Kett HM-540 User manual

Wood Moisture Tester
HM-540
Operating Manual
Thank you for purchasing this product.
Please read the operating manual carefully and use this product properly.

Safety Precautions
If the safety precautions for the wood moisture tester are not observed damage to property may
result. While the safety of the product has been given considerable attention, read the precau-
tions in the operating manual and use the instrument properly.
• Observe the safety precautions.
Read the precautions noted in the operating manual.
• Do not use if broken.
Immediately contact our service representative if the unit malfunctions or does not
operate properly.
• Meaning of warning symbols.
In order to prevent damage resulting from erroneously operating the equipment, the
following symbols are indicated in the operating manual and on the product. These
symbols have the following meanings.
Note Items which the user should be aware of in order to use the unit safely.

CONTENTS
1. Features of Wood Moisture Tester HM-540....................................... 4
2.Specications ................................................................................... 5
3. Part Names........................................................................................ 6
4. Description of Display........................................................................ 8
5. Battery Installation............................................................................. 9
6. Measurement Method...................................................................... 10
7. Various Settings............................................................................... 12
8. Extension functions [Other settings]................................................ 20
9. Notes Regarding Measurement....................................................... 29

4
This unit is a handy high-frequency moisture tester with integrated main unit and
sensorsection.Specifyingthethicknessofthewoodandthespecicgravityallowsthe
moisture of various kinds of woods to be measured. The moisture can be measured just
by pushing this device against an object to be measured, and therefore, the surface of
the wood is not spoiled. You can utilize this device as a device for moisture management
in the industry of handling wood including timber drying factories, antiseptic treatment
factories, lumber mills, plywood mills, wooden furniture factories, housing manufacturers,
and construction rms. This device has been authorized as a good moisture content
meter (authorization number: 1-21-001) in "Authorization as Moisture Content Meter
Used for Conifer Timber" by the Japan Housing and Wood Technology Center.
1. Features of Wood Moisture Tester HM-540
●Measuring principle
The more wood contains moisture, the
larger the high frequency capacity becomes.
Measuring af ter obtaining the relationship
between the moisture and high frequency
capacity allows the moisture to be obtained.
This device displays a moisture value by
applying this principle.

5
Measurement method : High frequency capacitance (20MHz)
Application : Wood
Measurement range : 2-150%(specicgravityandtreespeciesdependent)
Measurement precision :
Standard error: 0.5% or less (our standard sample, cedar/cypress: 20% or less)
Drying method: JIS Z 2101:2009
Data memory : 999 points
Compensation function : Thickness : 10-40 mm
Specicgravity:0.1to1.25(upto3settingvaluesstorable)
Moisture:slope(0-2.50),offset(−9.9-9.9)
Temperature:Automatic(10-40˚C),Manual(−10-70˚C)
Other functions : Statistics, Auto power off, Auto hold, Upper limit alarm, etc.
Display : 128 × 64 dot matrix LCD
Power supply : 9V alkaline battery (006P) ×1
Power consumption :350 mW
Dimensions and weight : 72 (W) ×146 (D) ×118 (H) mm, approx. 0.39 kg
Accessories :9V alkaline battery (006P) ×1, carrying pouch, specific gravity table,
operating manual
Options : Data Logger Software HDL-02 (USB)
2. Specications

6
3. Part Names
<Main unit>
key
Used to determine settings
or item selection.
[▲
][ ▼ ] keys
Used to move to differing
items on the sc reen or
used to change the number
values on the screen.
USB connector
ON
OFF button
Turns the power on and off.
Battery compartment
Moisture sensor (back side)
Buzzer
HOLD button
Used to hold or cancel the measured
value on the screen.
Display
Strap

7
<Accessories>
<Options>
Specicgravitytable Operating ManualBatteries (9V)
9V alkaline battery (006P) ×1
Data Logger
Software HDL-02
Carrying pouch

8
4. Description of Display
Item No.
Items to be displayed
①Thisindicatorisdisplayedwhentheremainingbatterycapacityisinsufcient.
[]
Low battery,
[ ]
Battery replacement
②The data number is displayed when the data memory is set.
③An icon ( ) is displayed when the measured value is held.
④
Theselectedobjecttobemeasuredisdisplayed.WhenSGisselected,thevalueofthespecicgravityisdisplayed.
⑤The date [Year/ month/ day] and time are displayed.
⑥The icon () is displayed when the correction setting of the measured value is conducted.
⑦The measured moisture value (%) is displayed. When the value exceeds the measurable
range, "Over Range" is displayed.
⑧The thickness setting value of the object to be measured is displayed.
⑦
④
①
②
③
⑤
⑥
⑧

9
The power supply of this unit uses one 9V (006P alkaline) battery.
Pull your thumb in the direction
of the arrow to remove the
battery compartment lid.
Put in the batter y properly
with attention to the positive (+)
andnegative(−)directions.
5. Battery Installation

10
6. Measurement Mode
Step
Operation Display Operation description
1
Start measurement
State of directing the
device to air until the
measurement screen
is displayed
Example) Cedar
measurement screen
Press the ON
OFF button with the moisture sensor
facing the air.
* The device is regulated at power-on. For accurate
me asurement, b e sur e to turn on th e power
with the moisture sensor facing the air. Keep
the moistur e se nsor facing the air until the
measurement screen is displayed.
The measurement screen is displayed about 3
seconds after the buzzer sounds.
* If setting is changed, the display section may
differ.
ON
OFF button
Moisture sensor

11
Step
Operation Display Operation description
2
Measurement
Example) Measurement
results
When this unit is held as shown in the illustration
and the electrode of the moisture detection
section is lightly pushed against an object to be
measured, the measurement result is displayed.
* The moisture scale of this unit is designed to be
lightly pushed against an object to be measured
as shown in the illustration as a standard state.
*
The measur em ent result is disp laye d while the
moisture detection section is pushed against an object
to be me asure d. Pressing the
HOLD
button during
measurement allows the measurement result to be
held and the measurement result remains displayed
even after releasing it from the object. Pressing the
HOLD
button again cancels the holding function.
* When the moisture value exceeds the measurable
range, "Over Range" is displayed.
(When a thin plate is measured)
When an object to be measured is 40 mm or less
in thickness, provide space of 80 mm or more
below the measurement point and measure it.
3
Completion of measurement
When measurement is completed, turn off the power.
Space with 80 mm or more
Electrode of moisture
detection section
in parallel with fiber
direction of timber

12
7. Various settings
●When the key is pressed on the measurement screen, a setting can
be selected from 1through 7.
1Material selection (P.13)5Auto hold settings (P.17)
2
Temperature compensation
(P.14)6Display settings (P.18)
3
Thickness compensation
(P.15)7Extension functions (P.19)
4Alarm settings (P.16)
*
Refer to the page (P. ) indicated in parentheses for the functions or purpose of each
pattern.
* Four items are displayed on the screen, but pressing the [▲] or [▼] key allows
the cursor to scroll up or down to the 1through 7settings in this order.
* The set item is kept until it is set even after the power is turned off.

13
1Material selection
Select the object to be measured for moisture.
(1) Select “Material” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the setting
screen and press the key.
(2) Press the [▲] and [▼] keys to select the measurement target
(ceder, cypress, SG), and press the keytoconrm.
(3) The screen will automatically return to the measurement
screen.Conrmthattheselectedtimbernameisdisplayed.
* When SG is selected, the specic gravity value is selected from
the range of 0.10 through 1.25.
* When SG is selected, the specified specific gravity value is
displayed on the measurement screen.
* Up to three SGs are storable.

14
2Temperature compensation
Temperature compensation is automatically conducted on the basis of the temperature
sensed with the internal temperature sensor. When the temperature difference between
thetimberandthisunitis 10˚Cormore,orwhen thetemperatureofthetimbertobe
measuredis40˚Cormore,selectthemanualsetting,andenterthetemperatureofthe
timber to be measured.
(1) Select “Temperature C.” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the
setting screen, and press the key.
(2) Select “Automatic” or “Manual” with the [▲] and [▼] keys,
and press the keytoconrm.
* When the manual compensation is selected, the selection is
conducted from the range of -10 through 70°C.
(3) The settings are saved and the measurement screen auto-
matically be displayed.

15
3Thickness compensation
When an object to be measured is 40 mm or less in thickness, compensation calculation
using the plate thickness is conducted.
(1) Select “Thickness C.” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the set-
ting screen, and press the key.
(2) Press the [▲] and [▼] keys to select the plate thickness.
When the plate thickness is 40 mm or more, enter 40 mm.
*
The plate thickness that can be specied is the range of from 10 through 40 mm.
(3) Pressing the key will save the settings and automatically
displaythemeasurementscreen.Conrmthatspeciedplate
thickness is displayed on the measurement screen.
*
When an object to be measured is 40 mm or more in thickness, enter 40 mm.
* When the timber thickness is less than 40 mm, refer to "9.
Precautions in measurement" on page 29.
*
The plate thickness can be specied for each object to be measured (cedar, cypress, and SG).
The selected object to be measured is updated with the specied thickness at that point.

16
4Alarm settings
Theupperlimitmoisturecanbespecied.Whenthemeasuredmoisturevalueexceeds
thespeciedvalue,abuzzersounds.
(1) Select “Alarm” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the setting
screen, and press the key.
(2) Select “On” with the [▲] and [▼] keys, and press the key
toconrm.
(3) Press the [▲] and [▼] keys to select the moisture value.
* The moisture value that can be specified is the range of 2
through 40%.
(4) Pressing the key will save the settings and automatically
display the measurement screen.

17
5Auto hold settings
When the measured value is stable for a certain period, the measurement result screen
can be automatically held.
(1) Select “Autohold” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the setting
screen, and press the key.
(2)
Select “On” with the [▲] and [▼] keys, and press the keytoconrm.
(3) Pressing the key will save the settings and automatically
display the measurement screen.
*
Releasing this device from the measurement target, raising it in the air in the
state that the measurement result is held, and pushing it against the target again
allows the hold state to be automatically cancelled and measurement to start.
*
When the hold function is automatically activated and is cancelled, a buzzer sounds.
*
Pressing the
HOLD
button in the state of holding the measurement
result allows the hold state to be cancelled.
* When the measurement value is unstable, refer to “9. Precautions
in measurement” on page 29.

18
6Display settings
The brightness of the backlight and contrast can be adjusted.
(1) Select “Display” with the [▲] and [▼] keys on the setting
screen, and press the key.
(2) Select “Backlight” or “Contrast” with the [▲] and [▼] keys,
and press the keytoconrm.
(3) Select “Backlight” or “Contrast” with the [▲] and [▼] keys
* The backlight brightness is selectable from three levels; bright,
moderate, and light off.
* The contrast is selectable from 1 (low) through 10(high).
(4) Pressing the key will save the settings and automatical-
ly display the measurement screen.
* Activation of the backlight shortens the battery life.
* If no operation is conducted for approx. 10 seconds, the
backlight goes out for battery saving. If an operation is
conducted, the backlight comes on again.

19
7Extension functions [Other settings]
Advanced settings can be conducted such as storing or
outputting the measured data and correction of moisture
values.
Refer to "8. Extension functions" for each setting of the
extension functions.

20
8. Extension functions [Other settings]
● When the key is pressed on the measurement screen and an extension
function is selected on the setting screen, each item of the extension
functions can be selected from 1through 7.
1Statistics (P. 21)5Data output (P. 2 6)
2
Memorized data display
(P. 2 2)6Clear all data (P. 2 7 )
3
Moisture value correction
(P. 2 3)7Date and time (P. 2 8)
4Data memory (P. 2 5 )
* Refer to the page indicated in parentheses for the functions or purpose of
each pattern.
* Four items are displayed on the screen, but pressing the [▲] or [▼] key allows
the cursor to scroll up or down to the 1through 7settings in this order.
* The set item is kept until it is set even after the power is turned off.
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