Moisture sensing in wood chips

[Chris Magura]

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Dear Sir/Madame: 

I am trying to find a device that can be inserted into
a woodchip/compost mixture to determine the moisture
content. The target range desired is around 40-60%
saturation but measurements might range from 10% to
100%. 

There may be significant airflow through the wood
chips while measurements are being made as they are
being used as a biofilter medium. Ideally, we are
looking for hand held devices and devices that can be
left in-situ and hooked up to a data-logger and/or
automated irrigation systems. 

The high porosity seems to be a problem.  Does anyone
know of a moisture probe suitable for this
application? Please advise on availability and prices.


Thank-you in advance, 

Chris Magura
University of Manitoba
Biosystems Engineering

[Bruce comments:
Measuring in hay might be similar: I have placed the links below on the
webpage:
www.sowacs.com/findasensor/hay.html

Delmhorst has a hay moisture monitoring sensor an logger
http://www.delmhorst.com/moisture.html

Have a look at this thread in the 1999 sowacs archives:
www.sowacs.com/archives/99-12/threads.html#0001

which mentions Draminski Moisture Meter for hay and straw
http://www.draminski.com/moisture.html

This list and any others has been added to a new page in the "findasensor"
section  of sowacs. So please send all other URLs you may find on this,
thanks 
Bruce]