Delmhorst J-LITE 6% to 30% Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter

by Delmhorst Instrument Co.

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A reliable and versatile tool that's easy for novice woodworkers, the Delmhorst J-LITE Wood Moisture Meter features a microcontroller circuit for accuracy and reliability. Ideal for hobbyists, craftspeople, and home inspectors, this handheld meter measures moisture from 6 to 30 percent and displays results using 12 LEDs, making it easy to read in dark or dimly lit areas.

The J-LITE displays results quickly and accurately using 12 bright LEDs. View larger.

The Delmhorst J-LITE 6- to 30-Percent Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter features: A broad measurement range of 6 to 30 percent to cover a variety of conditions An LED display for measuring in dark or brightly lit areas A durable case with a built-in handle for easy portability

Versatile Meter with Microcontroller Circuit
The Delmhorst J-LITE delivers accurate moisture readings, so you can create high-quality finished wood products. With its range of capabilities, the meter can be relied upon in a wide array of scenarios, from home inspections to crafting projects.

The J-LITE is specially calibrated for Douglas Fir at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but includes both temperature and species correction charts.

12 LEDs Show Bright, Accurate Readings
This meter works quickly to warn you of problem moisture levels, helping to minimize shrinkage, cracks, and splits in finished wood products. Its 12 bright LEDs indicate your readings, making this feature ideal for those who work in dark or dimly lit areas.

The J-LITE gauges moisture from 6 to 30 percent--measuring from dry conditions (ideal for fine furniture) up to the fiber saturation point (about 24 to 30 percent). The large range means the meter can be used in high-humidity and low-humidity environments.

Durable Case with Built-In Handle for Portability
The Delmhorst J-LITE features a functional case with a built-in handle, which allows you to keep the meter at your fingertips. And for those times when you're using one of your hands to stabilize a work piece, this meter comes to your aid with its easy, one-handed operation.

Pin-Type Meter with Electrode Connector Delivers Superior Results
The Delmhorst J-LITE's pin-type meter uses two pins that penetrate wood to a depth of 5/16 inch. Pin-type meters provide more accurate readings than non-penetrating meters because their tips come into direct contact with the wood fiber. If you ever deal with wood that has been exposed to surface moisture such as rain, a pin meter is the best measurement tool because its readings are not skewed by this factor.

Plus, the Delmhorst J-LITE is built with a special connector for the Delmhorst Delmhorst 26-ES external electrode (sold separately), which allows you to take surface and core moisture content readings to a maximum depth of 1-1/16 inch.

The Delmhorst J-LITE is backed by a three-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Delmhorst J-LITE 6 to 30-Percent Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter, batteries, carrying case, and extra set of pins.

Product Description

Delmhorst has been the leading manufacturer of high quality pin-type moisture meters for over 60 years. The new "J" series meters offer the latest advancements in moisture meter technology along with Delmhorst dependability. The new case design features a built in handle and fingertip controls for easy one hand operations. All models are packaged in a sturdy plastic storage case, come with 2 extra pins, an owners instruction manual and wood moisture measuring information booklet. Weighs 1-1/4 lbs, measures 8" x 1-3/4" x 1-1/2", uses one 9V battery (included). The J-Lite displays the MC of wood materials using 12 bright LEDs. The J-Lite is great for reading in direct sunlight or dark areas and gives the most precise readings of any LED meter available today. Advanced microcontroller circuits, 12 bright LEDs and 6 to 30 moisture content range. Comes with a three year manufacturers warranty.

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Product Details

Product Manual [373kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000224D4
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: J-LITE
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,150 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #50 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Measuring & Layout Tools > Scanners & Testers > Moisture Meters

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality product, October 23, 2007

By 

J. Moseley "farmer" (Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Delmhorst J-LITE 6% to 30% Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

I do woodworking projects building furniture for all my family members in my woodshop during the colder months of Indiana winter. I also harvest and kiln dry my own lumber.

I was intially going to buy a less expensive ($60) moisture tester---but reading other's comments convinced me that Delmhorst is a credible company that puts quality even in their lower cost units. I despise purchasing something that works good for a few months and then the electronics simply quit operating, even if it's still under warranty. So I made the decision to purchase the J-lite and have been completely satisfied with the operations of it since purchase.

The design is simple to operate, and seems very consistent in reading moisture content. It's a good little unit for the woodworker that is serious about producing quality woodcraft, but doesn't do it everyday.

Even if you purchase the material for your projects, this is an essential tool when buying the wood---not all "kiln dried" wood is the same. Good product.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful, sturdy, accurate meter., April 23, 2009

By 

Joseph C. Mooney (Christina Lake, BC Canada) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Delmhorst J-LITE 6% to 30% Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

If you have read the excellent book "Understanding Wood" by Bruce Hoadley you know why you need a moisture meter.

Wood expands or contracts depending on ambient moisture levels. Mr. Hoadley shows you how to calculate how much your wood will "move" in response to this, but to do so you must first know the initial moisture level in your wood. (The calculations are not complicated, by the way.)

If you are installing siding, laying down a wood floor, building furniture, determining how much the wall height of your new log cabin will change, or simply verifying your toilet gasket is not leaking, a wood meter can help. Even construction carpenters can make use of this
gadget - for example to determine how much a newly framed building will shrink, which can be useful when applying siding, especially if it is more than a single story. The uses are limited only by your knowledge or wood, and your applications.

I've owned the Delmhorst J-lite for about 2-1/2 years, and am very pleased with it. Although I use it less than I thought I would, most every time I do use it, it pays for itself all over again. For example, last year I installed $1,400 worth of pine board inside my house. Measuring the moisture of the existing interior wood, then comparing
it to the moisture of the pine, it was easy to see that the pine would contract after installation (and using Hoadley's formula, to compute the magnitude of the changes - in this case the wood was more moist than the existing wood in my house, so I knew that it was going to shrink by about 1/16, so I took care to jamb the tongue and groove planks tightly together. Had the situation been the reverse, I would have left a slight gap between the planks.)

Installing flooring, a moisture meter allows you know exactly when your wood planks have acclimated to the moisture in your home. There are many rules of thumb for this ranging from a few weeks to months, but this is unnecessary (and sometimes quite absurd) if your planks arrive at the correct moisture level to begin with.

Back to the Delmhorst. What I like about it is:
o it is sturdy, and well built
o the readouts are reasonably simple and easy to understand.
o the battery lasts a very long time.
o comes with a spare set of pins, which I have not yet needed to use.
o fits the hand well, comfortable.
o comes in a nice blow molded plastic case
o provides a chart to correct for particular species and temperature, but this is typically not necessary unless you are a stickler for extreme accuracy.
o can test more than just wood by giving a relative reading on plywood, OSB, MDF etc (that is to say the percentage reading may not be correct, but if you compare the OSB in your bathroom floor to another OSB sample it will show you which is wetter/dryer, which can be quite useful).

The only negative that I can think of is that it requires a 9 volt battery. It could be a little more convenient if it took AA batteries.

In conclusion, this is a well made meter, seems to give accurate and consistent results. It's usefulness depends on your willingness to learn about wood and it's reaction to moisture.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wood moisture meter, May 9, 2010

By 

Richard K. Schoenherr "Ken Richards" (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Delmhorst J-LITE 6% to 30% Pin LED Wood Moisture Meter (Tools & Home Improvement)

I am a painting contractor that needed help determining if wood siding was dry enough to hold paint. This product has helped me nonitor moisture content and predetermine opportunity for a successful paint job.