ION SF6 LeakCheck P1 XTL Leak Detector Owner’s Manual

: August 26, 2024
: ION

Table of Contents

ION SF6 LeakCheck P1 XTL Leak Detector
Product Specifications
FAQ
Precautions
P1 XT menu system
APPEARANCE
TECHNICAL
Using Instructions
Product Description
Service life of the P1 SmartSensor
Instrument Firmware Log
Technical Data
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
References
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ION SF6 LeakCheck P1 XTL Leak Detector

ION-SF6-LeakCheck-P1-XTL-Leak-Detector-PRODUCT

Product Specifications

Product: SF6 LeakCheck P1 XTL
Version: V4.0
Manufacturer: ISM Deutschland GmbH
Measuring principle: Gas Sensing Technology
Country: Germany

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do if the measured value keeps changing?
- A: Ensure stable conditions and proper positioning of the sniffer probe. Check for external factors causing fluctuations.
Q: How often should I calibrate the SF6 LeakCheck P1 XTL?
- A: Regular calibration is recommended as per the manufacturer’s guidelines or when performance seems inconsistent.

Precautions

Use the instrument ONLY on voltage free and grounded equipment. Failure to observe this rule may cause fatal injury and/or material damage.
The surface you are going to check for leaks must be free of all liquids like oil or water, and coarse dirt. If necessary, wipe it with a cloth before approaching it with the sensor tip. The ingress of liquids will immediately destroy the SmartSensor, while grease and similar substances, even in small quantities, will obstruct the sample inlet.

Setup Options

This document restricts to very few options that may be significant to the operator.

Measuring principle

An advanced high-voltage ionization detector (NIC©- Negative Ion Capture) is used which has been optimised in consideration of the following:

sensitivity
precision
service life
reliability

Through miniaturisation it has been possible to accommodate the sensor directly in the measurement tip, thereby attaining excellent response and recovery timings.

Usage in practice

Owing to the practice-oriented design of the instruments, work with these is simple and reliable when observing the following:

For leak detection

Switch the instrument to Search Mode.
Guide the sniffer probe as closely as possible to the suspected leaking locations. Establishing material contact with the sniffer probe will be useful.
The velocity at which the sniffer probe is advanced should be at about 20 mm/s.
Please do not push the sniffer probe over the test specimen, instead draw at a 45 degree angle, so as to effectively prevent the ingress of grease and dirt, for example.

For leak measurements

Switch the instrument to Measurement Mode.
Make sure it is set to the desired units of measurement (cc/s or g/a).
Guide the sniffer probe as closely as possible to the suspected leaking locations. Establishing material contact with the sniffer probe will be useful.
The magnitude of the leak can be considered as being correctly acquired when the measured value does not change within 2 seconds.

For concentration rise measurements (integral atm.)

In the set-up select the unit of measurement “ppm”.
Place the test specimen within the chamber free of SF6, close the chamber.
Zero the leak detector in clean ambient air by operating the “Zero” button.
For the initial measurement with the P1 XTL leak detector, push the sniffer probe for approximately 10 to 20 seconds through a corresponding connection directly into the chamber.
Check the measurement value V1. Remove the sniffer probe from the chamber.
After the measurement time defined by the customer has elapsed, Zero the leak detector in clean air by operating the “Zero” button, introduce the sniffer probe into the chamber again and perform the final measurement for a duration of approximately 10 to 20 seconds.
Check the measurement value V2. Remove the sniffer probe from the chamber.
The difference between the two measured values (V2-V1) gives the rise in concentration within the measurement time specified by the customer.

From the main screen that is seen during measurement, the menu system is invoked by clicking the symbol in the upper right corner of the screen. This will bring up the the menu selection screen.

Available options are:

MEASUREMENT

This is home to all settings related to actual measurement. From here, the following menu items are available (greyed out options are disabled, and reserved for future use):

Display Units

By clicking on “cc/s”, “ppm”, or “gm/yr”, the corresponding units are selected for measurement. Please observe that concentration measurement (ppm) is calibrated independently, while leak rate modes (cc/s, gm/yr) share a common calibration.
To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

Set Alarm Value

Define your maximum allowable leak rate or concentration here. All alarm outputs (light signals, vibration alarm, audible alarm) are referenced to this value. Also the 0-100% scale on the available measurement screens is adjusted such that 100% equals the selected alarm value.
To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

Gas

Select the gas wich is used in your components

SF6
C4-FN

C4-FN allows to select the used concentration if desired. Displayed value is corrected to reflect concentrations lower than 100% so as to give a direct readout of the calculated leak rate.

Calibration

User Adjustable Zero Tracking The measurement of electron capturing substances is based on a very small current flowing through ionised air. In the presence of e.g. SF6, this current exhibits a minute drop, from which the quantity of the substance is derived. The current flowing in the absence of such substances is considered as a virtual zero line for measurement. Since it is subject to slow fluctuation in the SmartSensor, as well as to changes induced by the ambient air, it is necessary to constantly maintain and update this virtual zero. For leak detection in sniffing mode, which often takes place in an environment which might be contaminated with SF6, generally the medium setting “NORM” is suggested.

Try “HIGH” if you experience frequent false alarms through changing background levels of detectable gas. For lab environments, the setting “LOW” is suitable in most cases, and also recommended for concentration measurement if you are not looking for very small concentrations (< 2ppm). In the later case, or when you experience strange behaviour like slowly rising readout after a measurement, switch to “OFF”. This freezes the Zero Tracking entirely. On this setting, it is mandatory to manually zero the instrument immediately before taking a measurement.

A minus sign leading the readout indicates that a manual zeroing is required when it is shown permanently. When it does not show up or flashes, this indicates that the virtual zero is right on spot. To set up the Zero Tracking mode, pull up the menu system, then select “Measurement” / “Zero Tracking”, and use the arrow keys to set the desired modes (OFF/LOW/NORM/HIGH) for leak rate and concentration measurement respectively. To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

How to conduct a calibration check

The response of your SF6 Leakcheck instrument can be tested using the CalCheck (p/n A-21500). Push the gas bottle into the top of the CalCheck. This will release the gas and the dial should move into the white. If it remains in the red then you need to replace/refill the gas bottle. Push your SF6 Leakcheck instrument into the CalCheck, as shown in the image below. The SF6 Leakcheck will detect the leak and display a reading. If this reading is incorrect, the SF6 Leakcheck will need to be recalibrated.

APPEARANCE

In the current firmware version, options other than “Volume” are disabled, and reserved for future use.
Click “Volume”, and adjust the slider to the desired volume level.
To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

TECHNICAL

This menu comprises the following options:

Radio

Each P1 XT instrument comes with a dedicated USB Radio Stick. It will not connect to a different Radio Stick.
This option is only ever used if you need to connect the instrument to a different USB Radio Stick by entering the Radio Stick’s MAC address. To change it, clear the entire entry field, and enter the MAC address of the new USB Radio Stick as per separate instructions. When done, turn the instrument off and on again to transfer the new address to its permanent memory, and it will from now on connect to the new USB Radio Stick.

Serial Number

Displays the instrument’s serial number.

Standby

This sets up the desired idle time before the instrument enters standby. This saves battery power, and SmartSensor life time. The recommended time is 5 minutes, adjust the slider to the desired time. Setting it to the lextreme left position will deactivate the standby option entirely.
The instrument will wake up from standby when it is being moved.
To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

Technical Data

Here you can read out the SmartSensor’s, and instrument’s hours of operation.
Please observe that for the sake of reliable operation, SmartSensors are considered unusable when their run time exceeds 300 hours. When this limit is reached, the instrument will no longer work with this SmartSensor.
To exit, use “BACK” if you wish to continue with the menu system, “ESC” to return to measurement.

Using Instructions

Open the Case.
Press firmly on the top of the P1 XT Handgun to release the docking station to the working position.
The instrument will slide out in the working position.
Wait for any action until working position.
Take one P1 SmartSensor out of the storage bay.
Attach the P1 SmartSensor into the plug at the handgun before you switch the instrument on.
To switch the instrument ON press the left button on the Handgun shortly.
The P1 XT will start in „SEARCH MODE“ or “MEASUREMENT MODE” whatever was used before.
To change from „SEARCH MODE“ to „MEASUREMENT MODE“ and back again swipe your finger over the display from left to right.
To set the measured value to Zero press right button shortly.

Product Description

ION-SF6-LeakCheck-P1-XTL-Leak-Detector-FIG-6

Service life of the P1 SmartSensor

The service life to be expected of the SmartSensors is approximately 200 to 300 hours of continuous (!) operation under average conditions of the air in the room. On the basis of an active measurement time of approximately 2 hours per workday, this gives a utilisation duration of approximately 6 months.

In the case of discontinuous measurement operation, the utilisation duration may be optimised by using the standby option. Through the use of the standby modes the SmartSensor is shut down during breaks and for this reason then not subjected to any wear.
The limiting factor regarding the service life of the SmartSensor is that of contaminating the SmartSensor 1.) through small particles taken in with the sample flow air, capable of passing through the front filter (Part No. P1:P-100-0024) and entering into the ionization chamber and 2.) by larger particles which block the filter element, thereby reducing its filtering capacity. Thus the result is a strong dependence of the service life on the ambient conditions.

Any contamination in the ionization chamber results in a more noisy output signal from the SmartSensor making itself felt through fluctuations and sudden changes of the Zero line. The SmartSensor must be considered as worn out when these fluctuations compared to the set up limit become too great. However, measurement sensitivity is maintained at an unchanged level over the entire utilisation duration. In the case of an extreme contamination, it can happen that the SmartSensor cannot be initialised any more when starting the system.

The decaying air permeability of the filter element is compensated for by increasing the operating vacuum within a wide range. However, in case of severe contamination, the vacuum increases to such a level that the discharge within the SmartSensor becomes unstable or is extinguished without any apparent reason. The filter element must be considered as worn out when this occurs frequently.

From the 300th operating hour onwards, the operator is reminded upon starting the system that the SmartSensor must be replaced. Up to a maximum of 320 hours, the SmartSensor can still be operated after confirming the reminder. Thereafter, it must be replaced.

Exchanging the P1 SmartSensor

Before replacing the SmartSensor, the instrument must always be switched off first.
To remove the SmartSensor simply take hold of it at the chequered section of the plugs movable section and pull the sensor straight out of the socket.
When inserting the new SmartSensor, make sure that the marks at the plug and socket line up, and that the movable section of the plug engages in the locking position by resting flush against the outer collar of the socket.

Instrument Firmware Log

Instrument
Firmware| Amendement| Manual
Version| PC
Software
---|---|---|---
1.0.08| Launch Version – P1 XTL First Edition| V1| n.a.
1.0.11| Display Units ppm and g/year added

Technical Data Screen added

| V2| n.a.
1.0.12| Battery drain Issue improved Calibration stabilisation time improved

Passed calibration screen message improved SmartSensor lifetime message

The firmware update process via the radio has been stabilised

| V3| n.a.
1.0.13| Option „C4-FN“ added

Reworked parameters for HV generation Reworked Zero Tracking

Reworked filter for sensor noise Reworked signal cleardown

Streaming selectable parameters added

| V4| 1.0.01

Technical Data

ION-SF6-LeakCheck-P1-XTL-Leak-Detector-FIG-9

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

According to Decision No. 90/2016 Sb. of the European Parliament and of the Council

SF6 LEAKCHECK P1 XTL

The manufacturer stated below declares that the characteristics of the product meet the required technical standards, directives and specification and that it conforms to the respective European Union harmonisation standards. Furthermore the manufacturer declares the product to be safe whilst adhering to the conditions for its correct installation, maintenance and use. This declaration of conformity is issued under the sole responsibility of the manufacturer.