UNIVERSAL MOISTURE TESTER

HB-300

Operating Manual

Contents

1. UNIVERSAL MOISTURE TESTER HB-300 ....................................................................................................4

2. FEATURES ......................................................................................................................................................5

3. SPECIFICATIONS ...........................................................................................................................................6

4. NOMENCLATURE ...........................................................................................................................................7

5. DISPLAY SCREEN ..........................................................................................................................................8

6. OPERATION PANEL KEYS.............................................................................................................................9

7. FLOW CHART FOR MEASUREMENT .......................................................................................................... 10

8. PREPARATION FOR MEASUREMENT ........................................................................................................ 11

9. HOW TO MAKE THE CALIBRATION ............................................................................................................ 13

9-1. What is the calibration? ........................................................................................................................ 13

9-2. How to produce the calibration curve .................................................................................................. 14

9-3. How to enter the calibration (measuring 5 samples) ........................................................................... 16

9-4. How to input sample or calibration name ............................................................................................24

10. HOW TO MEASURE ...................................................................................................................................25

10-1. Measurement .....................................................................................................................................25

10-2. Display of the average .......................................................................................................................28

10-3. How to set Continuous Measurement mode .....................................................................................29

10-4. How to proceed for Bias Correction ..................................................................................................30

10-5. How to set the alarm .......................................................................................................................... 31

10-6. Setting for printer output ....................................................................................................................32

10-7. Data Storage ......................................................................................................................................33

11. FUNCTION MODE .......................................................................................................................................34

11-1. Display of Input Moisture Values when Preparing a Calibration Curve .............................................34

11-2. Erasing a Calibration Curve ...............................................................................................................35

11-3. Printer output of stored data ..............................................................................................................35

11-4. Batch erasure of stored data ..............................................................................................................36

11-5. Date and Time Display .......................................................................................................................36

12. ERROR DISPLAY ........................................................................................................................................39

1. UNIVERSAL MOISTURE TESTER HB-300

Most conventional moisture testers utilizing the electrical measurement method are designed for one specific application as their product names suggest, such as Wood Moisture tester or Grain Moisture tester. This is because their calibrations are pre-set to measure a certain subject. They are handy because they are ready to be used immediately after purchase, but naturally you can't expect accuracy measuring other subjects.

You have to have many different moisture testers to measure a range of subjects. For example, for processed food you may not have been able to find a suitable moisture tester and had to rely on the time consuming Dry

Process Method to know the moisture content. The market was waiting for one handy electric moisture tester able to measure various kinds of samples in different conditions and shapes.

HB-300 can measure the moisture of many kinds of samples in various conditions and shapes such as solid, powder, grains, paste, sheet, etc. You can make the calibration for your samples relatively easily and register it to the tester. Many optional sensor probes are available for the HB-300 which further amplify the range of measurement subjects.

• This tester allows a calibration of electric resistance to moisture content so that samples containing high moisture or materials that affect electric resistance, such as metal, powder or salt, may still be measured but inaccurately.

• You need to make and set the calibration for your measurement subject in order to display the moisture content % on the tester directly.

4

2. FEATURES

l

By setting an unique calibration for each material, as required, the HB-300 can measure various kinds of materials.

l

Easy operations to make calibrations.

l

Up to 10 calibrations can be registered in the instrument l

Standard probe for constant pressure measurement is included. Many other optional probes are available.

l

Upper limit alarm installed.

l

Moisture content bias correction can be set.

5

3. SPECIFICATIONS

Measurement method

Measurement subjects

: Electric resistance method

: Solid, powder, grain, paste or sheet materials except samples containing electrolyte

: 1~99% Indicating range

Measurement range

Measurement accuracy

Display

: Electric resistance ...........10KΩ ~ 900MΩ

Water content value ........Depends on the sample

: Depends on the sample

: Digital (LCD)

Resolution : 0.1%

Measurement temperature range : 0~40°C

Function : Calibration curve memory (10 types), Display of average, Automatic power off (approx. in 5 minutes), Upper alarm setting (01~99% and

Power

Dimension

Weight

Accessories off), Moisture value bias correction (–9.9 ~ 9.9%)

: 1.5V battery (size AA alkaline) x 6

: 110 mm (W) x 210mm (D) x 50 mm (H)

: 0.5Kg

: Standard probe, Shoulder strap, Carrying case, 1.5V AA battery x 6,

Operating manual, Fanction mode list

6

[Instrument body]

Connector

Display screen

Operation panel

4. NOMENCLATURE

[Accessory]

1.5V AA Battery x 6

Standard probe

Standard probe

Shoulder strap Carrying case

Battery compartment cover

7

Fanction mode list Operating manual

5. DISPLAY SCREEN

Calibration number

Battery information

Measurement times

• C of "C display" stands for Calibration. (Refer to Page 23, procedure e.)

8

*C display (On/Off)

Alarm Setting

Moisture value

Bar graph

6. OPERATION PANEL KEYS

• 0~9 keys for entering numerical values. Some numeric keys have other functions as well.

Key

[Operation panel]

Function

To turn the power on /off.

To apply bias correction.

To select calibration #.

To calculate average.

To enter the numerical values on display.

To clear miss types.

To set the upper alarm.

To set the calibration.

To measure the sample.

To switch from/to continuous measurement mode and single measurement mode.

9

7. FLOW CHART FOR MEASUREMENT

Relatively rough reference value would be O.K

Calibration not set

Select Calibration #

Proceed to Page 11 "8 Preparation for measurement" and Page 25 "10. How to measure"

Register Produce calibration

Proceed to Page 11 "8 Preparation for measurement" and Page 13 "9.

How to make the calibration"

Criterion calibration curve # 00

Proceed to Page 11 "8 Preparation for measurement" and Page 25

"10. How to measure"

Measurement

10

8. PREPARATION FOR MEASUREMENT

(1) Install the six AA batteries in the battery compartment on the back of the instrument:

Remove the battery compartment cover and install the batteries. Take care not to reverse the polarity ( & ) of the batteries. Replace the cover.

• When the batteries are worn, will blink on the display screen.

Change all batteries at the same time.

(2) Set the probe either to "Constant" or to "Fix" according to the sample.

Turn the base of the probe clockwise till it clicks to set it to

"Fix". Turn anti-clockwise to release it back to "Constant".

• The probe is set at "Constant" at the time of shipment. At

"Constant" the grip of the will slide so as to give a constant pressure on the sample.

11

Fig.1

G

Turn here clockwise to set the probe to "Fix"

(3) Firmly connect the probe connector to the instrument body and turn the lock ring.

2

Insert firmly.

1

Turn the lock ring.

(4) Prepare the sample to be measured, leave it to allow the sample temperature to even and equalize with the instrument's temperature.

• If the sample temperature at this point is different from the samples you wish to measure later, it may result in an inaccurate measurement. While making the calibration curve, take care that the sample temperature is even and the same as at the measurement site where you will be measuring.

12

Fig.2

9. HOW TO MAKE THE CALIBRATION

9-1. What is the calibration?

Generally, calibration of moisture testers measuring electric resistance show correlations between the actual moisture and the electric resistance of each sample. The actual moisture is to be measured by the drying process or other processes beforehand. The correlation

[Calibration sample]

can be displayed in a form of numerical expression, graph, list and etc. The criterion calibration set in HB-300 is a numeric

%

expression of correlation of moisture and electric resistance.

It was obtained by measuring electric resistance of a timber with a 4needle probe and its actual moisture measured by the drying process.

At the time of shipment this criterion calibration is set on all calibrations #00~10. You can register different calibrations of different samples on #01~10 respectively. However the criterion calibration on #00 can not be changed. To use HB-300 as a direct moisture reader, it is necessary to make and register a specific calibration for the sample by measuring the actual moisture, using the standard method or others, and to correlate it with the measurement results acquired with the criteria calibration of HB-300.

HB-300 measurement results

%

13

9-2. How to produce the calibration curve

• Use the same probe that will be used to measure the sample later. Do not change the setting of "Constant" or "Fix" if using the standard probe. Using different probes or different ways of measurement such as angle of the probe and depth may affect accuracy.

• While making a calibration, try to make the environment of measurement as equal as possible to the environment at the site where you will be using the instrument later. Especially difference of temperature will affect accuracy.

• It is necessary to make multiple calibrations and register them respectively if seasonal temperature changes of the sample are expected.

(Example)

15~20°C

20~25°C

17°C

22°C

01

02

(1) Prepare the sample

Prepare 2~5 samples with different moisture. Include both the upper and lower limits of moisture content that your samples to be measured might contain. For instance, if you want to measure 6~40% moisture, be sure to include under

6% and over 40% moisture samples in all the 2~5 samples.

14

(2) Measure the samples with the criterion calibration of HB-

300 (in #00). Also measure the actual moisture value of the same samples with the standard method or the drying process using Infrared Moisture Determination Balance.

• For detailed description on how to measure, refer to "10-1

Measurement" on page 25.

• If the measurement results show much fluctuation, measure the samples by the continuous measurement mode (refer to "10-3 How to set Continuous Measurement Mode" on page 29) or calculate the average of the measurement results.

[Example: Measuring 5 samples]

u

Measurement 1

HB-300 measurement

7.3%

Sample 1

Standard process

5.4%

u

Measurement 2

HB-300 measurement

12.5%

Sample 2

Standard process

22.0%

u

Measurement 3

HB-300 measurement

20.0%

Sample 3

Standard process

32.0%

u

Measurement 4

HB-300 measurement

32.5%

Sample 4

Standard process

40.0%

u

Measurement 5

HB-300 measurement

35.7%

Sample 5

Standard process

46.0%

15

(3) Make a note of the measurement result acquired with the criteria calibration (#00) as shown in Table 1 on the right.

Use a photocopy of the table format on the last page of this manual.

u

Calibration #

u

Sample name

• Fill in the list starting from the smaller results first.

9-3. How to enter the calibration (measuring 5 samples)

(1) This description illustrates how to enter the results acquired from #00 into #02 for example.

Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3

Sample 4

Sample 5

HB-300 results

(with #00 calibration)

Actual moisture content

(Standard method)

7.3%

12.5%

20.0%

32.5%

35.7%

5.4%

22.0%

32.0%

40.0%

46.0%

Table 1

• When entering the calibration curve, start with the result *1 and follow the arrows shown here to fill the table.

• Enter with the numeric keys. Add "0" if you are entering a one-digit number.

[Example] Entering 9.9%

Press the key as

H H

• To clear an error, complete filling all 3 digits---any number will do-

--and press key to delete and re-enter.

16

Step

1

4

Key

2

3

[Select for calibration #]

Display Description

Press the key to turn the power on. The LCD will blink for about 3 seconds.

Displays [Calibration #], [TIMES] and [%]

Press the key to enter calibration # selection mode. The calibration # will blink. Enter “02” for instance.

17

Press the key, the 1st digit will blink. Next, press the key. The display will be “02”. Now you have selected Calibration #2.

Step

5

Key

[Entering the

Calibration curve]

6

7

8

Display Description

Enter the results of Table 1 from Sample #1 with the HB-

300 results first and the standard process next. Press the

key to open Calibration entering mode.

Enter measurement results of sample #1. Press the

, and key to enter 07.3% for instance.

Press the from [HB3].

key, the display will change to [STD]

• [HB3] stands for HB-300 measurement result and

[STD] for standard method process result to enter.

Press the

05.4% for instance.

, and key to enter

18

!

0

Step

9

Key

@

Display Description

Press the key, the display will change to “2

TIMES” from “1 TIMES”. Enter sample #2 results.

Press the

12.5%.

, and key for

Press the from [HB3].

key, the display will change to [STD]

Press the

22.0% to enter.

, and key for

19

$

%

Step

#

Key

^

Display Description

Press the , the display will change to “3 TIMES” from “2 TIMES”. Enter sample #3 results.

Press the

20.0% to enter.

, and key for

Press the from [HB3].

key, the display will change to [STD]

Press the to enter.

, and for 32.0%

20

(

*

Step

&

Key

)

Display Description

Press the key, the display will change to “4

TIMES” from “3 TIMES”. Enter sample #4 results.

Press the

32.5% to enter.

, and key for

Press the from [HB3].

, the display will change to [STD]

Press the to enter.

, and for 40.0%

21

= q

Step

-

Key

w

Display Description

Press the key, the display will change to “5

TIMES” from “4 TIMES”. Enter sample #5 results.

Press the to enter.

, and for 35.7%

Press the from [HB3].

key, the display will change to [STD]

Press the

46.0% to enter.

, and key for

22

Step

e

Key Display Description

After Pressing the key, the beep will notify that the calibration has been registered in #2 and the display will change to Measurement mode.

• “C” will appear on the right of the calibration # on the display after the registration is done properly.

• All 5 pairs of data (i.e. both HB-300 and the standard process measurement data) must be entered in "1 TIMES"~ "5 TIMES" to produce a calibration. If you are trying to make it with 2~4 samples, enter 99.9, the upper limit of the measurement for the rest of sample # ("TIMES").

For instance, if you have two samples, enter 99.9 as HB-300 and

Standard process data in "3 TIMES"~5 TIMES". Never leave the rest blank.

• If you enter different or new data in the calibration # from 01~10, the calibration will be over written and the last registered calibration will be changed. Making a record of the data that you have entered is recommended.

23

9-4. How to input sample or calibration name

Example : When inpputing “ABC”

Step Key Display

1

Description

Press the key, and "__" will be displayed at right side of calibration number.

2

Press the key, and "A" will be displayed at right side of calibration number.

3

Press the

"A__"

key, and will change from "A" to

4

Press the

"A__" to "AA". In case of inptut B, be pressed twice.

key, and display will change from

key should

24

10. HOW TO MEASURE

10-1. Measurement

(1) Install the probe and press the key to turn the instrument power on. For 3 seconds the LCD will show all the letters and signs on it. After that "Calibration #", "TIMES" and "%" will be displayed.

• If the LCD wouldn't start up as described here, there might be an error occurring in the instrument. Refer to page 39 "12. Error display" .

(2) Select the calibration # which you have registered as per page 13 "9. How to make the calibration"

Press the key, the calibration number will blink.

Enter two digit number (01~10).

• Prior to using HB-300, you need to register a specific calibration for your sample. Refer to page 13 "9. How to make the calibration,

If you haven't completed the registration and just want to see relatively referential measurement readouts, select "00" .

25 v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

Example: Entering 02 to select

Press the the

key, the first digit will blink. Next, press

key. "02C" will be displayed.

• If a registered calibration is selected, "C" will appear on the right of the calibration #.

• Once the calibration is registered, it will remain in the memory of the instrument after the power is turned off.

(3) Push the probe toward the sample.

• You must use the same probe used to measure the calibration data. Do not change the status of "Constant" or "Fix". Using different probes or different measurement procedures may affect the accuracy.

(4) Press the key, the decimal point will blink. In about 3 seconds after a short beep, "Measurement Times",

"Moisture %" and "Bar Graph" will be displayed.

• The bar graph increment is 2%, and capable of displaying 50% at maximum.

• If the measurement result is out of range, "HI" for exceeding and

"LO" for lower than will be displayed.

26 v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

(5) Move the probe away from the sample. The last moisture % will remain displayed. To continue the measurement, push the probe toward the sample again as per page 26 (3).

Turn the power off pressing the finished measurement.

key after you have

• This instrument will turn the power off automatically after being left unused for 5 minutes.

27

10-2. Display of the average

After measurement has been done 2~9 times, you can display the average by pressing the key. The key will display "AVE" "Calculated average" and "Measurement times".

• After 9 times the "Measurement times" display will return to 1.

• In the continuous measurement mode, the average cannot be requested.

28

10-3. How to set Continuous Measurement mode

In this mode, you don't have to press the key every time for measurement.

(1) To set continuous measurement mode;

After the operation on P.26 "10-1 Measurement (4) Press the key", Press the key, the decimal point will blink and the bar graph will appear.

"LO" will be displayed if the probe is off the sample or the sample moisture is lower than the measurement range.

(2) To release continuous measurement mode;

Press the key for more than 2 seconds until a short beep is heard, the display will be off for a moment and return to the normal measurement mode when the pressed key is released.

v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

29

10-4. How to proceed for Bias Correction

The calibrations that you have set on the instrument are statistically calculated correlations of the sample's actual moisture and its electric resistance. However the measurement results may differ from the actual moisture, being affected by many aspects of the sample and the environment at the measurement site.

In such cases, the calibration can accept a bias correction (–9.9~9.9% for each sample to measure) described as follows.

(1) Select the calibration number.

Press the key and enter the 2-digit number of the calibration.

(2) Press the key.

"BIAS" on the display will blink and display the corrected value which was last entered. 0.0% is the default value.

(3) Enter the correction value.

Enter 2-digit value. Press the and the key for 1.2% for instance. If entering a minus correction press the key before entering the numeric value.

(4) Press the key to start the corrected measurement.

• "BIAS" will be displayed during measurement.

• To release the correction, enter "0.0%".

v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

30

10-5. How to set the alarm

The upper moisture limit alarm can be set at 1~99%. A series of short beeps let you know the sample is over the limit.

(1) Press the key.

The number to the right of "ALARM" will blink.

(2) Enter the limit value.

Enter 2-digit number of the limit. e.g. Press the

key to enter 20%.

(3) Press the key to start the measurement.

• To release the alarm setting, enter "0.0%".

and

31 v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

10-6. Setting for printer output

Calibration number, Measurement times, Moisture value and Average moisture value can be printeed by using optional printer.

(1) Setting

Press the key.

"P" will be displayed at the right side of "TIMES".

• Doing the following measurement or the power supply is turned off.

(2) Release of setting

Under measurement mode, press the key and

"OFF" will be displayed at the right side of "TIMES".

• (1) and (2) can be memorized even by the setting in case of which case even if it turns off power.

32

10-7. Data Storage

Up to 250 measurement values are stored automatically. The contents of the data are “data number”, “year/ month/day”, “time”, “calibration curve number”, and “moisture value”.

<Printout example>

(1) Block function

For cases such as different measurement samples, pressing the key between measurements is recognized as a separator signal, and a line feed is inserted when printing out.

(2) Management method of data

Refer to page 35 "Printer output of stored data" .

Refer to page 36 "Batch erasure of stored data" .

33

11. FUNCTION MODE

Put the function mode list of accessories on the battery lid as needed, and please use it. Press the key to turn the power on. For 3 seconds the LCD will show all the letters and signs on it. After that "Calibration #", "TIMES" and "%" will be displayed.

11-1. Display of Input Moisture Values when Preparing a Calibration Curve

Press the , and key.

• At this time, if there is an interval greater than 3 seconds between the pressing of each key, the curve number cannot be set.

The HB-300 results for "Sample 1" is displayed.

Press the key, and the standard method results for

"Sample 1" will be displayed.

Each time the key, and the results for "Samples 2 through 5" will be displayed.

34

11-2. Erasing a Calibration Curve

The setting of a standard calibration returns to #00. Press the

, and key.

The buzzer will sound, and all the LCD elements will be displayed for approximately 3 seconds. After that "Calibration #", "TIMES" and "%" will be displayed.

11-3. Printer output of stored data

Up to 250 stored data are printer output. After setting up the printer (VZ-330, option), connect the printer cable (VZC26, option). Press the , and key.

<Printout example>

(In the case of data, three)

001　2005/05/27　10:34　#01　15.3%

002　2005/05/27　10:35　#01　15.4%

003　2005/05/27　10:34　#01　17.8%

The print changes line line when pushed while the block key is measuring it. (During the measurement of #002 and #003)

35

11-4. Batch erasure of stored data

Press the , and key.

A tone sounds and “0” will be displayed for the measurement num- ber. Next, the display for moisture changes from 0

H

00

H

000.

The original display will return after approximately 15 seconds.

11-5. Date and Time Display

Press the , and key.

The date and time (24-hour system) are displayed. “TIMES” will blink.

An display example is shown as 27 May, 14:53.

• If the clock is slow or the display is abnormal, the clock battery has been depleted. Servicing is required to use the clock function.

36

<Display example>

v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

(1) The following procedure sets the western calendar date and time.

<Example> 27 June 2005, 18:43

If you make a mistake when pressing an input number key, press the key.

Display Step

1 Press the key.

Description

2

Press the and key.

3

Press the key.

37

Step

4

Press the ,

Description

and key.

5 Press the and key.

6 Press the key.

7

Press the , and key.

8

Press the , and key.

“TIMES” will blink. The date and time are displayed.

Press the key to turn off the power.

38

Display

v

shows that either numbers or marks enclosed are blinking.

11. ERROR DISPLAY

If an error has occurred in the instrument or in the measurement conditions, either of the following messages will appear for 4 seconds before turning the power off automatically.

(1) The temperature sensor has an error. Call for repair.

(2) The electric circuit for measuring the water content has an error. Call for repair.

39

(3) The instrument temperature is –5°C (23°F) or lower. Warm the instrument up to the usable ambient temperature range

0~40°C (32~104°F).

(4) The instrument temperature is 50°C (122°F) or higher. Cool down the instrument to the usable ambient temperature range 0~40°C (32~104°F).

40

u

Calibration #

u

Sample Name

Sample 1

Sample 2

Sample 3

Sample 4

Sample 5

HB-300 Measurement

(Calibration #00)

Actual moisture by the

Standard method

41

1104•MA•0101•500