Kett MT-730 User manual

Operating Manual
Thank you for purchasing this product.
Please read the operating manual carefully and use this product properly.
Wood Moisture Tester
MT-730

Safety Precautions
If the safety precautions for the wood moisture tester are not observed, injuries or damage to property may
result. While the safety of the product has been given considerable attention, please read the precautions in
the operating manual and use the instrument properly.
• Please observe the safety precautions.
Please read the precautions noted in the operating manual.
• Do not use if broken.
If the tester breaks or malfunctions, please consult our repair service.
• 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. The following are their meanings.
Note Items which the user should be aware of in order to use the unit safely.

1. Features.............................................................................. 4
2.Specications..................................................................... 5
3. Part Names ........................................................................ 6
4. Display................................................................................ 7
5. Description of Keypad........................................................ 8
6. Directions ........................................................................... 9
6-1. Before Measurement ................................................. 9
6-2. Measurement Method................................................ 10
6-3. Setting the Measurement Mode ................................ 13
6-4. Displaying the Average Value..................................... 14
6-5. How to make Bias Adjustment................................... 15
6-6. Setting the Alarm ....................................................... 16
6-7. Spare needle, Conductive rubber Replacement ....... 17
7. Error Display....................................................................... 18
8. Wood Group Number Table ............................................... 20
CONTENTS

4
• Built-incalibrationsforhardwoodandsoftwood
In addition to the calibrations for the 16 wood groups up to now, calibrations corresponding
to the overall hardwood and softwood can be selected with the single push of a button.
• Automatictemperaturecompensation
Compensation for the temperature of the wood is automatically performed by means of a
built-in temperature sensor.
• Autopowero
 Wheninactive,theunitwillautomaticallyturnitselfoafterapproximately5minutestoavoid
draining the battery.
• Alarmsetting
Set any moisture value, and an alarm will sound if the measured moisture value is higher than
the set moisture value.
• Biasadjustment
The moisture value can be corrected corresponding to each calibration curve in the range from
–9.9% to +9.9%.
1. Features

5
*1Calibrationswerepreparedusingthemostrecentwoodandmeasurementtechniques.Dierentvaluesaredisplayedforthecalibrationsofthe16woodgroupclassications.
*2Uses the same calibrations as our “TURKU, MT-8S, MT-700 (production of the preceding 3 products discontinued) ” wood moisture testers. Refer to p. 20 “8. Wood
Group Number Table”.
*3Range when measured at 20°C. For temperatures below 20°C, the measurable lower limit value increases by 0.1% per 1°C.
2. Specications
Measurement Principle :Electrical resistance
Applications :Veneer/wood
Calibrations :For hardwood and softwood use*1(Reference method: ISO 13061-1)
16woodgroupclassications*2
Measurement Range*3: 6 to 40% (hardwood), 7 to 40% (softwood)
4 to 40% (when wood groups 1-16 are selected, varies with group type*2)
Measurement Precision : Below 20%: ±0.5%,
20% and higher: ±2.0% (precision with respect to base resistance)
Display :Digital (LCD)
Resolution :0.1%
Operating Temperature Range :0to40˚C
Functions : Automatic temperature compensation, average value display, Upper limit alarm setting (10 to
39%andO),Autopowero(automaticallyturnsoafterapproximately5minutes),Mois-
ture value bias adjustment (–9.9 to +9.9%)
Power Supply, Power Consumption :1.5Vbatteries(AAalkaline)(6),approximately0.45W
Dimensions and Weight :110mm(W)x210mm(D)x50mm(H),0.5kg
Accessories
:
Needle probe, spare needle (10), conductive rubber (2), wrench, shoulder strap, 1.5 V battery
(AA alkaline) (6), carrying case, operating manual, wood group number table (Japanese and
English) (1 each)

6
<Main body>
Carrying case
Shoulder strap
Wood group
number table
1.5 V battery (AA) (6)
Operating manual
Needle probe Conductive rubber (2)Spare needle (10)
Wrench
Connector
Display
Control Panel
Needle
Cap
Battery cover (back)
Needle probe
3. Part Names
<Accessories>

7
Description of display
4. Display
Item No. Name of display area Description
1Wood group number Displays set wood group number.
2Battery indicator Comes on when battery is depleted.
3Measuring times Displays the number of times measured.
4“HRD” or “SFT” Displays the wood group selected.
5Alarm set-point value Displays the set-point value for the alarm for the upper moisture limit that
was set.
6Moisture value Displays the measured moisture value (%).
7Bar graph Displays the measured moisture value by means of a bar graph.
Displays up to 40% in 2% increments.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

8
<Control panel>
5. Description of Keypad
Key Function
PowerOnandO
Bias correction
Selection of wood group number
Average value and number input
Setting of upper and lower alarm limit
Making measurement
Continuous measurement
For inputting numerical values (This unit has no print function.)
Selection of hard wood
Selection of soft wood
Entering a minus input
For inputting numerical values

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6-1. Before Measurement
1.Theunitispoweredbysix1.5Vbatteries(AA,alkaline).Remove
the rear battery cover, place the batteries into the compartment
taking care to correctly orient the positive ( ) and negative ( )
terminals. Then attach the battery cover.
• isdisplayedwhenthebatteriesaredepleted.Replaceallsixwith
new batteries.
2. Plug the needle probe connector into the socket on the main
unit, and fasten and secure the lock ring.
3. Remove the cap on the needle probe.
4. Prepare the wood sample to be measured. Allow the sample to
equilibrate to the same temperature as the main unit.
• Errorsmay occur when thereis a largedierence in thetemperature
of the wood and the temperature of the unit. To make more accurate
measurements, allow the temperature of the wood to equilibrate with
the temperature of the unit.
2Tighten the lock ring
1Securely plug the
connector in
6. Directions

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6-2.Measurement Method
1. Press the key to turn on the power. All elements of the
LCDwillbedisplayedforapproximatelythreeseconds.
Subsequently, the “Wood group or wood group number”,
“TIMES”, and “%” will be displayed.
• The display will indicate “HRD” for HARD (hardwood) or “SFT” for
SOFT (softwood).
• Ifthedisplayshowssomethingotherthanthatdescribedabove,there
may be a problem with the unit. Refer to p. 18 “7. Error Display”.
2. Select the wood group object to be measured.
A. When selecting hardwood / softwood:
Press the key to select hardwood.
Press the key to select softwood.

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B. When selecting a wood group number:
Select and set the wood group to be measured from “8. Wood
Group Number Table” on p. 20 or from an additional “Wood group
number table”. First, press the key. The wood group
number will blink. Then, enter a 2-digit wood group number.
• TwowoodgroupnumbertablesinJapaneseandEnglishhavebeenincluded.
Use by attaching the table to the battery lid of the necessary version.
Example:Enteringthevalue03
Press the key.Therstrowwillstartblinking.
Then, press the key. “03” will be displayed.
• Oncethewoodgrouporwoodgroupnumberisset,itwillbemaintained
inmemoryunlesschangedevenwhentheunit’spoweriso.
3. Hold the needle probe firmly, and insert the sensor needles
completely into the wood such that the probe cord is parallel to
the direction of the wood grain.
• Turntheredmarkonthemetalpartoftheneedleprobeinthedirection
of the grain.
• Thetipsofthesensorneedlesaresharppoints.Theymaycauseinjury
to the operator or other people if handled carelessly. Be very careful in
handling the probe. The probe should always be capped after use.
•The symbol denotes a blinking display.
Electric current direction
Grain direction
•Turntheredmarkonthe
metal part of the “needle
probe” in the direction of
the wood grain.
Cord
Red
mark

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4. Press the key. The decimal point will blink. After about
3 seconds a “beep” will sound and the “Measurement number”,
“Moisture value”, and “Bar graph” will be displayed.
• Thebargraphdisplaysa50%fullscalein2%increments.
• If the moisture value is outside of the measuring range, “HI” will be
displayed if the content is higher than the measuring range, and “LO”
will be displayed if it is lower.
5. Remove the needle probe from the wood. At this time, the
moisture value will remain on display. To continue to make
further measurements, start the procedure from Step “3. Hold
theneedleprobermly...”.
 Whennishedmakingmeasurements,pressthe key to
turnothepower.
• Withitsautopowerofunction,theunitwillautomaticallyturnitselfo
wheninactiveafterapproximately5minutes.
•The symbol denotes a blinking display.

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6-3.Setting the Measurement Mode
There are two measurement modes: “Normal measurement mode” and “Continuous measurement mode”.
Immediately after pressing the key and turning on the power, the unit will be set to “Normal
measurement mode”. If the unit is set to “Continuous measurement mode”, measurements can be made
without pressing the key for each measurement.
1. Continuous measurement mode setting
In step “6-2. Measurement Method 4. Press the...”, press the
key. The decimal point will blink, and the moisture
value and bar graph will be displayed. “LO” will be displayed,
and the decimal point will blink when the needle probe is not
inserted into the wood or if the wood moisture value is below
the measuring range.
2. Canceling the continuous measurement mode
Press the continuously for at least 2 seconds until a
“beep” sounds. The display will momentarily go blank. When
you take your finger off the key, the unit will return to normal
measurement mode.
• Pressing the key turns off the power and automatically
cancels the unit.
• Notethatthebatterylifeisshorterincontinuousmeasurementmode. •The symbol denotes a blinking display.

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6-4.Displaying the Average Value
When the number of measurements is from 2 to 9, and you press
, the “AVE”, “average value”, and “measurement number”
will be displayed. At this time, the “AVE”, “average value”, and
“measurement number” remain displayed, but if you proceed to
make a measurement, the “measurement number” resets to “1”.
• Ifthenumberofmeasurementsexceeds9,themeasuredvalueupto
that point resets and measurement starts from measurement number 1.
• Theaveragevaluecannotbedeterminedwhenmakingmeasurements
in continuous measurement mode.

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6-5.How to make Bias Adjustment
The moisture value scale of this unit has been prepared by determining the relationship between the overall
drying method and the electrical resistance for each wood group and statistically processing these results.
However, depending on various conditions, there are cases where the standard measurement method and
the moisture value do not agree. In these cases, a moisture value bias adjustment can be made (–9.9% to
9.9% for each wood group) by the following method.
1. Press the or key or the key and
select the wood group.
2. Press the key. The “BIAS” indicator will blink, and
the previously entered bias value will be displayed. The bias is
initially set to “0.0%”.
3. Enter the bias value.
Enter a 2-digit number. To enter “1.2%”, press the key
and the key in succession. For a negative value, press
the key before the numbers.
4. Press the key to make measurements.
• Ifacorrectionvaluehasbeenentered,“BIAS”willbedisplayedduring
measurements.
• Tocancelthecorrectionvalue,enter“0.0%”.
•The symbol denotes a blinking display.

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6-6.Setting the Alarm
An upper limit moisture alarm can be set. When wood is measured having moisture higher than the set
moisture value, the alarm sounds with a beeping tone.
1. Press the key.
The numbers to the right of “ALARM” will blink.
2. Enter the alarm value.
Enter a 2-digit number. To enter “20%”, press the key
and the in succession.
3. The set value for the alarm is displayed. Then, press the
key to make measurements.
• Tocancelthesetvalueforthealarm,enter“0.0%”.
•The symbol denotes a blinking display.

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6-7.Spare needle, Conductive rubber Replacement
To replace needles in the needle probe or to install a conductive
rubber piece, use the included wrench, and replace them by
loosening the mounting screw. When installing a sensor needle,
orient the concave part of the needle so that it comes in contact
with the head of the screw as shown in the diagram.
• For thin sheets such as veneer, laminate, etc., or for cases such as
product inspections in which you do not want to scratch the surface,
use a “conductive rubber” to make measurements.
Sensor needle
(spare needle) Conductive rubber
Mounting screw
Wrench
Sensor needle
Mounting screw
Concave part

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When there is a problem with the unit or with the measurement conditions, the following errors will be
displayedfor4seconds,andthenthepowerwillturno.
1. There is a problem with the temperature sensor. Servicing is
required.
2. There is a problem with the electronic circuit used for moisture
measurement. Servicing is required.
7. Error Display

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3. The measurement cannot be made because the temperature
of the unit is below –5°C. Bring the temperature of the unit up
to the operating temperature range (0 to 40°C), and make the
measurement again.
4. The measurement cannot be made because the temperature of
the unit is above 50°C. Bring the temperature of the unit down
to the operating temperature range (0 to 40°C), and make the
measurement again.

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8. Wood Group Number Table
Number Representative wood type Measurement range
01 Oak, Zelkova, Maple 5 to 40%
02 Japanese oak, Linden, Chestnut, Beech tree, Cherry 5 to 40%
03 Katsura tree, Birch, Paulownia 5 to 40%
04 Apitong, Keruing, Kabul, Sengyan 4 to 40%
05 Ramin, Kempas, Chinese quince 6 to 30%
06 Japanese ash, Elm, Ash 4 to 40%
07 Teak 6 to 40%
08 Lauan, Castor aralia 5 to 40%
09 Japanese larch 6 to 40%
10 Japanese white-barked magnolia, Cottenwood 6 to 40%
11 Hemlock 6 to 40%
12 Yeddo spruce, Spruce 7 to 40%
13 Cypress 5 to 40%
14 Douglasr 6 to 40%
15 Cedar 5 to 35%
16 Fir 5 to 40%