You can guess what a moisture meter is for, right? Or do you think you know what they’re for?
Until now, I always thought of moisture meters as devices advanced woodworkers use for determining whether lumber is dry and stable enough to use for a project.
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But, they can also be used to detect humidity and moisture levels around a home or commercial building. Knowing where there’s excess moisture could help you identify potential leaks or other moisture and water-related problems.
Detecting residual moisture is one of the BEST uses for a thermal imaging camera. I’ve used my thermal imaging cameras for checking to see of a carpet spill was dry, or if I needed a blower fan to speed things along. I have also used it to identify where I needed to clean after a baby-related leak.
Water draws thermal energy – heat – from its surroundings as it evaporates. So even if you don’t see liquid water, there could be moisture or residual evidence of moisture. Water also has different thermal conductivity. If there’s moisture in drywall, for example, the drywall will respond to the normal temperature fluctuations of a room at a different rate than dryer drywall.
With this in mind, the Flir MR160 has a built-in thermal imaging sensor – the same Lepton core as in their C2 thermal imaging camera and several other affordable thermal imaging devices.
So, in addition to a humidity sensor, the MR160 can show you where the problem is, and the extent of it.
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I was initially surprised to hear about this combination of technologies, but it does make sense, doesn’t it?
The MR160 moisture meter has a pinless moisture sensor, as well as an external pin probe.
Features & Specs
- FLIR Lepton microbolometer with 80 x 60 px thermal resolution
- Color moisture alert display
- 10 cm (4-inches) minimum focus distance
- WME (wood moisture equivalent) of 0-100° (± 5%) via external probe
- 0-100% relative measurement via pinless sensor
- Response time: 100 ms (pinless), 750 ms (pin mode)
- Images saved in BMP format with overlaid measurements
- 9999 image capacity
- Laser pointer for center of thermal image targeting
- Built-in battery
- 18 hour runtime, equivalent to 4 work weeks
- Impact resistant to 9.8 feet (3 m)
This tool has the potential to really cut down on moisture-related troubleshooting. The thermal imaging sensor, which is used for “infrared guided measurement,” can show you problematic areas, and the moisture sensors help you get a better read on the extend of the issues.
Price: $599
Buy Now(via Amazon)
More Info(via Flir)
Flir has been pushing forward with continued thermal imaging innovations in recent years, but they have also been branching out beyond their thermal technologies shell. It will be quite interesting to see what they come out with next.
fred
Now this looks more (than the $40k thermal imager) like something within the average contractor’s price range. Same price ($599) at Zoro – so if I were in the market – I might wait on one of Zoro’s 30% off ($300 or more with free shipping) deals.
ktash
I’d get it if I were a contractor, but too pricey for an average diyer. Any recommendations for a lesser priced item that can detect moisture (not the pin type) like roof leaks, water in basement walls, etc.
Stuart
A regular thermal imaging camera can do this. The MR160 is optimized in software to help make moisture stand out a lot more easily.
ktash
Thanks for the info.
Stuart
You’re welcome! But oops, I didn’t address the lesser priced part, sorry.
I suppose one of the newer types of imaging thermometer might also do. You would basically be looking for unexplained temperature fluctuations.
There are also the new thermal imaging camera modules that sort of piggyback onto smartphones.
Jason. W
I used a moister meter every day at work. In the fire and water damage restoration business you can’t really function without a moister meter. How do you know what to dry unless you know what is wet?