Kolectric MC8020 User manual
2
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CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED.................................................................................................................................... 4
MEASURING COVER.................................................................................................................................. 7
AUTOMATIC BAR SIZING ........................................................................................................................ 11
LOW COVER SCANNING.......................................................................................................................... 12
CUSTOM COVER TABLES......................................................................................................................... 12
DATA LOGGING and DOWNLOAD........................................................................................................... 13
INSTALLING DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE.....................................................................................................15
SPECIFICATION ....................................................................................................................................... 16
3
MC8020 parts
Probe &
Download
connection
Function
buttons
Function
button labels
Power / Mode
button
Earpiece &
Battery charger
connection
Low battery
light
Connector
Data log button
Bar indicator light
Sole plate
replace when worn
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4
MC8020 Micro Covermeter
GETTING STARTED
Controls and Display
Switch the MC8020 on by pressing and holding the red button until the display shows the instrument
name and serial number. The display quickly changes to show the normal controls and cover reading.
Press the red button briefly to change the displayed control page. These pages are shown in turn:
Cover depth
normal display for measuring cover depth
Bar size
automatic bar size measurement
Data log
shows logged data
Main menu
change settings for measurement, logging, audio and time & date
Page labels and menu items are shown in this manual like this Cover depth
The three yellow buttons have different functions depending on which control page is being used. The
active function is shown on the display just above each button. In this manual button labels are shown
like this ( SELECT ).
When using the Main menuto change settings, the left ( ) and right ( ) yellow buttons move up
and down through the list of settings, the middle yellow button is pressed to select a menu ( SELECT )
or change a setting ( ) and the red button is used to move back to the previous menu.
Switch the instrument off by pressing the red button for about two seconds until the screen goes
blank. (Holding the button down for longer than 2 seconds will turn the instrument off and then on
again.) The instrument can be switched off in any mode and will switch off automatically after 10
minutes if there have been no key presses.
5
GETTING STARTED
Backlight
The display is designed to be visible in normal daylight conditions. For use in darker environments,
turn on the backlight.
Press the red button to display the Main menu. Select the Measurement Menu.
Now select Backlight and use the middle yellow button ( ) to turn it on or off.
Setting the date and time
The MC8020 has an internal clock which is used to timestamp logged data. The time, date and display
format (12 hr or 24:00 hr, d/m/y or m/d/y) can be set from the Date and Time Menu.
Display the Main menu by pressing the red button three times.
Press the right-hand yellow button ( ) to move down the menu until Date and Time Menu is
highlighted. Press the middle yellow button ( SELECT ) to adjust the Date and Time.
Use the yellow buttons ( ) and ( ) to move up and down the menu and ( ) to change the
selected setting.
When finished, press the red button to return to the Main menu.
Setting the measurement units
Cover depth and bar size can be displayed in millimeters or inches to suit local requirements.
A third option is provided to display cover depth in arbitrary units (0-1000). This scale is used with
custom depth tables.
To change measurement units, go to the Main menu and then select Measurement Menu. Scroll to
Cover units and press the middle yellow button to change the setting.
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MC8020 Micro Covermeter
Charging the battery
The MC8020 contains a rechargeable battery that provides about 20 hours of typical operation. When
operating, the battery indicator at the left hand side of the Cover depth display shows how much
charge is in the battery. Low battery level is also indicated by a red light on the front panel.
The instrument should be fully charged before first use in the field.
To recharge the battery, switch the instrument off and connect the supplied charger to the left hand
connector on the instrument. A full recharge takes about 8 hours.
Maintenance
The MC8020 should be kept clean using a damp cloth. Do not immerse in water. Do not use solvent or
abrasive cleaners.
The bottom of the probe is protected by a replaceable yellow plastic plate. This will wear as the probe
is run over concrete It should be peeled off and replaced periodically to protect the main probe
housing. Self adhesive replacements are included in each MC8020 kit and spares are available direct
from Kolectric Research.
Certification
The MC8020 Covermeter should be tested for compliant performance periodically; the recommended
interval is 12 months. Complete units should be packed appropriately and returned to Kolectric
Research for testing and certification.
There are no user serviceable components inside the equipment and opening the equipment voids
any warranty.
7
MEASURING COVER
MEASURING COVER
Use the following process to measure cover:
1. Connect and Calibrate the probe
2. Set the measurement range
3. Set the bar size
4. Locate the bar
5. Read the cover depth
Connect and Calibrate the probe
Calibration must be performed every time you switch the instrument on.
To remind you, the Cover depth display will show 0mm (0.00in) until calibration is performed.
Connect the probe to the probe cable. Plug the other end
of the cable into the connector on the right hand side of
the MC8020. Gently tighten the retaining collars on both
plugs. Turn the MC8020 on by pressing the red button.
Calibrate the MC8020 by holding the probe in the air at
least 1m away from metal objects and magnetic fields,
such as keys, rings or coins, fluorescent lights, mobile
phones or computer screens.
Press and release the left hand yellow button ( CAL ). The
instrument will beep when the button is pressed and beep
again when calibration is complete. The display changes to
show 120mm (Lo) or 200mm (Hi) depending on the range
selected.
Move the probe towards a metallic object and note that
the cover display changes from 120 mm or 200 mm to a
smaller reading.
These simple checks confirm that the instrument is functioning and ready for use.
To get the best possible results, calibration should also be performed periodically if you are making
large numbers of measurements and especially before making measurements of deep cover.
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MC8020 Micro Covermeter
Set the measurement range
The MC8020 has two measurement ranges – High and Low. Press the right hand yellow button
( Hi–Lo ) to change range. An indicator on the left-hand side of the screen shows Hi or Lo.
The High range is more sensitive so it can measure greater cover
depths. When locating a bar or measuring cover, you should
normally use the High range to avoid missing deep bars.
However, when trying to find the orientation of bars that are
closely spaced, try the Low range because it is less affected by
nearby bars.
Set the bar size
Cover measurement is only accurate if the bar size is known reasonably precisely.
If you know the bar size, press the middle yellow button
( BAR ) to set the value shown on the Cover depth page. In
the picture, the bar size has been set to 12mm.
To locate a bar and estimate its size automatically, see
“Automatic bar sizing” below; this will set the current bar
size to the measured value.
Quick bar location
To quickly find the approximate position of a bar, look at
the top of the probe whilst slowly sweeping the probe
over the search area.
The red bar indicator light flashes briefly when the signal
detected from a bar is near its peak and this can be used
as a quick guide to bar location.
For more precise location follow the procedure below.
Maximum cover
Bar size
Hi range
Lo range
6 mm
110 mm
70 mm
40 mm
185 mm
90 mm
9
MEASURING COVER
Precise bar location and cover measurement
Hold the yellow face of the probe flat against the
concrete surface. Move the probe over the surface
whilst watching the cover depth display. The probe
is positioned roughly over a bar when the cover
depth reading is at its lowest.
Keeping the probe over the same spot, rotate it
around its centre. When the lowest cover reading is
seen, the probe body has been aligned with the
direction of the bar.
Now the bar orientation is known, slowly sweep the
probe, keeping it parallel to the bar. The lowest
cover reading will now correspond to the center
line.
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MC8020 Micro Covermeter
Once you have found a bar and aligned the probe to it, you can read the cover depth from the display.
If you want to log this cover reading, press the yellow button on the probe. This will record the cover
depth, bar size, time and date and can be viewed on the MC8020 or downloaded to a PC later if
required. (See Data logging, below)
For maximum precision follow the same procedure but instead of watching for minimum cover, look
for maximum signal strength reading.
Signal strength is shown below the main cover depth
readout, in smaller numbers –1781 in the picture.
The signal strength reading is at its greatest when the
probe is aligned with the centre line of a bar. When this
position and alignment is found, read the cover as before.
In some situations an alternate method is useful to map out the orientation of bars. First sweep the
probe in a straight line until you find a bar (bar indicator light / lowest cover / maximum signal). Mark
this position. Now perform a second sweep in the same direction but some distance from the first and
again mark the bar position. A line drawn between these marks gives the orientation of the bars.
Keeping the probe parallel to the bar orientation, perform a third sweep to find the centre of the bar.
The location of parallel bars can now be marked by extending the sweep either side of the first bar.
Audio cover mode
MC8020 has an audible indication of detection strength which helps to locate bars without having to
watch the display. To use Audio cover indication, go to the Main menu page, select the Audio menu
and set Mode to “Cover”. You can also adjust the volume from this menu.
Now when you sweep the probe over the search area, you will hear a tone that increases in pitch as
you get closer to a bar and reaches its highest pitch when the probe and bar are aligned.
If the environment is noisy, you can plug the optional earpiece accessory into the left-hand connector
on the instrument.
Set the audio Mode to “Off” to stop the tone.
11
AUTOMATIC BAR SIZING
AUTOMATIC BAR SIZING
The MC8020 can be used to automatically calculate the size of covered rebar.
First, align the probe with the centre line of the bar
to be measured using the bar search process above.
Keeping the probe in the same position, press the red button to select the Bar sizepage.
Press the middle yellow button ( SIZE ) to calculate the bar
size.
When the process is complete, the display shows the bar
size. The instrument will indicate if the target bar is too
near or too far to complete the calculation. If the bar is too
near, a plastic spacer can be used to hold the probe away
from the bar.
Press the mode button to change back to cover depth
mode and note that the bar size shown in the top right of
the display has been updated automatically, ready for
cover depth measurements.
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MC8020 Micro Covermeter
LOW COVER SCANNING
The MC8020 can be used to quickly check a large area for proper cover.
To use Low Cover Scanning, configure the MC8020 as follows:
Press the red mode button to show the Main menu page, then select Audio Menu. Press the middle
yellow button ( ) to change the audio Mode to “Low cover”.
Adjust the volume according to the environment and whether an earpiece is being used.
Press the red mode button to return the Main menu, then select Measurement Menu.
Move to the Low Cover setting and use the middle yellow button ( ) to select the required cover
depth, pressing and holding the button to rapidly step through the available cover range.
Press the red button twice to return to the Cover depth display.
Sweep the probe over the area to be checked. An alarm is heard if a bar is detected with low cover.
Turn off Low Cover mode from the Audio Menu when the search is complete.
CUSTOM COVER TABLES
The MC8020 can be used to assess cover over non-standard bar, pipes or other inclusions in pre-
fabricated structures. This process requires preparation of a custom depth table and setting the
measurement units to an arbitrary scale of 0-1000. Contact your Kolectric reseller for advice on using
custom cover tables.
13
DATA LOGGING and DOWNLOAD
DATA LOGGING and
DOWNLOAD
MC8020 can log cover readings as you make them so that you can review them later or download
them to a PC.
Prepare for Data logging
Before starting a new set of measurements, prepare as follows.
Turn the MC8020 on. Check the time displayed on the Cover depth page and make adjustments if
necessary using the Data and Time Menu.
The MC8020 can store 2000 readings. It is good practice to regularly review or download the data you
need and then clear the memory on the MC8020.
First, check that you have reviewed or downloaded any previous logged data that might be needed.
Go to the Main menu and select the Data log Menu.
Select Clear log – the display will show “Sure?”. Select Clear log a second time and all stored readings
will be deleted. Press the red button to exit without clearing the log.
The Overwrite option can be used so that the MC8020 always stores the latest readings and
automatically deletes older readings as new ones are logged. Switch this option on to overwrite old
data. When Overwrite is switched off, the MC8020 will stop logging when the memory is full and must
be cleared manually or downloaded to a PC.
Logging Cover readings
When measuring cover, press the yellow button on the probe to log the current cover depth. The
instrument beeps to confirm that the data has been recorded.
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MC8020 Micro Covermeter
Reviewing Cover readings
To review logged data on the MC8020, press the red
button to display the Data log page.
The display shows the latest recorded reading. To see older
readings press the right-hand yellow button ( ); to see
newer readings use the left-hand yellow button ( ).
Downloading
The MC8020 Pro Kit includes software to transfer logged data to a PC. Follow the instructions on page
15 to install it on your PC.
Unplug the probe cable and connect the download cable to the same, right-hand connector on the
MC8020. Plug the other end of the download cable into your PC’s serial port.
Run the download software using the shortcut “Kolectric MC8020 download”.
Click the Download button. The logged data appears in the download software window.
To save the data to your PC, click “Save File” and choose a suitable filename. By default, this will save
all the downloaded data. To save a specific range of data, enter the first and last required record
numbers before clicking Save File.
When all the data required has been downloaded and saved, clear the Covermeter’s memory by
clicking “Clear Log”. This removes all logged data from the MC8020.
15
INSTALLING DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE
INSTALLING DOWNLOAD
SOFTWARE
The MC8020 Pro Kit includes “KoLog” software which can be used to copy logged cover readings onto
a PC using a serial port cable. If your MC8020 kit was not purchased with KoLog software, it can be
obtained directly from Kolectric Research.
You may need administrator rights to successfully install the software and configure the serial port if
required. Ask your IT advisor if in doubt.
KoLog software is designed for Windows XP or Windows 7.
Insert the MC8020 Support CD into your PC.
Run ‘KoLog setup.exe’ and follow the on-screen instructions.
When the installation is complete, plug the download cable into the right-hand connector on the
MC8020 (disconnect the probe cable). Connect the other end of the cable to the serial port on your
PC. Switch the MC8020 on.
The software creates a new program shortcut: “Kolectric Research | Kolectric MC8020 download”
Run this to start the software.
The KoLog software supports serial ports numbered COM1 – COM4. When you first run the software,
you may see a warning “Error opening port” if your serial port is not COM1. Click OK on the error box
and the software will start. You will then need to set the correct port by clicking on the CommPort
menu and selecting one of the four supported ports. If in doubt, check with your IT advisor.
If your PC does not have a built in serial port, you will need a USB-serial adaptor. Most adapters
default to a high port number that is not accessible from the KoLog software, and this will need to be
changed to a port number in the range COM1 – COM4. Consult your IT advisor if required.
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16
MC8020 Micro Covermeter
SPECIFICATION
Cover Measurement
Cover depth indicated is from the bar surface.
Performance meets or exceeds the requirements of BS1881 part 204:1988 when instrument has been tested and
certified compliant by Kolectric Research and is operated according to this user manual.
Bar size
Cove r Ran ge
Cover depth
Accuracy
6 mm bar
5 mm –108 mm
up to 60 mm cover
±1 mm
40 mm bar
22 mm –185 mm
up to 120 mm
±2 mm
up to 160 mm
±3 mm
over 160 mm
±4 mm
Automatic Bar Sizing
Accuracy
± 0.5 mm –± 1.5 mm
Resolution
0.1 mm
Minimum Cover
8 mm – 22 mm minimum cover depending on bar size
Maximum Cover
6 mm bar up to 60 mm cover; 40 mm bar up to 80 mm cover
Bar Resolution
Bar resolution is dependent on bar size and cover. Typical examples of resolution performance are shown:
Bar size
Cover
Minimum spacing
16mm
60 mm
70 mm
16mm
100 mm
110 mm
25mm
130 mm
150 mm
Operating Parameters
Operating Weight
800g (instrument+probe+cable)
Operating Temp
-10°C – +50°C
Battery Operation
20 hrs
Battery Charger
110 – 240V AC
Ingress Protection
IP65
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