Tramex MEX5: dual depth pinless with hygrometer and app

Two depths and what that tells you

Tramex lists a shallow penetration of up to 9 mm and a deep setting of up to 30 mm. Comparing the two is the main reason to buy this meter. A high shallow reading with a normal deep one points to surface moisture, while the reverse suggests water held further in, which often means a leak or rising damp rather than condensation.

The listing also says the dual depth approach helps remove the influence of the substrate when you are testing through a covering such as vinyl or laminate.

Hygrometer, dew point and surface temperature

Beyond material moisture, the MEX5 has a built-in hygrometer and an infrared surface thermometer. From those it works out ambient relative humidity, dew point, the gap between surface and dew point temperature, and humidity ratio in GPP or g/kg. For a condensation problem that is the key evidence: if a wall surface sits close to the dew point, it will run wet regardless of what is happening inside the masonry.

Wood readings run from 0 to 30% moisture content, with adjustable specific gravity for different timber species and a baseline adjuster so you can set a dry target when monitoring drying out.

Reports and accessories

Bluetooth links the meter to the Tramex app, which builds moisture maps and lets you geotag and time stamp results and attach photos. That matters if you need to show a landlord, insurer or client where the damp is. Pin and RH probes are listed as optional, so the base kit is pinless only. Batteries are not included according to the listing, and Amazon notes delivery is limited outside mainland UK.

Against the other meters on this site

The Protimeter Aquant BLD5770 is the closest rival, reading pinless to 20 mm with app logging, but it has one depth and no built-in hygrometer. The Temirup WM700D adds pins and an ambient humidity reading in a simpler package, though it is not from a surveying brand and gives no app. The MEX5 is the most complete of the group.