Lignomat Ligno-Scanner S User manual

User Instructions
for
pin-less
Ligno-Scanner S
and
Ligno-Scanner D
Lignomat USA Ltd
14345 NE Morris Ct
Portland OR 97230 USA
Tel: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
www.lignomat.com
www.moistureproblems.info
The Scanners S or D are capacitance-
type meters for wood, bamboo and
building materials. The sensor plates
on the back emit and pick-up very low-
powered electromagnetic signals.
The readings generated by the Ligno-
Scanners are average values of the
entire measuring field between the sur-
face and the maximum depth of pen-
etration. Moisture closer to the sur-
face has a greater effect on the aver-
age than the moisture closer to the
maximum depth of penetration.
All Lignomat meters internally check
and adjust the calibration. Therefore
manual recalibration is neither needed
nor possible.
Wood: Range: 5*-60%. Readings
above 25% fiber saturation point are
less accurate. *To check the lowest
possible reading, hold the meter in
the air and push the READ key. The
range for hardwoods (softwoods)
with high (low) specific gravity is lower
(higher) than 5%.
Settings: 30-100.
Gravity Range 0.3 to1.0. For unlisted
species the specific gravity can be
entered as species setting. For ex-
ample, if the specific gravity is 0.42
the setting is #42. Values for the spe-
cific gravity can be found on the
Internet by entering <specific grav-
ity…> followed by the name of the
wood. For calculations see section F1.
For unlisted species or new products
Lignomat offers testing to determine
the correct setting.
Reference scale:
Code# 0: Sensitivity level for laminates
and products out of wood..
Measuring Depth:
Ligno Scanner S 1/4” (7mm)
Ligno-Scanner D 3/4” (20mm)
Battery: One 9V battery (included). To
exchange the battery, slide battery
cover off on back of instrument. A low
battery symbol will appear on the dis-
play, when the battery has been drained
to 25% of its capacity.
B1 B2
Ligno-Scanners S or D
Check and Change Settings
Settings for wood species are listed
on the laminated pocket guide in-
cluded with each meter. To recall ac-
tive settings push the SET/HOLD key.
As long as the screen shown below
appears, you can use the
S or T
keys to change settings.
Change mm to inches: Disconnect
battery and press SET key twice.
Connect battery again. The display
pictured below will appear, push
T
key to change from inches to mm
and push
S key to change from
mm to inches.
3.24 is the software version.
B4
Take Measurements
After settings have been checked /
changed, push the READ key to ob-
tain moisture readings. The active
setting appears
briefly, followed
by the default
(lowest) reading, if the sensor plates
are not in contact with any material.
For actual measurements, place the
meter on the
test sample (for
wood in the di-
rection of the grain). Press down
slightly, holding the outer sides of
the meter without touching sample
with your hand.
The HOLD key is
used to freeze
the indicated value for one minute.
Helpful when taking notes or when
measuring in places, where the dis-
play cannot be read while measur-
ing. At any time you can switch back
to measuring by pushing the READ
key again.
B3
When the moisture is too low to mea-
sure, the default reading appears with
“Min” in the lower left side of the
display. When
the moisture is
too high, the
highest moisture value is displayed
with “Max” on the lower left side of
the display.
For accurate readings:
- Sample should be big enough to
cover both sensor plates
- Measuring depth has to be set
according to sample thickness.
- Surface should be smooth and
flat. For uneven surfaces take
the highest value of several
measurements.
To eliminate any possible influence
from material underneath the sample
board, it is recommended (if pos-
sible) to arrange the sample so that
an open space is directly underneath
the measuring area. If this is not pos-
sible, make sure the Ligno-Scanner
SD is set for the correct measuring
depth.
B5
ManualScanner D or S new.internet.p65 1/5/2011, 10:57 AM1

B6
We recommend placing a lightweight
material such as Styrofoam under
the veneer. It not only prevents in-
accurate readings, but also helps
to create a flat measuring platform
for the veneer. To obtain accurate
readings for very thin veneer it may
be necessary to make a stack of
several sheets.
Veneer
If the sample to be measured is
composed of different wood spe-
cies or different materials (linoleum
glued on to wood, plywood, bam-
boo flooring with a wood core, etc...)
or if no wood species setting exists
a setting can be found by using a
dry sample board.
The dry sample could come from
your office or from an area that has
already dried out or from a place
where excess moisture never
reached. Estimate the moisture
Find Settings for Composite
and Engineered Boards.
content. An acclimated sample from
a home, office or show room should
be at around 7.5%.
Start by selecting setting #50. Then
take a measurement.
- If the reading is below 7.5%,
choose a setting lower than #50.
- If the reading is above 7.5%,
choose a setting higher than #50.
Then take another measurement.
Change settings until you find a set-
ting, which gives a value of 7.5%.
This setting can be used in the future
for the same product.
Calculating Specific Gravity
The specific gravity can be calcu-
lated, if the Weight (W) in Ounces
and the Length, Width and Heights in
inches is available:
(Weight x 1.73)
—————————
(W x L x H)
Once the specific gravity has been
found (value between 0.3 and 1.00)
the corresponding setting is between
30 and 100.
See section B2.
For the Floor Installer
Moisture meters should be used
throughout the installation process:
First, when the floor is delivered, to
make sure the floor is dry. Next, be-
fore and after acclimation, to make
sure the floor is acclimated to the
ambient conditions. Best mark se-
lected sample boards and take read-
ings repeatedly.
The moisture condition of a floor
should be documented at the time
the customer signs off on the instal-
lation. Select several moisture sensi-
tive areas. Take readings on both
depth levels and document the read-
ings with species setting, measuring
depth and location. Maybe even tak-
ing a photo to pinpoint the location.
If you ever have to go back to check
out a complaint, you can measure
the same areas again and compare
with the origina
l readings. Keeping
track of moisture conditions may in
the end protect you from unwarranted
claims.
F1 F2
Comparing readings taken at 1/4”
and 3/4” can also help to diagnose
problems and indicate if moisture
was absorbed from the down-side
or the up-side of the floor.
Ligno-Scanner SD: For Measuring
Range and Settings see section B2.
Size: 2”x 5.5” x 1” (12 x 6 X 2.5cm)
Sensor Plates:
2 1/2”L x 1 1/2”W (65 x 40mm)
Warranty: All Lignomat meters have a
two year warranty. Battery excluded.
Specifications and Warranty
F3
Moisture Problems
F4
Nobody would worry about mois-
ture if it would not be for shrinking
and warping or mold and dry rot.
Assuming wood was dry initially, no
problems will occur
- if the ambient conditions are kept
between 35-50% relative humidity
at a temperature of 60-80
0
F.
- if the building is healthy and moi-
sturecannot migrate through walls,
floors and the roof.
www.moistureproblems.info
To help investigate moisture prob-
lems, Lignomat developed the new
BL2 moisture tracker. With the BL2
you can simultaneously record
moisture in wood, drywall and con-
crete and RH / temperature.
Other Lignomat Products
F5
Pin meters:
The pocket-size mini-Ligno Series
has been popular since its introduc-
tion more than 30 years ago. Sev-
eral updates over the years have
kept the technology up to date for
these accurate and reliable meters.
Pinless meters:
One step up from the Ligno-Scan-
ners D or S would be the Ligno-Scan-
ner SD which offers selectable mea-
suring depth of 1/4” and 3/4” deep.
The Ligno-DuoTec BW is a scanning
meter which can also be used as a
Thermo-Hygrometer. You can mea-
sure relative humidity in air or use
the meter to measure the moisture
in concrete before laying a floor.
Complies to ASTM F2170-09 to ob-
tain in-depth Rh measureents.
Pin and Pinless meter: The Ligno-
VersaTec combines all of Lignomats
technologies: Pin - Pinless - RH
ManualScanner D or S new.internet.p65 1/5/2011, 10:57 AM2