The Wagner Orion® 920 Shallow Depth Pinless Wood Moisture Meter Kit features the Orion 920, designed exclusively for shallow measurement of moisture content from the surface down to 6.4 mm (0.25 in) inside wood or other material.
It is intended for applications where accurate readings from thin wood pieces or coatings are critical to success. A flexible rubber boot makes the 920 durable enough for tough jobs.
The Orion 920 joins the rest of the Orion line as the first meters in the industry, Wagner states, to provide true in-the-field calibration with the included On-Demand Calibrator. Calibrate your Orion 920 at your location in about 30 seconds whenever you want.
The Orion line continues Wagner's 50-plus year tradition of accurate, dependable, non-damaging pinless moisture measurement, measuring in the wood rather than just on it, and is backed by Wagner's 7-year warranty.
The Orion 920 Kit Includes
- Orion 920 wood moisture meter
- Paired On-Demand Calibrator
- Rubber protective boot
- Foam-lined ABS plastic carrying case
- 9 V battery
- Species settings booklet
- Instruction manual
- Common flooring materials settings reference card
Which Orion Do You Need?
| Model | Reading depth | Data storage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orion 910 | 19 mm (0.75 in) deep | No | Replaces the MMC220 |
| Orion 920 (this kit) | 6.4 mm (0.25 in) shallow | No | Thin stock and coatings |
| Orion 930 | 6.4 mm and 19 mm (dual) | No | Flooring, QC, woodworking, inspection |
| Orion 940 | 6.4 mm and 19 mm (dual) | Up to 100 readings, manual or automatic, high-low-average | QC and property restoration records |
| Orion 950 | 6.4 mm and 19 mm (dual) | Up to 100 readings; Bluetooth to FloorSmart and Woodshop MC apps | Built-in temperature/RH sensor, dew point, EMC, GPP/GPK |
All five share the same moisture range, species range, housing, On-Demand Calibrator and warranty. Choose on reading depth and whether you need to record data.
Meter Features
Shallow Depth Measurements
The Orion 920 reads from the surface down to 6.4 mm (0.25 in). A deep-reading meter on thin stock can read through the piece into whatever is behind it; a shallow meter keeps the reading within the material you are testing.
Fast Selection Species Settings
Simple up/down arrow buttons set the meter for the wood species you need to measure. Wagner states the range of settings accommodates practically any softwood or hardwood species in the world. The Orion 920 can also be configured for some non-solid wood products such as plywood, OSB or MDF, and Orion meters have species settings for many bamboo flooring products.
Non-Damaging Pinless Sensor
Every Orion meter uses electromagnetic wave technology, a non-damaging way to measure the moisture content of wood or other materials quickly. Compared with pin meters, the pinless sensor does not damage the wood and eliminates the frustration and cost of broken pins.
Virtually Unaffected by Temperature
Wagner states every Orion pinless meter is virtually unaffected by the temperature of the wood or the environment. Unlike pin meters, the sensing technology does not need correction for wood temperature.
True In-the-Field Calibration
There is no need to return an Orion to the factory for calibration. Every Orion comes with an individually paired On-Demand Calibrator, so you can calibrate the meter on site in about 30 seconds whenever you want. A NIST-traceable version with a certificate of calibration can also be purchased. (Wagner lists the calibrator as patent pending.)
Relative Moisture Measurement Mode
A relative mode allows relative moisture measurements in non-wood-based materials and engineered wood flooring, so the meter can be used to compare moisture conditions in a number of non-wood building materials and flooring products. Relative readings are comparisons, not % moisture content.
Press to Hold Readings
Press the ON/HOLD button once and the meter holds the reading, which is useful when measuring in hard-to-reach areas.
Programmable Alarm
The Orion 920 includes a user-programmable audible alarm for high moisture content levels.
7-Year Warranty
Wagner includes the Orion line of pinless moisture meters in its Genuine Wagner 7-Year Warranty programme, which Wagner describes as the longest-lasting warranty in the industry. Ask us how warranty claims are handled for meters bought through CCW.
Specifications
| Moisture content range | 4.0–32.0% (Wagner; varies by species) |
|---|---|
| Reading depth | 6.4 mm (0.25 in) |
| Species range | 0.20–1.0 specific gravity |
| Operating temperature | 0 °C to 43 °C (32 °F to 110 °F) |
| Dimensions (with boot) | 146 × 76 × 25 mm (5.75 × 3.0 × 1.0 in) |
| Weight (with boot) | 204 g (7.2 oz) |
| Power | 9 V battery |
| Auto shut-off | 60 seconds |
| Warranty | 7 years (Wagner) |
| Wagner part number | 890-00920-001 |
Operating Advice
- Calibrate with the paired On-Demand Calibrator before a critical job and after any drop. The calibrator is paired to its meter, so keep them together.
- Set the species (or specific gravity) before reading. A wrong species setting is the most common source of error with any pinless meter.
- Hold the sensor flat and in full contact with the surface. Take several readings across each board rather than relying on one.
- For flooring, compare the timber with the subfloor and allow it to acclimatise before installation, following the flooring manufacturer's moisture limits.
- For concrete slabs, use a concrete meter such as the Wagner C555 for surveys and Rapid RH L6 in-situ RH testing for the final test. Relative mode on an Orion is not a slab moisture test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pinless or pin meter?
Pinless meters read an area without marking the surface, which is why they suit finished flooring, joinery and restoration inspections. Pin meters read between two points and can reach below surface conditions, but they leave holes.
Does surface moisture affect the reading?
Any surface water will influence a pinless reading. Wipe the surface dry first. The Orion 920 reads only the top 6.4 mm, so it is deliberately sensitive to near-surface moisture.
Will it read Australian hardwoods?
Mostly, using the species setting or specific gravity. The meter accepts specific gravities from 0.20 to 1.0. Some very dense Australian hardwoods exceed 1.0, so check your species' specific gravity before relying on the reading.
How is it calibrated?
With the paired On-Demand Calibrator supplied in the kit, on site, in about 30 seconds. A NIST-traceable calibrator with a certificate is available.
When should I choose the 920 over the 910?
Choose the 920 for thin stock, veneers and coatings. For solid timber more than about 19 mm thick, the deep-reading 910 or the dual-depth 930 is the better choice.
What battery does it use?
A standard 9 V battery, included. The meter switches itself off after 60 seconds without use.
Not sure which Orion suits your work? Tell us what you measure and we will help you choose before you order. See the full Wagner range.
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