Technical Specifications

The AQUALAB 5TE is a benchtop water activity meter built around chilled-mirror dew point technology. It measures water activity and moisture content from a single sample, with temperature control across the 15.00–50.00 °C range. The specifications below reflect standard operating conditions using the dew point sensor. Moisture content values depend on product-specific sorption isotherms and should be validated against your reference method.

Model/Part Number: AQUALAB 5TE

Water Activity (aw)

• Measurement range: 0.0300–1.0000 aw

• Resolution: 0.0001 aw

• Accuracy: ±0.003 aw (dew point); ±0.020 aw (capacitance)

• Repeatability: 0.001 aw (dew point); 0.010 aw (capacitance)

• Sensor type: Chilled-mirror dew point and capacitance hygrometer

Moisture Content

• Measurement range: 0.00–100.00% MC

• Resolution: 0.01% MC

• Accuracy: ±0.5% of moisture content reference

• Repeatability: 0.01% MC

• Measurement method: Secondary method using moisture sorption isotherm and water activity

Temperature

• Range: 15.00–50.00 °C

• Resolution: 0.01 °C

• Accuracy: ±0.1 °C

Read Time

• Minimum: 1 minute (requires AQUALAB Cloud license)

• Typical: 5 minutes

• Reading modes: Single, Continuous, ISO 18787, Low Volatility

Physical Specifications

• Height: 14.73 cm (5.8 in)

• Width: 32.51 cm (12.8 in)

• Depth: 29.21 cm (11.5 in)

• Weight: 3.0 kg (6.61 lb)

• Case material: Polycarbonate-ABS (PC-ABS)

• Sample cup capacity: 12 mL (0.41 fl oz)

• External power input: 100–240 VAC, 1.4 A, 50–60 Hz

• Barrel connector input: 24 VDC, 3.75 A, 90 W (center positive)

Standard Accessories Included:

• AQUALAB 5TE instrument unit

• Power adapter and power cord

• USB-A to USB-B cable

• Calibration certificate

• USB-Ethernet adapter

• Wireless adapter (regional availability varies)

Items Excluded:

• AQUALAB Cloud license (required for 1-minute read mode and moisture content readings)

• Disposable sample cups

• Certified salt standards for verification

• Cleaning swabs

Pre-installation Requirement:
Place the instrument on a clean, level surface with stable ambient temperature. Avoid direct airflow from vents, windows, heaters, or air conditioning units. Connect only the supplied power adapter to a grounded outlet. For cloud connectivity, ensure access to cloud.aqualab.com via Ethernet or 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.

Why the AQUALAB 5TE Belongs in Your Lab

Most laboratories still treat water activity and moisture content as two separate measurements on two separate instruments. R&D validates a formulation on one device, production monitors the line on another, and QA reconciles both before release. Every handoff introduces delay, transcription risk, and a reason to question the result.

The AQUALAB 5TE water activity meter removes that split. It measures both parameters from a single sample in one test cycle, using the chilled-mirror dew point method that AQUALAB instruments have built their reputation on for over four decades . The result is one reading, one record, and one source of truth that R&D, production, and QA can all access.

For teams purchasing through OS4U, this means a shorter path from sample to decision. For the full manufacturer specifications and application notes, visit the AQUALAB 5TE product page.

Key Benefits

One sample, two answers, sixty seconds

The AQUALAB 5TE moisture analyzer eliminates the second instrument and the second workflow. Water activity and moisture content appear on the same screen from the same reading, with ±0.003 aw accuracy and ±0.5% moisture content reference accuracy . When a batch needs release, you are not waiting for a second test to finish.

Calibration that does not stop your line

BlockSwap™ lets you replace the water activity sensor block without sending the instrument offsite. Maintenance happens on your schedule, not the service depot’s. Smart alerts notify you before verification standards expire, so calibration never becomes an unplanned downtime event .

A touchscreen built for gloved hands

The 7-inch PCAP touchscreen responds to double nitrile gloves, with audio and visual feedback that confirms each action. Built-in tutorials and eight interface languages reduce training time to minutes rather than days . Keyboard, barcode scanner, and printer support work out of the box.

Compliance evidence that is already there

Electronic records and signatures, searchable audit trails on the instrument and in AQUALAB Cloud, and user access controls across every connected device support 21 CFR Part 11 requirements . When an auditor asks for the record behind a release decision, you are not reconstructing it from three separate logs.

Cloud sync that keeps working offline

Every reading syncs to AQUALAB Cloud with product, batch, and operator tags. Pass/fail thresholds trigger instant alerts. If the network drops, the instrument keeps measuring and syncs when connectivity returns . Your data does not depend on a stable connection to stay intact.

Solving the Problems That Slow Labs Down

Struggling with variable results between operators? The glove-ready touchscreen and guided prompts give every user the same starting point. The chilled-mirror sensor measures the sample directly, not through a secondary correlation, so operator technique has less room to influence the outcome.

Tired of waiting for moisture content results? The secondary moisture content method calculates %MC from the water activity reading and a product-specific sorption isotherm. You get both values in the same run, without a separate Karl Fischer titration or oven method for every batch .

Losing time to calibration downtime? BlockSwap changes the service model. You keep the instrument. You swap the block. You continue measuring. The annual calibration event no longer requires a loaner unit or a production pause .

Reconciling data across R&D, production, and QA? AQUALAB Cloud ties every reading to the product, batch, and operator who ran it. The same record is visible on the instrument, in the cloud dashboard, and in the export file. One number, one history, one place to check .

Warranty & Support

We provide a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty covering parts and labor. Technical support, installation assistance, and operational training are also available. Replacement parts and consumables are available throughout the product’s service life.

Request a Quotation or Technical Datasheet

Contact us for more information, customized configurations, and solutions tailored to your specific requirements.