LAB # 1 : Calibration of Speedy Moisture Meter

Apparatus:
1. Speedy Moisture meter
2. Two 1.25” steel balls
3. Cleaning brush and cloth
4. Scoop for measuring Calcium Carbide reagent
5. Calcium Carbide reagent

Procedure:
1. Weigh a 26 gm soil sample on the tarred scale and place it in the cap of the tester.
2. Place the scoop of Calcium Carbide and two steel balls in the larger chamber of
the moisture meter.
3. With the pressure vessel in an approximately horizontal position insert the cap in
the pressure vessel and seal it by tightening the clamp, taking care that no carbide
comes in contact with the soil until a complete seal is achieved.
4. Raise the moisture tester to a vertical position so that the soil in the cap will fall
into the pressure vessel.
5. Shake the instrument vigorously so that all lumps are broken up to permit the
calcium carbide to react with all available free moisture. The instrument should be
shaker with a rotation motion so that the steel balls will not damage the instrument
or cause soil particles to become embedded in the orifice leading to pressure
diaphragm.
6. When the needle stops moving read the dial while holding the instrument in a
horizontal position at eye level.
7. Record the dial reading.
8. While the cap of the instrument pointed away from the operator, slowly release the
gas pressure. Empty the pressure vessel and examine the material for lumps. If the
sample is not completely pulverized, the test should be repeated using a new
sample.
9. The dial reading is the percent of moisture by wet mass and must be converted to
dry mass.
Observations & Calculations:
Gp. # Can # Empty Wet Soil Dry Soil W (oven) W (sp)
Can wt + Can wt + Can wt [(W2 –W3)/
W2 W3 (W3-W1)]
W1
x100
(gm)
(gm) (gm) (%) (%)

1 92 14.07 23.93 23.42 5.45 5.71

2 97 14.06 23.61 22.99 6.94 9.65
3 59 15.64 36.37 34.41 10.44 8.58
4 78 13.68 25.35 24.16 11.35 12.74

Comments:
➢ While looking at the graph above, the portion where W (sp) < W might be due to
personal & experimental errors CaC2 may not be in exact amount. There may not
be complete reaction & hence m.c. is less.
➢ This graph for a particular speedy meter gives its accuracy relative to standard
oven drying method.
➢ Once this graph is plotted for a particular speedy meter, we can obtain standard
oven values corresponding to any speedy meter reading without going to lab or
doing calculations.