12
USE OF THE VARIOUS SCALES
TESTING PAPER, PAPER CORES, AND CORRUGATED PRODUCTS
Set the meter scale
for
PAPER
.
Check that the contact pins are firmly hand tightened.
Push the contact pins
into the paper product to their full penetration if possible.
Press the SELECT
button to read %MC when in TRIGGER mode. In CONTINUOUS mode,
press SELECT to start readings and press SELECT again to store a reading.
Since the readings are the result of an “average” calibration, if a high degree of accuracy is required,
the meter should be checked on the specific material and corrections determined by the user. Meter
readings indicate moisture content at room temperature of 21ºC - 32ºC. Meter readings will be
affected by lower or higher temperatures. Lower temperatures cause readings to be lower; higher
temperatures cause readings to be higher than the actual MC.
The meter tends to read the highest moisture content that is in contact w ith both pins. If thick samples
are not well equalized, it may be necessary to make tests at different depths to determine the degree
of uniformity of moisture distribution in the sample. If the meter is used on stock so thin that the full
length of the pins is not entirely embedded in the thickness of the sample, the readings tend to
indicate a lower than actual MC. This can be overcome by testing more than one sample in stacks.
USING THE 0 –100 RELATIVE SCALE
This scale is used to test the moisture content of hygroscopic materials for which a calibration is not
available. Depending on the material, a special application external electrode, instead of the integral
contact pins may be required. Increasing readings on the 0-100 reference scale indicate higher levels
of moisture content. These readings can be translated into
percent moisture content
once a calibration
has been developed.
Set the meter scale
to
REL 0-100
. If necessary, attach an external electrode to the
meter.
Push the contact pins
into the material or apply the external electrode.
Take readings
as described above.
The readings may also be used for comparative tests, after meter readings have been related to given
conditions for the materials involved. When the meter is used as a gauge for comparative tests,
readings should be taken on samples considered to be at “safe’ levels or in satisfactory condition.
These readings are then used as the “standard” against which subsequent readings on the s ame
material are evaluated. The “standard” for any given material is related to safe storability or any other
property which is important for further production processing.
