Tramex ME5 – Moisture Encounter
The Tramex ME5 is a dual-depth, non-destructive moisture meter that gives an instant moisture reading and evaluation. Deep depth penetration reads up to 30 mm (1.25 inch) and shallow depth up to 10 mm (0.40 inch), across five ranges of sensitivity – wood and timber, shallow depth, drywall and roofing, plaster and tile, and masonry – making it suitable for testing in and through a wide range of materials in the building envelope.
Why dual depth matters
A single-depth meter tells you there is moisture. It does not tell you whether the moisture is in the covering or in the substrate underneath. The ME5 reads at two depths from the same spot, so you can compare surface against core and work out whether a wet reading on a floor covering is the covering itself or the slab influencing it. For an inspector or restorer, that is the difference between recommending a floor comes up and drying it in place.
Features
- Five ranges of sensitivity: wood and timber, shallow depth, drywall and roofing, plaster and tile, masonry
- Dual-depth penetration for comparative surface and core readings, eliminating substrate influence when testing coverings
- Deep signal penetration up to 30 mm in wood and drywall, detecting elevated moisture through most covering materials
- Non-destructive – no pins, no holes, no damage to the finished surface
- Analogue display, with Bluetooth connection to the Tramex Meters app (ME5 user guide, 2024)
- Optional E5-HBS extension bracket with telescopic handle
Applications
- Water damage restoration and drying verification
- Indoor air quality investigation
- Pest control inspection
- Building surveying
- Residential roofing
Materials: drywall, wood, plaster, brick, ceramic and porcelain tiles, resilient flooring, laminates, asphalt composition shingles and most building materials.
Technical specifications
| Weight | 270 g (9.5 oz) |
| Size | 160 mm x 85 mm x 38 mm |
| Construction | ABS body |
| Power | 2 x AA 1.5V LR6 batteries |
| Display | Analogue |
| Depth of penetration | Dual depth, 10 mm and up to 30 mm in wood and drywall |
| Reference scale, building materials | 0 to 100 |
| Moisture content of wood | 5 to 30% |
Documents
Frequently asked questions
ME5 or MEX5 – which do I need?
The ME5 is the analogue, non-destructive meter: five material scales, dual depth, Bluetooth to the app, and nothing to plug in. The MEX5 is the digital version and adds material-specific scales, a built-in hygrometer, an infrared surface thermometer, and ports for in-situ RH and pin probes. If you want a fast, rugged scanner for finding moisture, the ME5 does that and costs less. If you need to log psychrometrics, take pin readings or produce RH results, take the MEX5.
Can I add RH or pin probes to an ME5?
No. The ME5 has no probe ports. Probe capability requires the MEX5 or, for concrete work, the CMEX5.
Will it read through carpet, vinyl or tile?
The deep setting penetrates up to 30 mm and will detect elevated moisture through most covering materials. Readings taken through a covering are comparative rather than a quantitative %MC of the covering itself – use the dual-depth comparison to work out which layer is wet.
Does a non-destructive reading prove a slab is dry enough to lay over?
No. Flooring specifications call for in-situ relative humidity testing to AS 1884-2012 or ASTM F2170. Non-destructive meters are survey instruments – they tell you where to test, not whether the floor passes.
What warranty applies?
All Tramex products carry a full satisfaction guarantee including a one year warranty against defects in parts and workmanship. Proof of purchase is necessary.
Not sure whether the ME5 or the MEX5 suits your inspections? Contact Carpet Cleaners Warehouse before you order and we will work through it against the jobs you do.
