Insulated contact pin for hammer electrodes
A 2 inch (51 mm) steel pin, Teflon insulated along its length with only the last 1/8 inch of the tip bare. Because contact is made only at the tip, the meter reads the moisture at that depth instead of averaging everything the pin passes through — the reading flooring installers and inspectors need for a moisture gradient.
Fitment
Specifications
| Part number |
496 |
| Overall length |
2 inches (51 mm) |
| Maximum penetration |
1 1/8 inches (28.6 mm) |
| Insulation |
Teflon, bare 1/8 inch at the tip |
| Suits |
Wood up to 5–6 inches thick or in diameter |
| Sold as |
Each |
Penetration depth is the figure that decides whether a pin suits the job. It is not the same as the overall length of the pin, and the two are easy to confuse when comparing parts.
Our older listing quoted 51 mm as the penetration figure. 51 mm is the overall length of the pin; penetration is 1 1/8 inches, or 28.6 mm.
Choosing between the 496 and the 1849
Both are insulated pins for the same electrodes. The 1849 penetrates 1/2 inch and suits flooring and lumber up to 2 inches. The 496 penetrates 1 1/8 inches and is the one for shell-and-core work on thicker stock, where you need to see the gradient between a dry surface and a wet centre.
Frequently asked questions
Why insulated pins at all?
An uninsulated pin reads the wettest point anywhere along its length. On timber that is dry at the surface and wet in the middle, that gives you one number and no idea where the moisture is. Insulated pins read only at the tip, so driving to two depths tells you the gradient.
Do these fit my 22-E?
Yes. The 22-E is normally fitted with uninsulated A-111 pins, but it accepts the 496 for soft materials.
What retainer holds them?
The 632 retainer, which also fits the 1849 and A-111.
How long do they last?
It depends entirely on what you are driving them into. Treat them as consumables and carry spares — a bent or blunt pin is the most common cause of a reading a technician cannot explain.
For every other Delmhorst pin and retainer, see the Delmhorst Contact Pins and Retainers Guide (PDF). For timber species corrections, see our Australian Timber Species Correction Tables and the general Correction Tables.
Not sure which part fits your meter or electrode? Send us the model and what you are testing, and we will confirm the correct part before you order.
