vetus GD1000 Gas Detector User Manual

: June 12, 2024
: vetus

Table of Contents

**vetus GD1000 Gas Detector User Manual
Safety advice
introduction
Operating
Ageing of the sensor
Installing
Technical details
Documents / Resources

**vetus GD1000 Gas Detector User Manual

Gas Detector
**

Safety advice

Read this manual carefully before taking the gas detector into service and follow the user instructions.
Also make sure that other people on board are aware of the safety advice.
As soon as the gas detector detects the presence of gas:

Never switch on any electrical equipment!
No heat, sparks or naked flames!
Ventilate the compartment!
Use soap solution to find the gas leak!

Warning
This product should only be installed and maintained by qualified personnel who have read and understood the instructions and precautions in this manual. Failure to follow the instructions in this manual may result in serious injury or property damage. The manufacturer shall not be liable for any damages resulting from improper installation or maintenance by unqualified personnel.

Warning
This product should only be operated by persons who have read and understood the instructions and precautions in this manual. Failure to follow the instructions in this manual may result in serious injury or property damage. The manufacturer shall not be liable for any damages resulting from improper operation.

introduction

The VETUS gas detector together with one or two sensors forms a gas detection system with two different functions. In the first place to detect a range of combustible gases *) to prevent the risk of explosion on board.

Secondly to detect the poisonous gas carbon monoxide (CO) **) to prevent the formation of a dangerous and poisonous atmosphere for people.

The danger formed by carbon monoxide is dependent on a time-weighted average. This means that it is dependent on both the concentration of carbon monoxide and the time that the carbon monoxide is present. The concentration of carbon monoxide therefore has influence on the time before the gas detector gives an alarm.

Both detector functions are carried out at the same time.

Combustible gases and vapours should not or only in extremely small amounts be present in the normal surrounding atmosphere. Combustible gases are e.g. propane, butane, methane and hydrogen. About 81 % of the composition of natural gas is methane.
Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is an invisible, colourless and odourless gas. It is formed by incomplete combustion in equipment burning organic fuels such as oil, gas, petrol, coal and wood (so not in electrical installations!). Incomplete combustion means that there is insufficient oxygen present to allow good or complete combustion. When carbon monoxide is breathed in it is taken up by the blood via the lungs and attaches itself to the red blood cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen through the body. Because carbon monoxide attaches to red blood cells about 200x more easily than oxygen it can very easily displace oxygen from the blood and this can therefore transport less oxygen.

The gas detector can be connected to a 12 Volt or a 24 Volt direct current power supply.

The gas detector can be used in either continuous or intermittent mode according to choice, see 3.2.

It is recommended that a check for the presence of gas should always be made, even when the ship is not in use! Therefore, always keep the power supply to the gas detector switched on.

Severe contamination and high concentration of moisture reduce the lifetime of the sensors significantly. Poisoning of the sensors occurs if they are exposed to silicone vapour and solvents, (painting work), freons (old cooling systems) or vapour from leaded petrol and polyester resins while they are switched on.

In order to prevent damage to the sensors it is recommended that the gas detector is switched off under the conditions named above or even to remove the sensors from the ship temporarily.

N.B. The presence of combustible gas or CO will then no longer be detected. Do not forget to consider safety!

The sensor ages while being used to measure the concentration, and this is faster during continuous than during intermittent use. After about 2 years of continuous use the sensor will have aged, see ‘4 Ageing of the sensor’.

Contents of the pack

1 Instrument GD1000
1 Sensor
1 Cable for connecting sensor (5 metres)
2 Screws for fitting the sensor
1 Manual

Operating

Switching on and off
Switching on : Briefly press the button once.
Switching off : Press the button and hold down for 5 seconds.

After switching on the gas detector will check for the presence of gas continuously. The LED above the button will come on. This LED will flash if the battery voltage is too low. The gas detector is switched on automatically when the power supply is switched on. This is to prevent you from forgetting to switch it on.

The sensor will have warmed up after about 1 minute and the gas detector can then detect the presence of gas reliably. A test is carried out while the sensor is warming up to see if a sensor is connected and if it is functioning correctly.
Continuous or intermittent check for the presence of gas
The gas detector can be used to check for the presence of gas in either continuous or intermittent mode according to choice. The gas sensors are switched on for 1 minute and then off for 2 minutes when in intermittent mode. The average power consumption is lower in this mode than when used continuously. The gas detector is set standard to continuous mode. Changing from continuous mode to intermittent mode or vice versa is done by pressing the CONT button. The green LED above the CONT button is on when in continuous mode. If the gas valve is opened the gas detector is automatically set to continuous mode, see 3.7.
Use continuous mode when people are on board. Use intermittent mode when you are not on board the ship.
Testing
The working of the gas detector can be tested by activating the test cycle. A false alarm is given for 7 seconds after pressing the TEST button. The following are tested during this false alarm:

the working of the sensors
the working of the acoustic alarm
the correct functioning of the operation of the gas valve and the fan; the gas valve is closed and the fan switched on.

The gas detector checks continuously that the sensor or sensors are connected and functioning correctly. An alarm is given if this is not the case.

Indicating the measured gas concentration (Alarm or safe)
Whether a gas concentration has been measured by the sensor and whether the sensor is functioning correctly is shown by an acoustic alarm and two LEDs, one for each sensor.

The indication is as follows:

LED	GREEN	Safe	No combustible gas or CO has been detected.
LED		Warning CO	A minimum amount of CO has been detected, but

less than the alarm level. This is in the warning range.
LED| | Warning Combustible gas| A minimum amount of combus- tible gas has been detected, but less than the alarm level. This is in the warning range.
| | |
LED| | Alarm CO| An amount of CO higher than the alarm level has been detected.
LED| | Alarm Combustible gas| An amount of combustible gas higher than the alarm level has been detected.
LED| |

Attention

|

The sensor is faulty or aged.

NB : if no sensors are connected to the gas detector it cannot function. Both LEDs 1 SENSOR 2 will flash RED until at least 1 sensor has been detected. Switching off the acoustic alarm
If there is an alarm situation the acoustic alarm (buzzer) can be switched off by pressing the
button.
If the alarm situation still exists 5 minutes after the **button has been pressed the acoustic alarm will be switched on again.
Fan
Use the button **to switch the fan on and off. When the fan is switched on the green LED above the button **will be on. This LED will flash if the battery voltage is too low. The fan is switched on automatically if there is an alarm situation.
Gas valve
Use the button ** to open or close the gas valve. When the gas valve is open the green LED above the button ****will be on. This LED will flash if the battery voltage is too low. If the gas valve is opened the gas detector is automatically set to continuous mode. The gas valve is automatically closed if there is an alarm situation

Ageing of the sensor

The sensor ages when it is used for measuring. The extent of the ageing is monitored by the gas detector. After about 2 years continuous use the sensor is aged and the gas detector will\ give a warning.

The LED of the corresponding sensor on the panel will flash red and the red LED on the particular sensor will also come on. The buzzer will also give the attention signal. A sensor that has aged must be replaced.
Replacing the sensor
Fit and connect a new sensor. The LED for the particular panel on the panel will continue to flash red. After replacing the sensor this must be made known to the gas detector after which it will monitor the

ageing in the correct way again. Follow the instructions below to do this.

Switch off the gas detector using the button.
Replace the sensor.
Switch on the gas detector again using the button.
Press and hold down the button. Now also press the button for the particular sensor.
Sensor 1 : button + TEST button
Sensor 2 : button + button
Keep both buttons pressed in for 10 sec.
A sound will be heard after this to indicate that the ageing clock has been reset to 0. Release both buttons. The corresponding LED will come on green as soon as the new sensor has been detected and is functioning correctly.

The sensor will have warmed up after about 1 minute and the gas detector can then detect the presence of gas reliably.

Keep both buttons pressed in for 10 sec.
A sound will be heard after this to indicate that the ageing clock has been reset to 0. Release both buttons. The corresponding LED will come on green as soon as the new sensor has been detected and is functioning correctly.

The sensor will have warmed up after about 1 minute and the gas detector can then detect the presence of gas reliably

The sensor is a consumable and is not covered by warranty.
Only carry out these actions for the sensor that is being replaced and not for any other existing sensor for which the life cycle is still being monitored, otherwise the ageing of this will no longer be interpreted correctly. This could lead to dangerous situations occurring.

Installing

Control panel
For dimensions see ‘7 Overall dimensions’.
The panel is for fitting inside!
Use a hole cutter to cut a hole diameter 76 mm (3”) in the instrument panel or in a bulkhead. Fit the panel in the hole using the spring clamps supplied. If the back of the panel will not be easily accessible all connections should be made first before positioning the panel in the hole.
Sensors
One or two sensors may be connected to the gas detector as desired. The sensor must be positioned in the right place in the room in which a concentration of gas could arise.
Selecting the right place for the sensor
The sensor detects both combustible gases and carbon monoxide (CO).

The combustible gases propane and butane are heavier than air and must be detected as low as possible.

Carbon monoxide and the combustible gases methane and hydrogen are lighter than air and must be detected as high as possible.

In a room with gas-fired cooking or heating equipment it is naturally possible that gases that are both lighter and heavier than air could occur in the room. Position the sensor about 1.5 metres above the deck in the vicinity of a cooker for example.

All rooms for which this is important must naturally be well ventilated.

The sensor may be positioned at any angle.

The position of the sensor must be chosen so that it will always be out of the bilge water!

Installing a 2nd sensor
If a second sensor is fitted later after originally only positioning one sensor during the installation of the gas detector the presence of the 2nd sensor will automatically be detected by the gas detector.

In order to measure the concentration of gas reliably the sensor must warm up for 1 minute after this.

Connections
Connect the gas detector as shown in ‘8 Wiring diagram’.
Power supply
The gas detector is suitable for both 12 and 24 Volt.

The fuse in the plus wire of the gas detector only protects the gas detector itself and does not protect any gas valve, alarm or fan connected!
Gas valve
An electrically operated gas valve can be connected to the output ‘VALVE’. The gas valve is incorporated in the gas supply line. If there is an alarm situation the valve will be closed automatically and shut off the gas supply to the installation.

The gas valve must operate at the same voltage as the power supply to the installation, either 12 or 24 volt direct current respectively. The output ‘VALVE’ is suitable for a gas valve requiring a current of maximum 1 A. Fit a 1 A fuse in the plus wire to the gas valve. NB: the gas detector switches the minus connection (-, earth) to the gas valve!
External Alarm
An external alarm (for example, a hooter or buzzer) or a contact for an alarm system can be connected to the output ‘ALARM’. If there is an alarm situation the external alarm will be switched on automatically.

The external alarm (hooter or buzzer) must operate at the same voltage as the power supply to the installation, either 12 or 24 volt direct current respectively.

The output ‘ALARM’ is suitable for a hooter or buzzer requiring a current of maximum 1 A. Fit a 1 A fuse in the plus wire to the hooter or buzzer. NB: the gas detector switches the minus connection (-, earth) to the hooter or buzzer!
Ventilator
An electric fan can be connected to the output ‘FAN’. The fan is to replenish the air in the room being monitored. If there is an alarm situation the fan will be switched on automatically

The fan must be ignition protected!
The fan must operate at the same voltage as the power supply to the installation, either 12 or 24 volt direct current respectively. The output ‘FAN’ is suitable for a fan requiring a current of maximum 1 A. Fit a 1 A fuse in the plus wire to the fan. NB: the gas detector switches the minus connection (-, earth) to the fan!

Technical details

Power supply : 12 Volt or 24 Volt direct current
Power supply limits : 8 to 30 Volt
Current taken Intermittent : 35 mA average
Current taken Continuous (per sensor) : 100 mA
Maximum current on outputs for fan, gas
valve and external alarm : 1A
Length of sensor cable : 5 metres

Limits for the detection of propane (C3H4) and butane (C4H10)
Warning : 3 % of the lower explosion limit (LEL) (390 ppm)
Alarm : 6 % of the upper explosion limit (LEL) (780 ppm)

Detection of gases other than propane and butane