PCE Instruments PCE-CT 28 User manual

PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way
Suite 8
Jupiter
FL-33458
USA
From outside US: +1
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
PCE Instruments UK Ltd.
Units 12/13
Southpoint Business Park
Ensign way
Hampshire / Southampton
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
From outside UK: +44
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/english
www.pce-instruments.com
Manual
Thickness Meter PCE-CT 28
Version 1.1
Date of creation: 07.08.2015
Date of last change: 27.04.2016

Manual
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Contents
1Introduction ............................................................................................................. 3
2Safety notes ............................................................................................................. 3
3Specification ............................................................................................................ 4
3.1 Technical specifications.............................................................................................................. 4
3.2 Delivery contents........................................................................................................................ 4
4System description ................................................................................................. 5
4.1 General description .................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Change the batteries.................................................................................................................. 5
5Operation ................................................................................................................. 5
5.1 Take a measurement.................................................................................................................. 5
5.1.1 Change the measuring unit............................................................................................................ 5
5.1.2 Change the measuring mode......................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Calibration................................................................................................................................... 6
6Contact ..................................................................................................................... 7
6.1 PCE Instruments UK .................................................................................................................. 7
6.2 PCE Americas ............................................................................................................................ 7

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1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a coating thickness meter from PCE Instruments.
The PCE-CT 28 coating thickness meter / gauge for cars is used to measure the thickness of paint and
plastic coatings on ferrous or non-ferrous materials without damaging the coating surface. The coating
thickness meter / gauge stands out by its high measurement range. The coating thickness meter/gauge
can be used to detect damage on vehicles. This device is also essential for quality checks prior to
shipping and of incoming goods, as well as during the production process. It is ergonomic with an
integrated sensor and shows measurement results quickly and accurately. It is designed for non-magnetic
coatings such as plastics, chrome, zinc, copper, etc. as well as insulations such as rubber, plastics, glass
and paper on steel, iron, aluminium, brass and stainless steel. Thanks to its wide measurement range,
the coating thickness meter is ideal for the naval and metal industries.
2 Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The device
may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel. There is no
warranty of damages or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual.
The device may only be used in the approved temperature range.
The case should only be opened by qualified personnel of PCE Instruments.
The instrument should never be placed with the user interface facing an object (e. g. keyboard
side on a table).
You should not make any technical changes to the device.
The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth / use only pH-neutral cleaner
This user's handbook is published by PCE Instruments without any guarantee.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of business.
If you have any questions please contact PCE Instruments.

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3 Specification
3.1 Technical specifications
Measuring range
0 … 1250 μm
Resolution
0.1 μm (between 0 and 99.9 μm)
1 μm (>100 μm)
Accuracy
± 2 % or 2.5 μm (higher value is valid)
Minimum surface measurable
6 x 6 mm
Minimum radius of curvature
convex: 5 mm
concave: 60 mm
Minimum thickness of material
0.3 mm (for ferrous materials)
0.1 mm (for non-ferrous materials)
Display
4-digits LCD
10 mm character height
Power supply
2 x 1.5 V AAA batteries
Operating temperature
0 … +50 °C
Dimensions
126 x 65 x 27 mm
Weight
120 g (incl. batteries)
3.2 Delivery contents
1 x coating thickness meter PCE-CT 28
1 x carrying case
2 x 1.5 V AAA batteries
1 x set of calibration standards
1 x instruction manual

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4 System description
4.1 General description
1. Integrated sensor
2. Display
3. Zero / power button
4. Battery compartment
4.2 Change the batteries
To change the batteries, please follow these steps:
1. Turn off the device.
2. Remove the cover of the battery compartment on the back of the device.
3. Remove the old batteries and insert 2 new 1.5 V AAA batteries. Observe correct polarity.
4. Close the cover of the battery compartment.
5 Operation
5.1 Take a measurement
To take a measurement, follow these steps:
1. Turn on the device by pressing the power button. The display should now show “0” and the last
used material (“Fe” / “NFe”).
2. Place the sensor on the surface to be measured.
3. To start a new measurement, just lift the device from the surface, move it to the next measuring
point and place it on the surface again.
Note: You should calibrate the device on a regular basis to make sure the readings stay accurate. See
chapter 5.2 “Calibration” for more details.
5.1.1 Change the measuring unit
You can change the measuring unit from mil to μm or from μm to mil. To do so, press and hold the power
button for approx. 6 seconds, until the indication “UNIT” appears on the display. Now release the button.
After that, the measuring unit changes automatically.

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5.1.2 Change the measuring mode
There are two measuring modes available: single measurement and continuous measurement. To
change the modes, press and hold the power button for approx. 8 seconds until the indication “SC”
appears on the display. After that, release the power button. The measuring mode changes automatically.
You can identify the current measuring mode by looking at the indication on the display. The indication
“S” means you are in single measurement mode. The indication “●” means you are in continuous
measurement mode.
5.2 Calibration
Before you take a measurement, you should calibrate the device to make sure the readings are accurate.
The calibrations for ferrous and non-ferrous materials should be done separately.
To calibrate the device, follow these steps:
1. Check the display to see which material settings are active. “Fe” means ferrous materials, “NFe”
means non-ferrous materials.
2. Take the iron calibration plate if “Fe” is active or the aluminium calibration plate if “NFe” is active.
3. Place the sensor on the calibration plate and press the zero button. Now, the display should show
“0”.
4. Take a calibration foil which is in your measuring range, place it on the calibration plate and take
a measurement.
5. Check if the displayed value matches with the properties of the calibration foil.
If the value does not match with the properties, you have to manually adjust the reading. To do so,
remove the cover of the battery compartment and use a paper clip or something similar and the two
calibration orifices (see the following picture) to increase/decrease the value.

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6 Disposal
For the disposal of batteries, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the
contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste. They must be given to
collection points designed for that purpose.
In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use them or
give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.
If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.
7 Contact
If you have any questions about our range of products or measuring instruments please contact PCE
Instruments.
7.1 PCE Instruments UK
By post:
PCE Instruments UK Ltd.
Units 12/13 Southpoint Business Park
Ensign Way, Southampton
Hampshire
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF
By phone:
02380 987 035
7.2 PCE Americas
By post:
PCE Americas Inc.
711 Commerce Way
Suite 8
Jupiter
33458 FL
USA
By phone:
561 3209162