Schaller FS_200-HT User manual

Wood chips moisture tester
FS_200-HT
Measuring instrument for a quick moisture test of wood
chips.
For measurements concerning charging we suggest the
more exact humimeter BM1 or BM2 moisture meter!
Version 1.2
© Schaller GmbH
2008
CHECK
•
LINE ®

Page 2 Schaller GmbH Version 1.2
Quality information
Congratulations on purchasing this product at Schaller
GmbH (Ltd.).
The function of your instrument has been examined and
calibrated before delivery.
First setting into operation
Your measuring device should be supplied with a battery
by the manufacturer. If this is not the case, open the
battery compartment and stick a 9 V block battery or a
charged accumulator onto the connecting contacts. Then
put the battery in the battery compartment. Make sure
that the power cable does not get caught in the lid.
Press the power switch (ON) at the front of the
instrument and the display will go on. If this is not the
case, check if the batteries are charged.
If you hold your measuring instrument in the air you will
see a certain value on the display depending on the
switch position (see item “Technical data”).
Measuring procedure
Exact measuring results can best be achieved by
adjusting the measuring instrument to the respective
product temperature. So you should store the device
near the object you wish to measure 15 Minutes before
measurement. A temperature difference of more than
5°C (9°F) results in a falsified measured value.
Adjust the switch by shifting it to the correct position
(refer to sort of wood chips). Turn on your measuring
device and put it on the product with suitable pressure
by holding the moisture meter in one hand.
The hole surface of the sensor must lay smooth on wood
chips, but chips does not lay onto the sensor plate.
Take care that you hold your measuring instrument with
a moderate but sufficient pressure on the product

Version 1.2 Schaller GmbH Page 3
because the compressed density influences the
measuring result. Make sure that you always exert the
same amount of pressure since the density of the
material increases when it is pressed tighter or softer; so
you could get different measuring results every time you
measure the material. You must not touch the sensor
plate or electronic box during the measurement.
The absolute moisture (depending on the wet weight)
can immediately be seen on the LC-Display.
The device turns off automatically after 90 seconds or
when the measuring range has been exceeded.
Switch
position
Bulk density
[kg/m³]
Sort of wood chips
Measuring
range
1100 - 150 softwood low density 40 %
2 150 - 200 softwood 37 %
3 200 - 250 2/3 soft- 1/3 hardwood 34 %
4 250 - 300 2/3 hard- 1/3 softwood 32 %
5 300 - 350 hardwood 30 %
6 350 - 400 hardwood high density 28 %

Page 4 Schaller GmbH Version 1.2
Measuring method
Even if the kiln drying method is the only measuring
procedure appropriate for verification according to
CEN/TS 14774-1 it is time consuming, in-situ application
can very seldom be carried out; the method also has the
disadvantage that the samples are destroyed. Schaller
GmbH (Ltd.) has developed FS_200-HT Wood chips
moisture meter – a measuring method which provides
exact measuring results within seconds. Yet it is not
possible to develop a measuring device that is ideal
under every single condition; even FS_200-HT has a
certain limited range to provide optimum results. In order
to minimize incorrect applications resulting from that fact
we have provided you with a list:
IMPORTANT! Most common reasons for
measuring errors
•Product temperature NOT between +5 and +35 °C
You can not measure wood chips which are
contaminated with ice or snow. Before measuring
you must conditioning the chips at a temp. > +5 °C.
•Product temperature beyond ambient conditions
The temperature of the measuring device and of the
product should be nearly equal.
•Wrong switch position
•Uneven pressing
•Product pile not thick enough
If the pile of wood chips is to thin (500mm) you get
wrong measuring results.
•Electrically conductive material
All metallic objects influence the measuring result in
a negative way and must no be positioned within a
range of 500 mm below the sensor area.

Version 1.2 Schaller GmbH Page 5
•Exceeding of measuring range
This can occur depending on the type of product
and the position of the selector switch. It is indicated
on the display by blinking and means that the
measuring accuracy is less precise.
Measuring principle
The material in the measuring field is penetrated by an
electromagnetic field whose features change due to the
material's quantity of moisture. Because of the
characteristic polarity of the water molecule and the thus
resulting high relative permittivity of water (about 83) the
capacity of the measuring field changes together with
the changing moisture of the measuring sample.
Exclusion of liability
The producer can not be made liable for any measuring
errors and the damage that might result from it. This
measuring principle is a quick measuring procedure
which can be influenced by product and user-specific
margin conditions. Therefore it is recommended to carry
out a plausibility check of the measured values. In every
measuring device there is a serial number and a seal of
warranty. If this seal is broken no warranty claims will be
accepted. In case of defect please contact Messtechnik
Schaller or your dealer (refer to technical support).

Page 6 Schaller GmbH Version 1.2
Care regulations
In order to guarantee that your measuring device is kept
in good condition, please take care that it is not imposed
to too much mechanical strain (it should not be dropped
or exposed to excessive temperatures). Always use a
dry cloth when cleaning your measuring device because
it can be destroyed by incoming water or other cleaning
agents.
Do not leave your device unattended – put it back into
the delivered plastics case after the measuring
procedure.
We recommend an ISO-approved examination of the
device in regular intervals by applying the kiln drying
method. If needed, Messtechnik Schaller GmbH (Ltd.)
will also carry out a calibration at your expense. In this
case a calibration certificate will be issued and delivered.
Zero point adjustment
Ambient temperature must be 20 to 25 °C (68 to 77°F).
Shift the selector switch to 3, put off the lid of the battery
compartment, take out the battery (which must still be
stuck to the connecting contacts). Then put off the serial
number tag carefully. Now hold the device into the air
with one hand and adjust the inner potentiometer as long
as the following values appear on the display:
2 % (at switch position 3 ).
Put on the serial number tag again, insert the battery
and close the lid.
inner potentiometer

Version 1.2 Schaller GmbH Page 7
Technical data
measuring value material moisture (depending
on the wet weight)
measuring range up to 30 % (max. 40 %
depending on the material)
dissolution 1,0% material moisture
depth of measurement max. 200 mm
minimum of chips pile 300 mm
air-setpoint switch position 3: 2 % (+/-1%)
working temperature 5°C to 35°C (41°F to 95°F)
temperature compensation
automatically from 5 to 35°C
power supply 9V alkaline battery or
NiCd accumulator
drawing of current 5mA, sufficient for about
4000 measuring procedures,
when BAT appears on the
display, still about 200
measurements are possible
display three-digit LC-Display
dimensions 100 x 140 x 310 mm
weight (without battery) approx. 380 grams