesofthesametype.

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Operation
Powering the meter
1. Remove the RH sensor protective cap before use.
2. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
3. If the symbol appears or the meter does not turn on, replace the battery.
Humidity (Dew point, GPP, g/kg) Measurements
1. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
2. Press the RH button
3. Relative Humidity will be displayed in the primary display and the temperature will be displayed
in the secondary display.
4. Press the up or down arrow button to change the temperature units.
5. Press the MODE button to display the DEW point.
6. Press the MODE button to display GPP (°F) or g/kg (°C)
Pinless Moisture Measurements
1. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
2. Press the MOIST button to select Moisture measurement.” MOIST” and “INT” (internal pinless
sensor) will appear in the display.
3. Hold the meter so that the rear sensor is away from any surface or your hand. The reading
should be near 0.0. If not, press and hold the ZERO button for more than 2 second and the
ZERO icon appears.
4. Place the rear sensor on the surface of the material to be tested and read the relative moisture
content.
Pin Type Moisture Measurements
1. Connect the external pin probe to the jack on the bottom of the meter.
2. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
3. Press the MOIST button twice to select Moisture measurement.” MOIST” and “EXT” (external
pin probe) will appear in the display.
4. Press the probe pins into the material and read the % moisture content in the display.
Auto Power Off
The meter will enter a sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity. The meter will emit a warning beep 15
seconds before shutting down.
To disable the APO feature, press the MODE button when turning the meter ON. The “APO” icon will
not appear, indicating it is disabled.

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Infrared Temperature Measurements
1. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
2. Press the IRT button to enable the IR thermometer and the laser pointer. The laser pointer icon
will flash while the mode is active.
3. Aim the laser pointer at the surface to be measured and read the surface temperature in the
secondary display.
4. Release the IRT button. The last temperature measured and the laser icon will remain on the
display for approximately 10 seconds before returning to ambient temperature measurement.
IRT MAX MIN display:
The meter can be set to display only the maximum or minimum temperature measured during an IR
scan.
1. With the meter in the IR hold mode, press the MODE button. “MIN” will appear in the
display.
2. Press the IRT button to enable the IR thermometer. The meter will display the minimum
temperature measured and will update only when a lower temperature is measured.
3. Press the MODE button twice to enable the MAX mode and proceed as stated above for the
maximum temperature.
4. The MAX or MIN temperature is not stored when the function is exited.
IR Field of View
Ensure that the desired target is larger than the spot size. As the distance from an object increases,
the spot size of the area measured by the meter becomes larger. The meter’s field of view ratio is
8:1, meaning that if the meter is 8 inches (cm) from the target, the diameter (spot) of the object
under test must be at least 1 inch (cm). Refer below to the field of view diagram.
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.
1” @ 8”
2” @ 16”
20mm @ 160mm
40mm @ 320mm

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Condensation Mode
The Condensation feature alerts the used when the surface temperature as measured by the IR
thermometer is close to or has reached the Dew Point temperature.
1. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
2. Simultaneously press the MOIST/REL and RH buttons. The “COND” icon will appear.
3. Point the meter at a surface, press the IRT button to measure the surface temperature. The
small display will indicate the IR surface temperature and the large display will indicate the
difference between the IR temperature and the Dew Point temperature.
4. The meter will then report the potential for condensation on that surface in the following
manner
If the temperature of the IRT is more than 14°C (25°F) above the Dew Point, the
temperature difference shall be displayed, with no other warning.
If the temperature of the IRT is 3-14°C (5-25°F) above the Dew Point, the temperature
difference shall be displayed, along with a standard Condensation Indicator icon. The meter
shall beep once to confirm that the reading is in the risk area.
If the temperature of the IRT is less than 3°C (5°F) above the Dew Point, the temperature
difference shall be displayed, along with a flashing Condensation Indicator icon. The meter
shall beep twice to confirm that the reading is in the high-risk area.
5. Press the RH button to exit the mode.
Vapor Pressure Mode
1. With the Condensation mode active, press the MODE button to display the Vapor Pressure in
mBAR (°F) or kPa (°C).
2. Press the MODE button to exit the Vapor Pressure mode.
Alarm High and Low Limit Setting
High and Low alarm points can be set for Humidity and Moisture measurements.
Humidity Alarm Set Procedure:
1. With RH% displayed, simultaneously press the RH and MODE buttons.
2. The “HIGH” icon will appear on the display.
3. Press the ▲or ▼button to set the high limit desired.
4. Press the ALARM SET button to save the value and proceed to the LOW set value.
5. With the “LOW” icon in the display, Press the ▲or ▼button to set the low limit desired.
6. Press the ALARM SET button to save the value and to return to the normal mode.
7. If the humidity measurement is lower than the low alarm setting or higher than the high alarm
setting, the meter will beep once every second.
Moisture Alarm Set Procedure:
1. With MOIST displayed, simultaneously press the MOIST/REL and MODE buttons.
2. The “HIGH” icon will appear on the display.
3. Press the ▲or ▼button to set the high limit desired.
4. Press the ALARM SET button to save the value and proceed to the LOW set value.
5. With the “LOW” icon in the display, Press the ▲or ▼button to set the low limit desired.
6. Press the ALARM SET button to save the value and to return to the normal mode.
7. If the moisture measurement is higher than the LOW alarm setting, the meter will beep once
every second
8. If the moisture measurement is higher than the HIGH alarm setting, the meter will beep
continuously.
Change Temperature units from F to C or C to F
1. Press the power button to turn the meter on.
2. Press the IRT button to turn on the IR thermometer and then release the button.
3. Press the ▲or ▼button to set the desired temperature unit

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Specifications
Function Range Accuracy
Pinless Moisture 0 to 99.9 Relative only
External - Moisture in
wood 6-99 % ± 5%
External - Moisture in
building materials 13-99 % ± 5%
Pinless Depth Up to 0.75” (19mm)
RH Measurement 0 to 10% ± 3%RH
11 to 90% ± 2.5%RH
91 to 100% ± 3%RH
Air Temperature -20 to 170°F (-29 to 77°C) 3.6F (2.0C)
IR Temp -4 to 31F 9F
32°F ± 2°F
33 to 392F Greater of 3.5% or 9F
-20 to-1C 4.5C
0C 1C
1 to 200C Greater of ±3.5% or ± 4.5°C
Display 3-digit primary display, 4-digit secondary display
Vapor Pressure 0 to 20.0kPA
Dew Point -30 to 100°C (-22 to 199°F)
Mixing Ratio 0-999GPP (0 to 160g/kg)
Sample Rate 2 per second
Backlight White LED
Operating Temperature 4 to 43°C (40 to 110°F)
Storage Temperature -30 to 60°C (-14 to 140°F)
Operating Humidity 90%, 0-30°C (32-86°F), 75%, 30-40°C (86-104°F),
45%, 40-50°C (104-122°F)
Storage Humidity 90%
Power Supply 9V battery
Battery Life 6-8 weeks (4 hrs/day use), using alkaline batteries
Auto Power Off (APO) After 30 minutes (nominal) inactivity. The APO function can be disabled
by the user.
APO Quiescent Current 50µA maximum
Dimensions 165x70x38mm (6.5x2.8x1.5’)
Weight 210g (7.4oz)
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