S300 Shallow Scan Pinless Wood Moisture Meter

Specifications

Dimensions:

• Length: 5.60 inches (142mm)
• Width: 2.80 inches (71mm)
• Thickness: 0.86 inches (22mm)

Weight:

• 5.44 ounces (154.2 g) with the battery
• 3.92 ounces (111.1 g) without the battery

Scanning Plate:

• 2.0 inches (51mm) x 2.5 inches (64mm)

Measurement Depth:

• S300: 1/4" (6mm) depth
• D300: 3/4" (19mm) depth
• DS500: 1/4" (6mm) and 3/4" (19mm) depth

Specific Gravity Range:

• 0.30 to 1.00
• Use the Species Setting Table in the manual to program the number for the particular wood being measured

MC Range:

• 6.0% to 32.0% MC range for wood

Precision:

• 0.1%

Auto Power Shutdown:

• 60 seconds

Power:

• 9V battery (Bessemeter recommends using non-rechargeable Alkaline or Lithium, or rechargeable NiMH batteries)

Operating Temperature:

• +32 deg F to +110 deg F (+0 deg C to +43 deg C)

Storage Temperature and Humidity:

• +50 deg F to +90 deg F (+10 deg C to +32 deg C)
• Maximum relative humidity of 95%, non-condensing

Downloads

Meter Manual & Species Settings Table
Product Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep does the S300 measure?

The S300 pinless wood moisture meter measures ¼ inch (0.6 centimeters) deep into a piece of wood. So the S300 may be all you need if you’re working exclusively with thin boards of 1/2-inch thickness or less.

If you’re not sure which depth is right for you, consult this depth guide: Depth Difference: Which Bessemer is Right for You?

How accurate is the S300?

The S300 pinless wood moisture meter is one of the most accurate meters on the market. It was designed with professional-grade accuracy between 6.0% to 32.0% MC in wood. It also comes factory calibrated and has a durable build that can handle rugged construction environments and workshops.

What moisture range can it measure?

The S300’s wood moisture content range is between 6% and 32%. The lower end matters most because the ideal moisture content for most indoor wood projects falls between 6-9%. So it’s important that a professional wood moisture meter be capable of measuring to the lower end of the range.

The higher end is less important because the fiber saturation point (FSP) of wood is around 30% moisture content. So measuring any higher than 30-32% isn’t necessary. Even wood for outdoor projects, firewood, and framing usually need a moisture content at or lower than 19-20%.

Does it work on both hardwoods and softwoods?

Yes, absolutely. The Bessemeter S300 Shallow Scan Pinless Wood Moisture Meter is calibrated to read true moisture content (MC) in both hardwood and softwood species.

By selecting the appropriate wood species on your meter, the S300 automatically applies the correct specific gravity setting to calculate an accurate moisture content reading.

One of the many excellent things about a pinless moisture meter is how easy it is to measure inside dense hardwoods. With pin-type moisture meters it’s often difficult to get the pins deep enough into hardwoods, or it leads to broken or bent pins. But the S300 reads beneath the surface of hardwoods simply by making firm, complete contact with the sensor plate.

Does it have adjustable species settings?

Yes. The Bessemeter S300 includes programmable species settings, making it easy to adjust the meter for different wood species. This compensates for differences in wood density (specific gravity), helping the meter calculate a more accurate moisture content reading.

The S300 has an included manual with a “species settings table” that includes a wide variety of hardwood and softwood species, as well as settings for OSB, plywood, MDF, and more.

What size board works best with the S300?

Boards that are 1/2-inch thick (0.5 inches) or less are best. Boards are usually drier on the surface and wetter in the center. So a shallow moisture measurement of around ¼-inch will find those hidden moisture pockets right around the center of a ½-inch board.

What is the difference between the S300 and the D300?

The S300 is Bessemeter’s shallow-depth wood moisture meter while the D300 is Bessemeter’s deep-depth wood moisture meter. While the S300 measures ¼ inch (0.6 centimeters) into a piece of wood, the D300 measures ¾ inch (1.9 centimeters) into the wood.

In other words, the S300 and D300 features differ only in measurement depth. So choosing between them depends on whether you work mostly with thicker or thinner building materials.

What is the S300 best used for?

The S300 shallow-depth wood moisture meter is best for thinner materials, around ½-thick or less. And that can include thinner wood products, wall and ceiling materials, wood-based panels, etc.

These are some examples of good applications for the S300:

• Thin hardwoods, engineered wood, and laminate flooring
• Wood paneling and ceiling panels
• Veneer
• Cabinet doors and face frames
• Furniture components
• Trim, baseboards, and molding
• ¼- to ½-inch drywall
• Plaster
• ¼-, ⅜-, and ½-inch plywood
• ½-inch MDF and particleboard, and thin OSB panels
• Vinyl flooring, linoleum, and cork flooring
• Roofing materials

Should I choose a shallow scan or deep scan moisture meter?

It depends on the material thickness you work with most. A shallow scan moisture meter works best for thinner material, while a deep scan moisture meter works best for thicker material.

Shallow scan moisture meter:

• Best for ½-inch material and under
• Good for materials like wood flooring planks, cabinetry boards, and drywall

Deep scan moisture meter:

• Best for ¾- to 2-inch thick materials (or thicker, since you can scan both sides for an average)
• This would include building materials like dimensional lumber (2x4s, 2x6s, etc.) and large turning blanks.

For a deeper dive, explore this quick guide: Which Wood Moisture Meter is Better: Shallow or Deep Scan?

Can it measure moisture in other building materials?

The S300 can detect the presence of moisture in other building materials, but it doesn’t have a designated “relative mode” function. So when measuring other building materials, you would still refer to the MC readings, but you would treat them like relative readings, not absolute MC measurements.

The S300 is designed to provide the actual moisture content (MC) in wood only.

Do I need a pinless moisture meter or a pin-type meter?

It depends on several factors, including the material’s shape, roughness, density, and how important it is not to damage the material in any way. Plus, how large of a project it is (how many readings you need to take).

Pinless moisture meters are best for:

• Leaving no damage in the material it measures
• Moving quickly through a high volume of materials
• Measuring smooth, flat materials, where the sensor plate can make complete contact

Pin/Pin-type moisture meters are best for:

• Materials where leaving pin-holes in it doesn’t matter
• Smaller projects where fewer measurements are needed
• Measuring curved, rough, or uneven materials

It’s also important to note that pinless moisture meters work better on dense woods than pin-type moisture meters do, because the pins can break off or not go deep enough in dense woods.