Moisture meters

[123QUWERTY]

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive moisture meter to help trace a water leak in the coachroof of my boat which is tracking through the internal boat electrics. This will be a once only use so need to find a budget model.
Do the wood mosture units with the two prongs work well or will I need a more specialised unit to detect moisture behind the inner moulded lining?

 

[j24jam]

You may be better off renting a thermal imaging camera to trace the leak

 

[123QUWERTY]

Thanks for your prompt reply but I'm unfamiliar with the technology and at a hire cost of £70 perday, this is not an option.

 

[Baltika_no_9]

I have one of these https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B071KQ2NPP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

It has red/yellow/green indicators specifically handy in measuring moisture content of wood but it gives a percentage reading enabling use in many applications I'd expect.

One reviewer on Amazon suggests it works fine for detecting damp in his caravan. Whether that is a useful contribution or not I don't know.

 

[Tranona]

This the one I use on my wooden coachroof to measure moisture content.
homebase.co.uk/stanley-moisture-meter/12819550.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=shopping&affil=thggps&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&afil=thgppc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImt_Ss9qI_gIVWu3tCh149AzuEAQYBiABEgL7lvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Widely available. Sufficiently accurate to tell me where water is present in the timber and now I have dealt with most of the leaks gratifyingly shows the moisture levels falling as the wood dries out. However, not sure it will be much help in finding the source of leaks. Leaks like that almost always come from failure of sealant around fastenings going through the deck/coachroof and if it is GRP will just run down without making it absorbing the moisture. Such leaks are often difficult to trace because the path the water takes can result in it appearing in a completely different place. Methodically checking every potential source and maybe sprinkling talcum powder around suspect ones is really the only effective way.

 

[thinwater]

Remember that the meter is measuring capacitance, not moisture, so many changes in structure will throw it way off. For example, the wires.

 

[Caer Urfa]

I spent months tracing a water leak but then an old timer told me to get the wife buy some 'food dye' available from most supermarkets.
We chose 'pink' mix it with water and try each suspected place separately and you can then trace the pink water where its coming from
Tried this many times and works every time

 

[Baltika_no_9]

Remember that the meter is measuring capacitance, not moisture, so many changes in structure will throw it way off. For example, the wires.

That assertion is not necessarily correct. Typical two pin devices like the ones mentioned above measure resistance. The pinless type may rely on capacitance but not all do so your unqualified statement deserves correction.

Edit - In fact the specs for the one posted by Tranona says

• Based on electrical resistance across two pins

 

[oilybilge]

I bought this one (Brennenstuhl Moisture Detector MD) to measure moisture in my deckhead:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003CSNV2Q?ref_=pe_27063361_487360311_302_E_DDE_dt_1

22 quid, and as far as I could tell it worked just fine.

 

[DownWest]

I bought a two pin one from Aldi. €9.99. You can select various materials. But I bought it to check wood I was cutting in the forest behind us for firewood. Seem to work well.

 

[jwilson]

I use a fairly expensive one (Tramex) but I suspect that the non-pin cheap ones will do a similar job, as suggested by oilybilge. The pin ones are really only for wood.

 

[Concerto]

Two very cheap ways of checking for leaks, beside the food dye, are to use either blue paper towels as it changes colour when wet or talcam powder as when dusted it washes away showing the source.

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive moisture meter to help trace a water leak in the coachroof of my boat which is tracking through the internal boat electrics. This will be a once only use so need to find a budget model.
Do the wood mosture units with the two prongs work well or will I need a more specialised unit to detect moisture behind the inner moulded lining?

Is this the same leak that was being cured with the injection of foam???

 

[Baltika_no_9]

I use a fairly expensive one (Tramex) but I suspect that the non-pin cheap ones will do a similar job, as suggested by oilybilge. The pin ones are really only for wood.

What?
The one suggested by olybilge has pins!

And no, ones with pins are not really only for wood. Look at the description for the one oilybilge suggests and you will see it is suitable for different materials.

 

[Tranona]

That is correct The photo shows it with the cover on the pins.

 

[jwilson]

Yes - sorry - I glanced at the the first photo and saw no pins. There are however non-pin meters such as https://www.amazon.co.uk/Moisture-D...zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&smid=A2AVC41AXCKT4J&th=1

About 1/10th the price of a Tramex.

 

[123QUWERTY]

I spent months tracing a water leak but then an old timer told me to get the wife buy some 'food dye' available from most supermarkets.
We chose 'pink' mix it with water and try each suspected place separately and you can then trace the pink water where its coming from
Tried this many times and works every time

Yes. I've already ordered some yellow dye from ebay. Will try when it stops raining I'm in Scotland ;-)

 

[123QUWERTY]

Is this the same leak that was being cured with the injection of foam???

Well spotted!

 

[123QUWERTY]

Thanks for all your replies. I'm really trying hard to find the leaks source before I try anything else. It's proving a nightmare.

 

[wingcommander]

As you're aware, the water can travel quite a distance downhill from almost anywhere, even wick uphill. I'd be resealing localised deck fittings etc . Apologies if this has already been done. My mast electric connection only showed its leak around 3 feet away. Good luck anyway.