The Best Moisture Gauges and Sensors
If you search on moisture sensor and gauges online, there are varying results from soil moisture sensors, to wood moisture sensors and humidity sensors. Let us talk about the different types of moisture gauges and sensors, its uses and benefits. We will learn the best qualities of the best moisture sensors and gauges offered in the market today.
In measuring soil moisture, moisture sensors and gauges measure the soil’s volumetric water content by indirectly using other properties of soil like dielectric constant, electrical resistance, or neutrons interaction which are considered proxy for the soil’s moisture content. It is crucial that these proxy should be well calibrated with soil moisture, and this depends on the soil type, electric conductivity or temperature. For measuring soil moisture, gardeners and farmers use portable instruments, and for remote sensing in agriculture and hydrology, the soil moisture affects reflected microwave radiation. Water potential can also be measured by soil water potential sensors and it includes tensiometers and gypsum blocks.
In order for you to know whether a wood is stable to use or not, it is important that you know its moisture content. The two kinds of wood moisture meters are pin and pinless moisture meters, wherein both types measure the effect of moisture on an electromagnetic field (pinless) or an electromagnetic current (pin). The benefits of having a pinless meter is it scans an entire wood board without putting holes on it, and this can be taken into the lumberyard for testing the wood before buying it. Pin meters need to be in contact with the wood, and it can take readings no matter what the wood size, shape and degree of roughness it possess. For thick lumber or woods, pin meters or pin moisture sensors allow usage of remote probes or nails for pin meters or pin sensors, which can be driven at the center of a thick lumber for core wood moisture readings that cannot be reached by pinless meters.
Before purchasing a moisture sensor, meter or gauge, it is important to consider the important features such as the pin length, moisture content range, minimum sample size, displays, and built-in temperature correction and built-in species. The pin length should be 1/4 the size the thickness of the wood or board, and you’ll need a longer pin length for thicker board or wood which applies for even moisture gradient where the surface is drier compared to its core. There are four types of displays which are analog, digital LCD, digital LED and LED.
Be well-informed, you can read product ratings and reviews where you can buy the best moisture sensor and gauges in the market today, only from the most trusted and reliable dealers and manufacturers.
Source: Continue