humimeter FL2 - hay and straw moisture meter

Hay and straw moisture in the bale and in loose material

Hay that is too wet goes mouldy and in extreme cases heats up to the point of self-ignition. Hay that is too dry loses its leaves and its feed value. The humimeter FL2 checks the water content straight in the bale, without breaking it open and without sending a sample to a laboratory: the probe goes in, the reading is taken and the measurement is repeated at several points, with the instrument working out the average itself.

What you can measure

Bale or loose material - two different situations

In a bale the density is set by the press. In loose material it is random, and the reading depends on it, which is why the FL2 comes with a pressure plate: it slides onto the probe, you scoop up material and compact it until the reading stops changing. That is what sets the FL2 apart from simpler meters, which only handle a bale.

The factory curves are matched to density: a separate one for round bales (above 130 kg/m³), one for rectangular bales (100 to 130 kg/m³) and one for loose material. Choosing the wrong curve is the most common reason for a result drifting away from the laboratory.

Your benefits

  • measurement straight in the bale, without breaking it open and without taking a sample
  • pressure plate included - one of the few meters that handles loose material
  • replaceable stainless steel probe 600 mm long
  • calibration accuracy ±0.8 % against the reference material
  • automatic averaging of the stored readings
  • material temperature measured in the same movement
  • logger for 10 000 readings with measuring point reports
   humimeter FL2 hay and straw moisture meter with its 600 mm insertion probe

Factory curves and measuring ranges

Curve Material density Measuring range
Straw in round bales above 130 kg/m³ 8.5 to 30 %
Straw in rectangular bales 100 to 130 kg/m³ 8.5 to 30 %
Straw, loose material compacted with the pressure plate 8.5 to 30 %
Hay in round bales above 130 kg/m³ 8.5 to 25 %
Hay in rectangular bales 100 to 130 kg/m³ 8.5 to 25 %
Hay, loose material compacted with the pressure plate 8.5 to 25 %
Cellulose insulation 38 to 65 kg/m³ 10 to 35 %

How a measurement is taken

  1. Select the curve matching the material and the shape of the bale.
  2. Drive the measuring tip straight into the bale, over the full length of the probe.
  3. Read the water content and the material temperature.
  4. Repeat at several points of the bale and store the readings - the instrument works out the average itself.
  5. Loose material: loosen the fixing nut, slide the pressure plate over the head onto the probe and tighten the nut by hand. Scoop up material with the probe and compact it with the plate until the reading stops changing - only that value is the result.
   Measuring the moisture of a hay bale with the humimeter FL2 probe

Technical data

Parameter Value
Article number 14000
Measuring range 8 to 60 % water content, depending on the material
Resolution 0.1 % water content; 0.5 °C/°F temperature
Calibration accuracy against the reference material ±0.8 %
Temperature compensation automatic
Temperature measuring range -20 to +120 °C, measuring tip only
Operating temperature 0 to +40 °C
Storage temperature -20 to +60 °C
Protection rating IP 40
Display backlit matrix display 128 × 64
Current consumption 60 mA with the backlight on
Memory hold function, manual logger for 10 000 readings with measuring point reports
Averaging automatic
Probe replaceable, stainless steel, 600 mm long
Dimensions 740 × 65 × 40 mm without the cross handle
Weight 450 g with batteries
Power supply 4 alkaline AA batteries, 1.5 V
Menu languages English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Russian, Polish, international

Scope of delivery

The USB interface module with the LogMemorizer software is not included - it is a separate item, art. no. 12278.

Checking the readings

The manufacturer recommends comparing the readings periodically with the oven method. For a quick check in the field there is the test block art. no. 12308, listed in the price list for the FL1, FL2, FLH, BLL, BL2, WLW, BLW, SLW, RM1 and BLO. It confirms in moments that the instrument measures as it did on the day of calibration.

   Test block art. no. 12308 for checking the readings of the humimeter FL2

Extended accessories

A deeper stack - the two metre FLS probe

The FL2 probe is 600 mm, so it reaches inside a bale but not the middle of a tall stack or the deeper layers in a barn. That is what the humimeter FLS is for - an instrument with a sectional insertion probe two metres long that measures moisture and temperature deep inside the pile as well.

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