Why Moisture Gauges are Important
When you search online for the best moisture gauges and sensors on the internet, you’ll find varying results from soil moisture sensors, to wood moisture sensors and humidity sensors. This article will increase your awareness and understanding on the different types of moisture gauges and sensors, its uses and benefits. We will learn the best features and product ratings available in the market today.
When it comes to measuring the soil moisture, soil moisture gauges and sensors 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. These proxy should be well calibrated with soil moisture, and this depends on the soil type, electric conductivity or temperature. Gardeners and farmers use portable instruments for measuring soil moisture content, 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). A pinless meter can scan an entire board without having holes on it, and it is portable that it 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. Pin meters allow usage of remote probes or nails that can be driven at the center of a thick lumber for core wood moisture readings that cannot be reached by pinless meters.
The important features you need to consider when buying moisture sensors and gauges are 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.
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