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Elcometer 345
Operating Instructions
R
English
Equipment described in these instructions is covered by the following Patents:
FNF UK Patent No: GB2306009B and FNF US Patent No: 5886522
Simple Statistics Patent Applications: UK No. 9903992.7, GmbH No. 19945836.7
The Elcometer 345 Coating Thickness Gauge has been tested in accordance with EU regulations
governing electro-magnetic compliance and meets the required directives.
Note: Gauge readings may be affected if the unit is operated within a radio frequency electromagnetic strength
of greater than 3 V/m.
and are registered trademarks of Elcometer Instruments Ltd.
All other trademarks acknowledged.
© Copyright Elcometer Instruments Ltd. 2008.
All rights reserved. No part of this Document may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored (in a retrieval
system or otherwise) or translated into any language, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Elcometer Instruments Ltd.
A copy of this Instruction Manual is available for download on our Website via www.elcometer.com/downloads.
Doc No. TMA-0431 Issue 01
Text with Cover No. 20607
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CONTENTS
Section Page
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5 Calibration adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.1 Calibration Adjustment Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.2 Calibration Adjustment for Smooth Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.3 Special Calibration Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
5.4 The Correction Value Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.5 To Recall The Factory Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6 Statistical summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.1 Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.2 Displaying Statistical Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.3 Clearing Statistical Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
6.4 Setting The User List For Statistical Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.5 Example of Statistical User List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7 Data Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
9 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
10 Error Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
11 Technical specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
12 Probes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
13 Spares and accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
14 Related equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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Thank you for your purchase of this Elcometer 345 Coating Thickness Gauge. Welcome to Elcometer.
Elcometer are world leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of inspection equipment for coatings
and concrete. Our products cover all aspects of coating inspection, from development through application
to post application inspection.
The Elcometer 345 Coating Thickness Gauge is a world beating product. With the purchase of this gauge
you now have access to the worldwide service and support network of Elcometer. For more information visit
our website: www.elcometer.com
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1.2 STANDARDS
The Elcometer 345 can be used in accordance with the following National and
International Standards:
FERROUS (F): ASTM B 499; ASTM D 1186-B; ASTM G 12; ISO 1461; ISO 2063; ISO 19840; ISO 2808-7Ca
NON-FERROUS (NF): AS 3894.3; ASTM D 1400; BS 5599; ISO 2360; ISO 2808-7Db
FERROUS (F) AND NON-FERROUS (NF): AS 2331.1.4; AS/NZS 1580.108.1; ASTM D 7091; ASTM E 376
a. Supersedes: ISO 2808-5, BS 3900-C5, BS 5411-11 NF T30-124 SSPC PA2 AS 3894.3 EN 13523-
b. Supersedes: BS 3900-C5, BS 5411-3, BS 5599, DIN 50984
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To maximise the benefits of your new Elcometer 345 Coating Thickness Gauge please take some
time to read these Operating Instructions. Do not hesitate to contact Elcometer or your Elcometer
supplier if you have any questions.
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2 GETTING STARTED
Note: Before you use your gauge for the first time, remove the paper strip from the battery compartment.
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2.6 DISPLAY
The display will show the measurement value.
In addition, a number of symbols can appear on the display:
2.8 KEY-LOCK
The gauge is fitted with a ‘Key-Lock’ feature, which is a form of password, to prevent accidental operation
of calibration adjustment - see “Calibration adjustment” on page 14.
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separate
gauges 0
Switch on or R
4 seconds F
Switch off >>>>
OFF >>>>
on
bare metal on foil
Calibration
adjustment for >4 seconds
0 4 seconds 0
Smooth R
>>>> >>>> R
10
R
on thin foil
>4 seconds
0
>>>> >>>> >>>> R
>>>> or
Calibration adjust to foil
adjustment for
Rough and on thick foil
Special >4 seconds
Substrates 0
>>>> to set >>>> >>>> R
>>>> or
adjust to foil
>>>> to set.
Set User List >>>> >>>> >>>> keep pressing until first statistic
for Statistical
Values wanted appears, then press to accept. Repeat for all statistics wanted. Press
to set.
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on
bare metal
0
To Reset R
>>>> to adjust to 10 µm (0.5 mil) [or 100 µm (4.0 mil) for scales F2
Factory
Calibration
and F3] >>>> >>>> >>>> to clear 1 Err and reset factory
calibration.
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4 TAKING A MEASUREMENT
Before starting to take measurements it is good practice to check the performance of the gauge using the
calibration adjustment procedure - see “Calibration adjustment” on page 14.
1. Hold the gauge with the probe pressed
Integral
firmlyc against the surface you are probe
measuring.
0
2. The display will blinkd and then display the
R
coating thickness.
If required, this reading can be adjusted for R
c. The reading may be inaccurate if the probe is not held flat against the surface.
d. If the display does not blink then the gauge has not recognised that the probe is on the surface, usually because the
coating is much too thick for the range of the gauge.
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5 CALIBRATION ADJUSTMENT
The Elcometer 345 should be adjusted before use, or at least checked to ensure that the calibration
adjustment is correct for the conditions of use.
Calibration adjustment should be carried out with the appropriate probe, on the same type of metal, the
same curvature and similar surface finish as that of the item to be measured. It is best to use an uncoated
item that is similar to the coated item to be tested.
When the gauge is shipped from the factory it comes with a preset calibration. See “To Recall The Factory
Calibration” on page 18 for instructions on how to restore this calibration.
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Note: If the probe is left on the bare substrate or moved quickly to the calibration R
foil the display will show a sequence of three ‘rising’ ‘-’ symbols and sound a
series of bleeps as a warning. The probe must be lifted into free air before taking
a measurement on the calibration foil.
4. Press or for more than 4 seconds to adjust the display to the
calibration foil value, When close to the correct reading, a few quick presses of
or will step to the correct reading. If the statistics feature is switched
on, the display will show one of the statistical values (“Statistical summary” on
page 19). After 4 seconds C appears in the left-hand side of the display and the
value will start to change. The bleeper will sound to indicate that the calibration
routine has been started.
5. When the value in the display is correct, press to accept the new
calibration or wait 7 seconds for the gauge to accept the calibration automatically. The display will blink
then re-display the reading. The bleeper will sound to indicate acceptance of the new calibration.
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6. Confirm that the gauge reads correctly at zero and at the calibration foil value. If required the
calibration adjustment can be repeated to ensure its accuracy.
To re-adjust the gauge, repeat all the steps in Section 5.2.
Note: As well as calibration foils, certified coated standards are available - see “Spares and accessories”
on page 30.
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4. Press and hold or for more than 5 seconds to adjust this average to the foil value.
5. Press to accept the low calibration or wait 7 seconds to accept the calibration automatically.
The display will now show CH1 (= Calibrate High).
6. Place the chosen high calibration foil on the bare metal surface and take a number of readings until a
stable average is displayed.
7. Press and hold or for more than 4 seconds to adjust this average to the foil value.
8. Press to accept the calibration or wait 7 seconds for the gauge to accept the calibration
automatically. The display will blink and then re-display the reading. The bleeper will sound 3 times to
indicate that this routine is complete. will stop flashing and will remain visible on the display.
9. Confirm that the average gauge reading on each calibration foil is correct. An intermediate foil
thickness can also be used to confirm the performance over the calibrated range.
The calibration values are stored in the gauge until new values are entered, even when the gauge is
switched off. on the display indicates the special calibration on switch on.
To re-calibrate, repeat the procedure. Re-calibrating using the smooth surface calibration method (see
“Calibration Adjustment for Smooth Surfaces” on page 15) to set zero will remove from the display.
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When coating thickness gauges are adjusted on a smooth surface, readings on a blast cleaned or otherwise
roughened surface will be high and the correction value must be subtracted from the reading to obtain the
thickness of the coating,
The correction value is determined according to the roughness of the surface per ISO 8501, the Surface
Roughness Comparator Elcometer 125. If the roughness of the surface under the coating is unknown a
default correction value of 25 µm (1.0 mil) is subtracted from each reading. For further details see EN19840
'Paints and Varnishes - Corrosion protection of steel structures by protective paint systems - Measurement
and acceptance criteria of the dry film thickness”.
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6 STATISTICAL SUMMARY
6.1 STATISTICS
The statistics display on the Elcometer 345 shows a preset combination of the five statistical functions which
may be shown on the display in any user defined order by pressing one key. The feature is switched on by
selecting at least one statistical value to be displayed - see “Setting The User List For Statistical Values” on
page 21. The feature is switched off by selecting OFF.
OFF The menu from which the list is created is as follows:
• Number of Readings taken
• Mean value of these Readings
• Standard deviation of these Readings
• Highest Reading taken
• Lowest Reading
• OFF (Switches the statistics off.)
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If is pressed the gauge displays the next statistical value on the user list for a minimum of 3
seconds.
If is pressed the gauge displays the previous statistical value on the user list for a minimum of 3
seconds.
• To display the rest of the list of values or must be pressed while the current value is on the
display.
• To exit the list press .
STATISTICAL SYMBOLS
= Number of readings
= Mean (Average)
= Standard Deviation
H = Highest reading
L = Lowest reading
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DISPLAY SYMBOLS
F
= Number of readings
= Average (Mean)
= Standard Deviation
= Highest reading
Lo = Lowest reading
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• To enter the statistical value displayed at the next available position on the list press . If this is the
first entry then the current user list is deleted and replaced with a new user list and it appears in the
top left of the display. This action also serves to switch the statistics feature on.
• To view the next statistical value on the user list press . Repeat presses of will scroll round
the menu. Press to add the statistic value to the list. Press to exit menu or exit automatically
when all 5 items have been entered.
Selecting OFF and pressing will switch the statistics feature off.
2F
3F
4F
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7 DATA OUTPUT
Your gauge is fitted with an infrared data output feature. This operates with the Infrared Portable Printer -
see “Spares and accessories” on page 30 for sales part number. Ensure the Elcometer 345 is within
500 mm of the printer, and that the Elcometer 345 IR LED is aligned with the IR detector on the printer.
PRINTING
To print the statistical values, press >>>> >>>> . The display will show PrF.
PrF
To print these values press >>>> again.
Press to return the gauge to measurement mode.
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8 STORAGE
This gauge incorporates a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). If the display is heated above 50°C (120°F)
it may be damaged. This can happen if the gauge is left in a car parked in strong sunlight.
Always store the gauge in its carrying pouch when it is not being used.
9 MAINTENANCE
You own one of the finest hand-held coating thickness gauges in the world. If looked after, it will last a
lifetime.
The gauge does not contain any user-serviceable components. In the unlikely event of a fault, the gauge
should be returned to your local Elcometer supplier or directly to Elcometer.
Regular calibration checks are a requirement of quality management procedures e.g. ISO 9000 and other
standards. For gauge checks and certification contact Elcometer or your local Elcometer supplier.
Details of Elcometer offices around the world are given on the outside cover of these Operating Instructions.
Alternatively visit the Elcometer website, www.elcometer.com
PROBES
The probe will wear with repeated use. Probe life depends on the number of measurements taken and the
manner in which readings are taken. To extend probe life, always set the probe down so that it is
perpendicular to the panel surface. Never drag the probe along the surface, as doing so will drastically
reduce the life of the probe.
Replacement of integral probes must be carried out by Elcometer. Separate probes can be fitted by the
user.
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10 ERROR CODES
Press to clear error codes.
Error code Explanation
0 Err Unable to obtain a stable reading. This is either due to a very high electrical noise
environment, beyond emc specification limits, or could indicate a gauge fault.
1 Calibration factors are out of range. Clear the error message and repeat the adjustment
Err
procedure.
2 Err Averaging error.
9 Err The printer is off line, out of paper or printer or cable fault. Correct printer fault or press
to cancel print function.
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11 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Range: 0 µm to 1500 µm (0 mil to 60 mil)
Accuracy: ± 3% of the reading or ± 2.5 µm (0.1 mil)
whichever is the greater.
± 1% of the reading or ± 2.5 µm (0.1 mil)
whichever is the greater when calibrated close to the thickness to be
measured.
Resolution, metric: 1 µm
Below 20 µm, 0.1 µm
Resolution, imperial: 0.1 mil
Below 1 mil, 0.01 mil
Display: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 3½ Digits, Character height: 10 mm (0.4")
Operating Temperature: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 120°F)
Dimensions: 56 mm x 24 mm x 120 mm (2.2" x 0.95" x 4.75")
Weight (incl. Dry Batteries): 115 gms. (4 oz).
Measurement speed: > 40 readings per minute.
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Battery Life: 30 to 40ghours continuous with alkaline dry batteries (15 000 to 20 000
readings at an average of 8 readings per minute). Battery life is reduced
when using the back light.
Minimum Substrate Thickness: 300 µm (12 mil) unless special adjustment is made - see section 5.3.
Gauges will have reduced range when adjusted for thin substrates.
e. Alkaline batteries must be disposed of carefully to avoid environmental contamination. Please consult your local
environmental authority for information on disposal in your region.
Do not dispose of any batteries in fire.
f. Rechargeable batteries can be used if they are charged outside the gauge.
g. Battery life is reduced to approximately 25% of the dry battery life when using rechargeable batteries. Follow the
instructions provided by the battery manufacturer when charging and disposing of rechargeable batteries.
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12 PROBES
Gauges with serial number TA---- onward are fitted with a new design of probes. The part numbers for
replacements for separate probes are shown in Table 1 on page 29.
Special application probes are also available as follows:
F1S Sealed Probe - for measurement on wet surfaces T34515847
F1 Right Angle Arm Probe - for access to short bores and restricted areas T34515862
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Individual calibration foils and customised sets are also available. Consult your local Elcometer supplier.
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13.7 HOLSTER
13.8 RAINCOAT
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14 RELATED EQUIPMENT
Elcometer produces a wide range of coating thickness gauges and associated paint inspection equipment.
Users of the Elcometer 345 may also benefit from the following Elcometer products:
• Elcometer 456 Coating Thickness Gauge
• Elcometer 406 Miniature Glossmeter
For further information contact Elcometer, your Elcometer supplier or visit the Elcometer website,
www.elcometer.com
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15 INDEX
B E O
Backlight 9 Error codes 25 Outputting data 23
Batteries
Fitting 6 F P
Life 27 Factory calibration 18 Print Data Output 12
Low voltage 6 Foils Printer
Type 26 Ordering 30 Infrared 31
Blast cleaned surfaces 17 Printing 23
G Probe
C Connecting 7
Gauge features 4
Calibration adjustment 14 Probes 28
Error 14 Adapters 31
H
for Rough and Special Substrates Wear of 24
11 Hand grip, Jumbo 31 Protection for gauge 32
Procedure 10 Harness
Rough surfaces 16 Fitting 7 Q
Small diameters 16 Wrist (spare part) 32
Holster (belt) 32 Quick Operation Guide 10
Smooth surfaces 15
Special steel alloys 16
I R
Thin substrates 16
Calibration certificates 30 Imperial units 8 Range
Coated thickness standards Infrared printer 31 Warning 13
Spares 31 Reset 12
Contents of box 5 K
Correction value 17 S
Key-Lock 8
Service 24
D Shims
M
Data output 23 Ordering 30
Delete Last Reading 9 Maintenance 24 Spare parts 30
Display symbols 8 Measurement 13 Standards 4
Metric units 8 Coated thickness 31
Statistics 9, 19
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Clearing 11, 20
Displaying 19
List of 11, 21
Turning off 12
Storage 24
Substrate thickness
Minimum 27
Switching on/off 8
T
Technical specification 26
Test certificates 30
Thin substrates 16
U
Units
Changing 8
V
V Adaptor, for pipes 31
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