eBay damp meters

[Gunny]

Are they reliable ?
You can buy them for £7-£8

 

[Damian]

You get what you pay for.
They will give you a reading but whether that is accurate is another matter.
However, if you test it on a known piece of dry timber and note that reading, then use it in your van you will get an idea if you have damp.
Any reading up to 20% is "normal" for wood.

If you get high readings then it may be time to get an engineer to test it with his damp meter which will be calibrated and give an accurate reading.

 

[benshepherd]

While they may not be as accurate as the expensive ones, they can certainly point you in right direction. My previous caravan developed damp around the front window. It was only because I routinely tested around the windows with a £10 meter (as I had previous damp problems elsewhere), that I picked up a very significant leak on the caravan at an early stage. There were no other signs. Therefore, for the sake of a few quid I don't seen how you can go wrong with one.

 

[ProfJohnL]

It dosen't matter how good or poor the meter is. if the wrong technique is used the results are meaningless. Most caravan wall use a board with a impervious vinyl covering. If the meter does not break the covering it WILL give a false reading.

The same covering can hide a multitude of sins so please be aware of it and how it might mislead.

 

[Dodger524]

Whilst not directly answering your question, I use a Stanley 077030 Moisture Meter which has a built-in calibration check and the pins necessary to pierce the vinyl wall covering in a caravan.

It may be possible to find one on eBay for £10 but I paid about twice that on Amazon.

 

[WayneS]

It may be possible to find one on eBay for £10 but I paid about twice that on Amazon.[/quote]

I agree, I bought a Brennenstuhl 1298680 just because I’d seen it used on a number of YouTube vids and I think referenced by others on here. About £18-£20 including postage Prongs definitely pierce and I believe it gives a reasonable indication.

 

[chrisn7]

I have an Ebay 4 prong type and checked it against the mobile engineers who inspected my van, pro jobbie meter and the difference was only 1% so they do the job for our purposes just fine.

 

[Dustydog]

It may be possible to find one on eBay for £10 but I paid about twice that on Amazon.

I agree, I bought a Brennenstuhl 1298680 just because I’d seen it used on a number of YouTube vids and I think referenced by others on here. About £18-£20 including postage Prongs definitely pierce and I believe it gives a reasonable indication.[/quote]
I bought the same model six years ago.
The readings I get are within +/- 1% of my mobile engineers kit. Tested with him every year. Not a bad buy.

 

[Hutch]

It may be possible to find one on eBay for £10 but I paid about twice that on Amazon.

I agree, I bought a Brennenstuhl 1298680 just because I’d seen it used on a number of YouTube vids and I think referenced by others on here. About £18-£20 including postage Prongs definitely pierce and I believe it gives a reasonable indication.

I bought the same model six years ago.
The readings I get are within +/- 1% of my mobile engineers kit. Tested with him every year. Not a bad buy.[/quote]

I bought the same one as Dusty Dog, a very good bit of kit , good for checking the wood for your fire as well.

 

[Dustydog]

Hutch
I didn’t know you had a Truma Ultra Wood unit

 

[Hutch]

Hutch
I didn’t know you had a Truma Ultra Wood unit

Guess what I use to dampen down the fire at night???

 

[Gunny]

Its all ready been tested 2 years ago so the vinyl has been pierced in various places .
I was thinking buy a 2 prong one and just test the same places

 

[Hutch]

Its all ready been tested 2 years ago so the vinyl has been pierced in various places .
I was thinking buy a 2 prong one and just test the same places

That's probably a good idea, the damp is normally a bit higher near the bathroom areas.

 

[Craigyoung]

Its all ready been tested 2 years ago so the vinyl has been pierced in various places .
I was thinking buy a 2 prong one and just test the same places

That's probably a good idea, the damp is normally a bit higher near the bathroom areas.

in hutchs case thats when he misses the pott in the middle off the night

 

[Hutch]

Its all ready been tested 2 years ago so the vinyl has been pierced in various places .
I was thinking buy a 2 prong one and just test the same places

That's probably a good idea, the damp is normally a bit higher near the bathroom areas.

in hutchs case thats when he misses the pott in the middle off the night

Not quite Craig, thats where the dogs have their water bowl.