Saw this a month or so ago, but played it all the way out this time. My MM has been on a slow countdown reading for some reason. I split the wood, plug it in and it starts at a reading I know is too high, and slowly ticks down. Sometimes real slowly. I was checking a piece of Hickory and it was doing just that. Started around 26% and was changing every minute or two. I left it in and came back an hour later. She settled on 8%. Would love to think that was accurate, but I don't think so. It used to get an instant read, and I felt the reads were on target. Most of my stuff was 18/19%. Hickory is Irene storm debris, so it is around 2 years cut and split. Not stacked, piled. Albeit a 5 foot tall pile that I am taking from the top of.
It would not power up at first. Replaced the batteries with super-duty Duracells and then it did the thang it did. Hickory is burning great, thankfully. I abandoned my wood pile due to the cold snap and the walnut that is showing its' face there. The Hickory is piled up awaiting stacking. Mixed with Cherry which is a great mix. I keep letting smoke out to freshen the house!
Not frozen. Been bringing in a load when I fill the stove. Lots of snow and ice blowing around these parts right now. I let the wood dry
Could be the wood is cold inside and condensation forms when split, then quickly evaporates. Only thing I can think of.
Played some more with it and found the following: The readings are concise and quickly acquired when checking other things like skin, carpet or furniture. Only difference there being the depth of the probes. I was not bleeding in order to test this! When I gently pushed the probes into the firewood, I get a solid and expected reading of 18% on my Cherry and 19% on the Hickory. If I plunge the probes in deeper, the problem replicates itself. Problem solved, I guess?
