PCE Instruments PCE-PTR 200N-ICA Force gauge 0 - 200 N ISO standards

The penetration meter is a practical hand-held measuring device for controlling the degree of maturation of different fruit types. Unlike an analogue ammeter, this digital measuring device offers a higher accuracy. The penetration meter gives you valuable information about the optimum harvest time. In addition, quality can also be monitored during storage, transport and sales. The penetration meter has an internal measuring cell and is controlled by a microprocessor. This microprocessor ensures fast and accurate reading. The device is equipped with a test stand mounting device and, if available, can be mounted on it. This minimizes user errors and allows series measurements.

The hygrometer is operated via an internal built-in rechargeable battery, which can be charged via a 240 V power plug. The display can be rotated by 180°, WAS simplifies the reading during the measurement. The software and data cables are used to transfer the measured values from the hygrometer to a computer. Measurements can be made in the units N, kg and lb. A special plus of the penetration meter is the large measurement range with simultaneously high resolution and accuracy. Normally, all crop species can only be measured if three conventional penetometers are available. Only in this way can exact measurement be made according to DIN independent of type and diameter. Due to the use of the penetration meter, no other devices are required, since the three measuring adapters are included in the delivery. They can be comfortably screwed on or off.

Information about strength/degree of maturity
When we talk about the maturation in fruit, we have to distinguish between physiological maturity and maturity for distribution. Physiological maturity is only achieved in the tree and is the earliest harvest time for distribution of this type of fruit. The maturity for the distribution will only be reached later and indicates the best time for consumption (when the color, taste and strength are Ideal for the end user). The climate-dependent fruits reach maturity for distribution later because they continue to mature after harvest. During maturity, there is an intense internal change in the fruit. This change is expressed in color, shape and strength. It is necessary to obtain objective values with which you can follow the development of the maturity. This will enable you to identify the right measures for the best harvest time and the following patterns (e.g. for determining the quality of the fruit, the value for market sales or for the end user), especially for climate-dependent fruits. Measuring the strength or toughness of the fruit with the Penetrometer gives you information about the maturity level, so it is the most commonly used method of control. However, there are other methods used by the refractometer, for example. The refractometers use the colorimetric method or they measure the content of soluble solids in fruit (this method allows you to determine the total sugar content).

The strength and toughness measured with the penetration of the product is reduced with the maturity, but we have to expect that the strength of a type of fruit can change under general conditions (the type of fruit or the growing zone) or under specific conditions (size, temperature, etc.). The strength of the fruit becomes lower, the greater the strength and the higher the temperature.

Important information on the use of the measured values on a penetration meter with different stamp sizes
Since three test stamps of different sizes are available for testing pulp strength, the pressure applied to the penetration test acts on different sized surfaces. To compare the values when using test stamps of different sizes, the value for the pressure force per surface in kilograms per square centimeter is used.

With this penetration meter, you can select between Newton (N), kilogram (kg) and British pounds (lb) in the unit of measurement. To convert the force to force per surface, it is recommended to set the display immediately to kilograms. This measurement then only needs to be divided by the area size of the pressure area of the test stamp.

Small test stamp: Diameter 6 mm / surface 0.28 cm²

Middle test stamp: Diameter 8 mm / surface 0.50 cm²

Large test stamp: Diameter 11.3 mm / surface 1.00 cm²

A measurement of kg corresponds to 6 6 kg/cm² when using the large test stamp, 12 kg/cm² for the middle test stamp and 21.4 kg/cm² when using the small test stamp. If you compare the values with the specifications for the respective variety, make sure that the comparison values are actually given in kg/cm² or in kg/(0.5 cm²).

Advantages of the digital pedometer in comparison to analogue devices
In contrast to an analogue ammeter, many digital wall-mounted meters offer the ability to store measurements. The penetration meter can display the minimum value, maximum value and average value from the 10 measured values stored in the device. Furthermore, during a series of measurements, it always shows not only the current measured value but also the peak value of the last measurements (PEAK). Like many other digital penetration devices, it also has an interface for transferring data to a PC and has a specific software for evaluating the measured data. If series measurements are carried out while the device is connected to the PC or laptop, a lot of measurement data can be stored and evaluated conveniently. In option F-12, the device menu in the penetration meter allows you to set whether the measured data should be transferred either at the push of a button, at a stable value, or permanently if the value changes.

With the digital spectrometer, not only can the fertility be tested with three different measuring tips. It also offers you the possibility to carry out many other pressure and tensile measurements up to a load of 200 Newton (approx. 20 kg). For example, for fruits where the penetration test cannot be applied, you can test by measuring the force required to detach a fruit from the tree. All you need to do is change the adapter.

This text is machine translated.