Wagner Meters Orion 920 User manual

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Congratulations!
You have purchased one of the most accurate moisture measurement instruments for wood in
the world. Hand-held moisture meters from Wagner Meters have been proven by universities
and institutes worldwide to provide superior measurement results.*
With its electromagnetic eld, your Orion® 920 moisture meter covers a relatively large
cross-sectional area each time you take a reading, giving you a far better representation than
other technologies of the true moisture content of your wood.
Wagner moisture meters read IN the wood, not just on the wood.
The 2.0-inch (50mm) wide by 2.5-inch (63mm) long by .25-inch (6mm) thick sensor eld
of your Orion® 920 moisture meter closely approximates the full-thickness cross-section
method used when performing the ASTM D4442-16 oven-dry lab method. This ASTM
INTRODUCTION
1 Introduction
3 Orion® 920 Parts
4 Quick Start: Basic Use for
Solid Wood
5 Correct Usage Guidelines for
Your Orion® 920 Moisture Meter
6 Function Buttons: Detailed
– ON/HOLD Button
– UP and DOWN Buttons
– SPECIES/MATERIAL Button
• How to Program a Species Setting
• Relative Scale for Moisture
Measurement of Non-Wood
Building Materials
– AUDIO Button
TABLE OF CONTENTS
13 Summary of Orion® 920 Features
– Low Battery Alert Indication
–Auto Shut-Down to Preserve
Battery Life
– Calibration of your Orion® 920
–Protective Rubber Boot for Your
Orion® 920
–7-Year Warranty
18 Specications
19 Changing the Battery
19 Meter Storage
20 Warranty

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standard (and its international counterparts) is the standard to which all moisture meters for
wood are compared for accuracy.
The measurement penetration of the Orion® 920 is from the surface down to .25 inch (6mm)
and was designed for shallow measurement in wood when you want to be assured to not
penetrate through the piece, for example, when measuring the moisture content in solid wood
ooring already installed on a suboor. The Species Setting Booklet includes a few settings
for some of these common materials.
In the Standard Measurement mode, your Orion® 920 measures moisture content within the
4.0% to 32.0% moisture content range.
NOTE: Measurement range may vary slightly depending on species setting of the meter.
The Orion® 920 has an easy-to-read digital display, scaled in 0.1% increments when in the
Standard Measurement mode for your solid wood applications.
Wagner hand-held moisture measurement technology is virtually unaffected by wood
temperature.**
Since 1965, Wagner Meters has been providing quality moisture measurement equipment
and Wagner’s technology has been proven to provide some of the most accurate results in the
industry when compared to the ASTM D4442-16 Standard. Wagner meters have been used for
years by professional lumber-grading associations, and meters from Wagner continue to provide
reliable and consistent moisture measurements, with unsurpassed convenience and ease of use.
*Information available upon request.**Contact a Wagner Meters expert at 844-689-0660 if your wood
is very hot or frozen.
LCD
ON/ HOLD
BUTTON
SPECIES/
MATERIAL
BUTTON
DOWN
BUTTON
UP BUTTON
AUDIO
BUTTON
BATTERY
COMPART-
MENT
(Meter Serial
Number is
located in this
compartment)
SENSOR
PLATE
ORION®920 PARTS

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QUICK START: BASIC USE FOR SOLID WOOD
With your Orion® 920 turned OFF, press and release the ON/HOLD button.
Meter will turn on and briey display the model number, followed by the rmware
revision number. If this is the rst time you are using your new Orion® 920,
immediately after the revision number is displayed, the meter display should
revert to Standard Measurement mode, with the display showing 0.0% when the
meter is held in the air. If meter display does not show 0.0%, then refer to page 15 regarding the
SPECIES/MATERIAL button.
Next, press the SPECIES/MATERIAL button once, and the current species
setting (calibrated to specic gravity) will appear. The factory default
displayed will be 0.50 for a new meter. Use the UP or DOWN arrow buttons to
set the correct species setting for the wood species you wish to measure (refer
to your Species Settings Booklet to nd the correct setting). Finally, press the
ON/HOLD button to place the meter back in the Standard Measurement mode.
NOTE: If you cannot nd the correct setting for the wood species or material you wish to
measure, go to www.wagnerspecies.com where you can access Wagner’s extensive Species
Database. If you still cannot nd the correct setting, contact a Wagner Meters expert at
844-689-0660.
Grasping the meter on the sides, begin taking measurements on the face of the wood pieces by
pressing down rmly, making sure the rectangular sensor plate area on the back of the meter
is pressing rmly on the wood surface and completely covered by the wood. Minimum wood
dimension needs to be 2.0 inches (50mm) wide by 2.5 inches (63mm) long by .25 inches
(6mm) in thickness. When taking measurements on pieces thinner than .50 inches, make sure
there is a small air gap (1-inch minimum) underneath the wood you are measuring (refer to
Correct Usage Guidelines section of this manual).
When you are nished taking measurements and wish to turn the meter off,
press the ON/HOLD button for approximately 2 seconds. Alternatively, the
meter will automatically shut off after approximately 60 seconds of no activity.
To make sure that you are getting the most accurate readings from your Orion® 920 meter,
Wagner Meters recommends that you pay close attention to the following guidelines:
1. The actual sensing area is a 2.0-inch (50mm) wide by 2.5-inch (63.5mm) long rectangle
on the back of the meter (opposite side of the display and keypad). In order to take a
valid measurement, this sensing area must be completely covered with the wood or other
material you are measuring. If the sensing area is not completely covered, your moisture
reading will be inaccurate.
2. If there is visible moisture or water on the surface of the wood or material to be tested,
wipe off any excess, and let the surface dry out for a couple of minutes before taking
measurements. If possible, turn the board over and measure the other side.
CORRECT USAGE GUIDELINES FOR YOUR
ORION®920 MOISTURE METER

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3. Be sure to press down rmly to ensure good sensor plate contact with the surface of the wood
or building material. This is especially important when measuring rough-sawn lumber.
4. Do not take readings where there is a noticeable defect or knot in the lumber.
5. To ensure optimum accuracy, orient your meter to the direction of the grain.
Our Technical Staff Wants to Help You:
Please contact us at our worldwide toll-free number, 844-689-0660,for specic guidelines
on how to properly measure wood with unusual characteristics. Additional measurement
corrections may be necessary if you are measuring lumber that is frozen, salt water-permeated,
or is treated with CCA, ACQ, or any other treatment with metallic or other components that
might bias the moisture readings.
ON/HOLD Button
When the meter is OFF, pressing and releasing the ON/HOLD button will turn
the meter ON, with the meter briey displaying the model number, followed
by the rmware revision number. Immediately after briey displaying the
revision number, the meter will be in the Standard Measurement mode. At this point, the
meter is ready to take moisture measurements. Be assured that any settings that you have
previously programmed/selected will be active. In other words, turning off the meter will
not cause the meter to revert to factory default settings, but will retain whatever settings you
programmed it with.
When in the Standard Measurement mode, pressing and releasing the ON/HOLD button will
freeze whatever reading is showing on the display. Additionally, the word HOLD will show
in the upper right-hand corner. This HOLD feature is valuable when taking measurements in
hard-to-reach places where you cannot see the display.
If the AUDIO function of the meter is turned on (refer to the “Audio Button” section on page
19), the meter will emit a short beep every 4 seconds that the current reading remains on HOLD.
The current reading will remain on the screen until the ON/HOLD button is briey pressed
again, returning the meter back to Standard Measurement mode and HOLD will disappear
from view.
NOTE: Meter will shut down automatically after 60 seconds if the meter is left on HOLD with
no measurement activity. Pressing the ON/HOLD button for 2 seconds will turn the meter off.
UP and DOWN Buttons
The particular settings mode (SPECIES/MATERIAL or AUDIO)
that you are in at a given time will determine how these buttons
will function. Settings values will be increased or decreased,
or different functions activated according to the specic instructions outlined for each
settings button.
FUNCTION BUTTONS: DETAILED
USAGE INSTRUCTION

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SPECIES/MATERIAL Button
The SPECIES/MATERIAL button on your Orion® 920 is used to place your
meter into one of three different modes by pressing the button until you are in
the desired mode. The available modes are:
1. Species Settings mode. This mode is for programming the meter to the correct
setting for the wood species you wish to measure. When in this mode, the meter
display will indicate settings values from 0.20 up to 1.00. Factory default is
0.50.
2. Relative Measurement mode. Used for obtaining relative, rather than absolute,
measurements, typically for non-solid wood applications (example: relative
measurements on drywall). When you toggle to this mode, the display will
show REL in the lower-left corner of the display when you are in the Standard
Measurement mode. More information concerning Relative Scale can be found on
page 18.
3. Meter Calibration mode. Follow the instructions on page 24 to perform your own
eld calibration using the included Orion® On-Demand Calibrator from Wagner.
When meter is ON, press the SPECIES/MATERIAL button; the meter display will indicate
the current mode. If the meter is in the Species Setting mode (indicated by a 3-digit number
such as 0.50, etc.), you can use the UP or DOWN arrows to program the meter for the correct
setting. If you need to change modes, press and release the SPECIES/MATERIAL button. If
you choose Relative Measurement (REL) mode, press ON/HOLD to select. For Calibration
(CAL) mode, see page 24 for full instructions.
Regardless of the mode you choose, when the meter is turned OFF (or shuts off automatically),
and then the meter is turned back ON, the meter will be in the mode it was in when it previously
turned OFF.
How to Program a Species Setting for Different Wood Species
FIRST, consult the Species Settings Booklet and locate the correct setting that corresponds to
the type/species of wood being measured.
NOTE: If you cannot nd the correct setting for the wood species or material you wish to
measure, go to www.wagnerspecies.com. If you still cannot nd the correct setting, contact
Wagner at 844-689-0660.
NEXT, once the meter is turned on, press and release the SPECIES/MATERIAL button until
you are in the Species Setting mode. Once you are there, the meter will show the current
setting with a decimal (e.g., 0.62 or 1.00). If the meter is being programmed for the rst time,
the default setting of 0.50 will be displayed on the screen.
While in this mode, pressing and releasing either the UP or DOWN arrow buttons will
increase or decrease the setting of the meter by .01 each time a button is pressed and will
update the display accordingly.
If the UP button is held down for 0.7 seconds, the setting will increase to the
next multiple of .10 (e.g., if the setting is currently .36, the setting will change
to .40). Every 0.7 seconds thereafter that the button is held down, the setting
will change by another .10 (e.g., from .40 to .50).

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If the DOWN button is pressed and held for 0.7 seconds, the setting will
decrease to the next multiple of .10 (e.g., if the setting is currently .66, the
setting will change to .60). Every 0.7 seconds thereafter that the button is
pressed and held, the setting will change by another .10 (e.g., from .60 to .50).
When pressing the UP arrow button, once the maximum setting of 1.00 has been reached,
the setting will wrap around to the minimum (.20) and continue to increase from there.
Similarly, when continuing to press the DOWN button, if the minimum setting of .20 has been
encountered, the setting will wrap around to the maximum (1.00) and continue to decrease from
that point.
Once the species value has been set, press and release the ON/HOLD button
to return the meter to measurement mode. Once in Standard Measurement
mode, 0.0 will be displayed on the screen if the meter is held in the air. The
programmed setting will be retained in memory even if the meter is powered
off or the battery has been changed. If you press and release the SPECIES/
MATERIAL button in the future, the last programmed setting will appear on the screen.
Relative Scale for Moisture Measurement of Non-Wood Building Materials
As mentioned earlier, this mode can be entered by pressing and releasing the
SPECIES/MATERIAL button until you are in this mode (display will show
REL in lower left corner). Once in this mode, your meter will be in a relative
measurement scale (0-100) for measuring non-solid wood or non-wood based
materials. Press the ON/HOLD button to return to the Standard Measurement
mode.
AUDIO Button
Your Orion® 920 AUDIO button allows you to set a high moisture
content alarm threshold (setting from 5% to 32%) for solid wood
measurement applications, and also set the volume for the audible alarm.
This feature is useful, for example, when quickly scanning a piece of wood, and trying
to locate any higher moisture content areas, without having to continually look at the
digital display.
With your meter ON and not already in AUDIO settings mode, press the AUDIO button. The
display will show the current moisture content high threshold (e.g., 14%). The factory default
is 15%. Use the UP or DOWN arrows to adjust the threshold to the desired limit. Every single
press and release of the up or down arrow button will adjust the setting by 1%.
To get to your desired setting faster, hold down the UP button for 0.7 seconds; the alarm
threshold setting will increase to the next multiple of 5 (e.g., if the alarm threshold setting
is currently 12%, the setting will advance to 15%). Every 0.7 seconds thereafter that the
button is held down, the setting will change by another 5 units (e.g., from 15% to 20%). If
the DOWN button is pressed and held for 0.7 seconds, the setting will decrease to the next
multiple of 5 (e.g., if the alarm threshold setting is currently 23%, the setting will change to
20%). Every 0.7 seconds thereafter that the button is pressed and held, the setting will change
by another 5 (e.g., from 20% to 15%).
Once the setting has been increased to the maximum programmable MC% threshold (32%),
the setting will wrap around to the minimum (5%) and continue to increase from there.
Similarly, if the setting has been decreased to the MC% minimum (5%) the setting will wrap
around to the maximum (32%) and continue to decrease from there. Again, the range of

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setting is 5% to 32%, in 1% increments (no decimal place).
Next, press the AUDIO button again, and you will be taken to a display that
will show the current volume setting for audible sound. Simply use the UP or
DOWN arrow buttons to set the desired audible level. The volume setting has
a range of OFF to 9; 9 being the loudest and 1 being the quietest, with OFF
indicating that the audible alarm is disabled.
When nished, you can place your meter back to Standard Measurement mode by pressing the
ON/HOLD button.
• Digital display resolution of 0.1% (in Standard Measurement mode)
• MC measurement range for wood 4.0% to 32.0%
• Relative scale for testing non-wood building materials
• Programmable settings for a wide range of softwood and hardwood species
• Large moisture measurement sensor area
• Current reading can be frozen on display screen, great for note taking
• Low battery alert indication
• Audible alarm for programmable high moisture content limits
• Programmable audio alert volume
• Can be eld-calibrated with the included Orion® On-Demand Calibrator
• Protective rubber boot
• Hard shell storage case and a 9-volt battery are included
• 7-year warranty
• Automatic shutoff when not in use
SUMMARY OF ORION®920 FEATURES

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Low Battery Alert Indication
When the battery is low, BAT appears in the upper right-hand corner of the display. If ignored
for too long, the meter will ash a larger BAT three times and then automatically shut
down. The 9-volt battery must be replaced immediately. This shut-down action is to prevent
inaccurate readings.
Auto Shut-Down to Preserve Battery Life
Regardless of which mode the meter is in, if there is no change in measurement activity over
a period of 1 minute, the meter will automatically turn off.
Calibration of Your Orion® 920
If you have reason to believe your Orion® 920 may be out of calibration, it can be easily
recalibrated using the provided On-Demand Calibrator. Before calibrating your meter,
please be aware that you must ONLY calibrate to the correct Calibrator that came with the
meter. Serial numbers on the Calibrator (found underneath) and meter (found in the battery
compartment) MUST match for correct calibration. Also, the sticker must not be damaged,
as this may cause incorrect calibration. Follow the steps below for proper calibration. The
instructions are also printed on the back of the Calibrator.
1. Place the Calibrator on its legs on a non-metallic surface.
2. Turn the meter on, and then use the SPECIES/MATERIAL button to put your meter in
CAL mode. (Refer to the SPECIES/MATERIAL button section of the manual.)
3. Place the meter on the Calibrator, correctly “seating” the meter sensor pad rmly on the
recessed area of the Calibrator. IMPORTANT: Failure to correctly and rmly “seat” the
sensor pad in the recessed area will cause an inaccurate calibration.

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4. Apply light downward pressure and press the AUDIO button three (3) times. The meter
will make a “beeping” sound which indicates it is going through the automatic calibration
procedure.
5. When the calibration procedure is complete, the meter will display the word LIFT.
Immediately remove the meter from the Calibrator and hold the meter in the air for
approximately 5 seconds until the word DONE appears on the display. During this last
phase in the air, be sure to keep your hand and other objects away from the underside
of the meter.
6. Press the ON/HOLD button to return the meter to normal measuring mode.
If, after recalibrating the Orion® 910, there is still a problem with the meter, please contact a
Wagner representative for further instructions at 844-689-0660.
Protective Rubber Boot for Your Orion® 920
In an effort to help avoid damage resulting from your Orion® 920
meter being dropped or banging the edges against other hard objects,
Wagner Meters has provided a tted rubber boot which ts snugly
around the perimeter of your Orion® 920 meter.
This protective boot should remain in place at all times even when
calibrating your meter on the On-Demand Calibrator.* All function
buttons as well as the display screen, sensing plate, and battery
compartment are accessible without removal of this rubber guard.
The boot will t on the meter only one way correctly. Failure to correctly place the boot will
result in inaccurate readings.
*Although not recommended, you may wish to use the meter without the protective rubber
boot. If you choose to do so, make sure you recalibrate your meter on the On-Demand
Calibrator with the boot off.
7-Year Warranty
Wagner Meters offers an industry-best 7-year warranty on your Orion® 920 moisture meter.
Register your meter at www.genuinewagner.com

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Dimensions with Boot
• Length: 5.75 inches (146mm)
• Width: 3.0 inches (76mm)
• Thickness: 1.0 inches (25mm)
Scanning Area
• 2.0 inches (50mm) x 2.5 inches (63mm)
Weight with Boot
• 7.2 oz. (204g)
Power
• 9-volt battery (Wagner recommends using non-rechargeable Alkaline or Lithium or
rechargeable NiMH batteries)
Auto Power Shut-Down
• 60 seconds
Measurement Ranges
• MC range for wood: 4.0% to 32.0%
Specic Gravity Range for Wood Species
• 0.20-1.0 SG
Storage Temperature and Humidity
• +50˚F to +90˚F (+10˚C to +32˚C), Maximum relative humidity of 95%, non-condensing
Operating Temperature
• +32˚F to +110˚F (+0˚C to +43˚C)
SPECIFICATIONS
As indicated earlier in this manual, if BAT appears on the display, the battery must be changed
immediately or any further moisture measurements will be inaccurate. Replace with 9-volt,
non-rechargeable Alkaline or Lithium or rechargeable NiMH batteries. Be sure to observe
proper battery polarity. The battery ts very snugly in its compartment and will not become
dislodged while taking measurements. Reattach the compartment door carefully so that it
snaps back in place..
When meter is not in use, we recommend that it be stored in the hard shell carrying case
provided with each Orion® 920 meter. If meter is to be stored for a period longer than 30
days, remove the 9-volt battery.
CHANGING THE BATTERY
METER STORAGE

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Wagner recommends that you register your moisture meter at www.genuinewagner.com for
faster support and benets.
Wagner Meters’ warranty offers this product protection against defects in material and
workmanship for seven (7) years from the date of purchase on all Orion® 920 moisture
meters, subject to the following terms and conditions:
Wagner Meters’ liability under this warranty shall be limited, at Wagner Meters’ option, to
the repair or replacement of this product or any part thereof, which is demonstrated to be
defective. To exercise this warranty, visit www.genuinewagner.com for instructions. This
limited warranty does not apply if Wagner Meters determines that the product has been
damaged by accident, negligent handling, misuse, alteration, damage during shipment, or
improper service not attributed solely to the actions of Wagner Meters. Wagner Meters’
liability for any defect in material or workmanship in this product shall be limited to the
amount of purchase price of the product.
With proper care and maintenance, the meter should stay in calibration; however, because
Wagner Meters has no control over the manner in which the unit will be used, it makes no
guarantee that the meter will stay in calibration for any specic period of time. Wagner Meters
recommends returning the unit to the factory for a diagnostic checkup in the event the meter is
dropped or otherwise damaged. If the meter is suspected to be inaccurate, using the provided
On-Demand Calibrator and performing a recalibration will ensure the meter is reading
correctly. If the meter fails to calibrate properly then it should be sent to the factory for a
diagnostic checkup.
WARRANTY When instructed to return a meter, the meter should be returned with the Calibrator that
matches the serial number of the meter.
This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, whether oral or written, express or implied.
THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE DESCRIPTION OF
THE FACE HEREOF. WAGNER METERS HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. Under no circumstances shall Wagner Meters be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages. Agents and employees of Wagner Meters are not authorized to
make modications to this warranty or additional warranties binding on Wagner Meters.
Accordingly, additional statements, whether oral or written, except written statements from
an ofcer of Wagner Meters, do not constitute warranties and should not be relied upon by
the customer.
This warranty is personal to the customer purchasing the product from Wagner Meters or
Wagner Meters’ authorized distributors, and is not transferable.
.
Technical Support/Repair Contact
Worldwide Toll-Free: 844-689-0660

Wagner Meters
326 Pine Grove Road
Rogue River, OR 97537
Worldwide Toll-Free: 844-689-0660
WWW.WAGNERMETERS.COM
©Wagner Meters 2021
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information in this document is subject to change without notice.
500-00920-001 REV NC