Bacharach Informant 2 Owner's Manual
Refrigerant / Combustibles
Leak Detector
Instruction 0019-9211
Operation and Maintenance
Rev. 9 – November 2012
Pat. 6,362,741, D447,071
Product Leadership • Training • Service • Reliability
The Informant™ 2
ii 0019-9211 Rev 9
COMBUSTIBLE REFRIGERANT GAS WARNING: For your safety, DO
NOT use the Informant 2 with the refrigerant sensor to detect refrigerants
which are rated as combustible/flammable gases (e.g. ASHRAE - A2 or A3
rated refrigerants). Use with combustible/flammable refrigerant gases can
cause an explosion resulting in death or severe injury.
Register Your Warranty by Visiting
www.mybacharach.com
WARRANTY
The Informant™ 2
Bacharach, Inc. wa rrants to Buyer that at th e time of delivery this Product will be free from defects in
material and m anufacture and will conform substan tially to Bacharach Inc.’s applic able specifications.
Bacharach’s liabil ity and B uyer’s r emed y under thi s warrant y are limi ted to th e repair or replac ement, at
Bacharach’s opt ion, of t his Prod uct or parts t hereof returned to Sell er at the fact ory of m anufact ure and
shown to Bacharac h Inc.’ s r eas ona bl e sati sf ac tio n to have been defectiv e; pr ovided that written n otice of
the defect shall have bee n given by Buyer to Bacharac h Inc. wit hin one (1) year after the date of deliv ery
of this Product by Bacharach, Inc.
Bacharach, Inc. w arrants t o Buyer t hat it will c onve y good titl e to this P roduct . Bachar ach’s liabil ity an d
Buyer’s remedy under this warranty of title are limited to the removal of any title defects or, at the
election of Bacharach, to the replacement of this Product or parts thereof that are defective in title.
THE FOREGOING WARRANTIES ARE EXCLUSIVE AND ARE GIVEN AND ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF
(I) ANY AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT
LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE: A ND (II) ANY OBLIGATION, LIABILITY, RIGHT, CLAIM OR REMEDY IN
CONTRACT OR TORT, WHETHER OR NOT ARISING FROM BACHARACH’S NEGLIGENCE,
ACTUAL OR IMPLIED. The remedies of the Buyer shall be limited to those provided herein to the
exclusion of any and all other remedies including, without limitation incidental or consequential
damages. No agreem ent varying o r extending th e foregoing warranties, rem edies or this li mitation will
be binding upon Bacharach , Inc. unl es s in writi ng , sig ne d b y a duly auth orized officer of Bacharach.
Product improvements and enhancements are continuous, therefore the specifications and information
contained in this document may change without notice.
Bacharach, Inc. shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages
in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this material.
No part of this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language without the
prior written consent of Bac h ar ach, Inc .
Copyright © 2000-2012, Bacharach, Inc., all rig hts res erv ed.
BACHARACH
Informant™ is a trademark of Bacharach, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names,
service marks and logos referenced herein belong to their respective companies.
®
is a registered trademark of Bacharach, Inc.
NOTICE
0019-9211 Rev 9 iii
The Informant™ 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1
1.2. Features ......................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Technical Characteristics ................................................................................ 3
2. OPERATION .............................................................................................................. 5
2.1. Battery Installation .......................................................................................... 5
2.2. Sensor Installation Overview........................................................................... 5
2.3. Refrigerant Sensor Installation ........................................................................ 6
2.4. Combustibles Sensor Installation .................................................................... 7
2.5. Turning the Detector On and Off ..................................................................... 7
2.6. Low Battery Indication .................................................................................... 8
2.7. Audible Indicator Mute .................................................................................... 8
2.8. Locating a Gas Leak ....................................................................................... 9
2.9. Sensor Failure Indication ...............................................................................10
2.10. False Refrigerant Indication ...........................................................................10
2.11. Refrigerant Sensor Flooding Indication ..........................................................11
2.12. SAE Refrigerant Leak Detection Tips .............................................................11
3. MAINTENANCE ....................................................................................................... 13
3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................13
3.2. Routine Maintenance .....................................................................................13
3.3. Probe Filter Replacement ..............................................................................13
3.4. Sensor Replacement .....................................................................................14
3.5. Probe Assembly or Fan Replacement ............................................................15
4. TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................................................................. 19
5. PARTS AND SERVICE ............................................................................................ 21
5.1. Complete Kits ................................................................................................21
5.2. Optional Accessories .....................................................................................22
5.3. Replacement Parts ........................................................................................22
5.4. Sales/Service Centers ...................................................................................23
6. Declaration of Conformity ...................................................................................... 24
iv 0019-9211 Rev 9
1. OVERVIEW
The Informant™ 2
1.1. Introduction
The Informant 2 Dual Refrigerant / Combustibles Leak Detector
(Figure 1) is a portable, battery power ed instrument design ed to pinpoint
the location of either ref r ige rant or c ombustible-gas leak s us ing s ep arate,
interchangeable sensors. The type of gas detected depends on the
sensor installed.
The detector is design ed to be qu ickly responsive, even when high levels
of background vapors or gases are present. No manual sensitivity
adjustments are necessary during the inspection process.
The Informant 2 is suitable for HVAC Service Technicians, Gas Utility
Personnel, Automotive Service Facilities, and Plant Maintenance
Departments who are in need of a small, lightweight and rugged
instrument that is ca pable of pinpointing sm all to large refrigerant leaks
as those found in air-conditioning units, and automobile engine
compartments, as well as locating combustible gas leaks in residential
appliances and furnaces, industrial heating units, and gas distribution
equipment.’
Figure 1. The Inform an t 2 Leak Detector
0019-9211 Rev 9 1
The Informant™ 2
1.2. Features
Detects the presence of either refrigerants or combustible gases
•
(with appropriate sensor installed)
Sensors that represent the latest advancements in sensor
•
technology
Microprocessor-controlled circuitry that guarantees accuracy and
•
reliability
Dual bar-graph LEDs provide visual indication of the
•
refrigerant/combustibles level from a wide variety of viewing angles
Audible refrigerant/combustibles level indicator with mute feature
•
Flashing probe tip whose flash rate varies in accordance with
•
changes in the detected refrigerant/c ombustibles level
Automatic zero and background compensation that allows a leak to
•
be quickly found in contaminated atmospheres without requiring
manual sensitivity adjustments
Flexible probe that allow it to be either “docked” in its storage
•
position for close-up leak testing, or unfolded to its maximum length
of 20 inches (508 mm) for locating leaks in hard-to-reach areas
Long-life fan provides positive airflow past sensor resulting in a faster
•
response time
Filter in probe tip prevents water from reaching sensor
•
One-handed operation
•
No calibration required
•
Batteries included
•
Optional protective rubber boot, includes a cavity that
•
accommodates a Maglite
One year warranty
•
Extended warranty available
•
Made in U.S.A.
•
2 0019-9211 Rev 9
®
flashlight
Specification
Description
Power
Four ‘AA’ Alkaline Batteries
Warm-Up Time
10 seconds
Gases
Refrigerants: All CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerants
Response Time
0.2 seconds
Sensitivity
Refrigerants: 0.5 oz/year (14 g/yr) of R-134a
Sensitivity
Automatic
Battery Life
4–5 hours, under typical intermittent operation
Sensors
Combustibles: Semiconductor type with a typical
Probe
Flexible gooseneck, 20 inch (508 mm) maximum
Sampling
40 to 50 cc/min with sensor installed
Weight
0.86 lb (0.39 kg) w/ batteries
1.3. Technical Characteristics
The Informant™ 2
Detected
Adjustment
including: R-12, R-22, R-123, R-134a and blends
R-404A, R-408A, R-409A, and R-410A (i.e., any
refrigerant containing Chlorine, Fluorine or Bromine
gas).
Combustibles:
All combustible gases and vapors.
(hardest to detect refrigerant) as detected by
moving probe tip at 2" (50 mm) per second,
0.1" (3 mm) above leak source. A leak rate of less
than 0.25 oz/year (7 g/yr) can be detected when
probe tip is held steady over leak source for at
least 5 seconds.
Combustibles:
50 ppm Methane, minimum.
5 year life span, plug-in replacement.
Refrigerant:
Heated Diode type with a typical life
span of 150 hours or 1 year of normal use, plug-in
replacement.
length [reduces to 3 inches (76 mm) when wrapped
around instrument], includes integral sensor, filter,
and LED
System Flow
Rate
0019-9211 Rev 9 3
The Informant™ 2
Specification
Description
Switches
Power ............................ Toggles detector ON/OFF
Size W×L×H
1.75 x 9.62 x 2.25 inches
Operating
Position ............................................................. Any
Visual and
Power On .............................................. Green LED
Approvals
CE Mark
Independently tested in accordance with EMC
Mute.................. Toggles audible indicator ON/OFF
(Excludes
44.50 x 244.30 x 57.20 mm
Probe)
Environment
Temperature .................... 32 to 122 °F (0 to 50 °C)
Humidity ............... 15 to 90% RH, non-condensing
Audible
Indicators
Low Battery .............................................. Red LED
Mute...................................................... Amber LED
Relative Gas Level:
The detector responds to increasing gas
levels by activating its visual and audib le
indicators as follows:
– Dual LED bar-graphs (located on
Visual
the top and rear of the detector) begin to
progressively glow in series. In addition,
an LED located in the probe tip begins to
increase its blink rate from an idle rate of
once-per-second.
Audible
– The audible indicator’s tick rate
begins to increase from its idle rate of
one-tick-per-second.
Sensor Failure ....................... The middle gas-level
LED glows steadily
Refrigerant: Listed in accordance to SAE J1627
Combustibles:
Lab certified to UL913, intrinsically
safe for use in Class I, Division 1, Group D
hazardous areas
Directive 2004/108/EC
4 0019-9211 Rev 9
2. OPERATION
2.1. Battery Installation
The Informant™ 2
WARNING: Explosion hazard. To reduce the risk of igniting
a flammable atmosphere, batteries must only be changed in
an area known to be non-flammable.
NOTE: To maintain agency approval, use only the following
types of ‘AA’ batteries: Energizer E91; Duracell MN1500;
Rayovac 815; and Panasonic AM-3PI.
1. See Figure 2. Using a #1 Phillips screwdriver, first loosen the battery
door screw located at the rear of the detector; then remove the door.
2. Install four ‘AA’ alkaline batteries into the detector, observing the
polarity markings that are molded on the side of the case.
3. Reinstall the battery door and tighten its screw.
Figure 2. Battery Installation
2.2. Sensor Installation Overview
Before leak testing can begin, the appropriate sensor must be installed. If
you have a combustibles-only or refrigerant-only detector, then simply
install the sensor that was supplied with the detector. If, however, you
have a dual detector, then install the sensor that corresponds to the gas
that will be detected during the inspect ion proc es s.
For the detector to maintain agency approval, the blue probe tip must be
used with refrigerant sensor 0019-0510, while the red probe tip must be
used with combustibles sensor 0019-0499.
The color-coded probe tips allow an operator to easily identif y which
sensor is installed — “blue” for refrigerants, and “red” for combustibles.
0019-9211 Rev 9 5
The Informant™ 2
NOTE: For dual detectors, the red probe tip will not screw onto a
probe that has a refrigerant sensor installed. This feature
safeguards against the possibility of an operator mistakenly thinking
that a detector with a refrigerant sensor is configured to detect
combustibles. See the WARNING below.
2.3. Refrigerant Sensor Installation
Install the refrigerant sensor, filter, and “blue” probe tip onto the end of
the detector’s flexible probe as shown in Figure 3a. Observe the blue
color coding on both the sensor and probe tip.
WARNING: Explosion hazard. DO NOT use the Informant 2 with
its refrigerant sensor installed in an area that is classified by the
National Electrical Code as being a hazardous location where a
potential for explosion or fire exist because of flammable gases or
vapors in the atmosphere.
COMBUSTIBLE REFRIGERANT GAS WARNING: For your
safety, DO NOT use the Informant 2 with the refrigerant sensor to
detect refrigerants which are rated as combustible/flammable
gases (e.g. ASHRAE - A2 or A3 rated refrigerants). Use with
combustible/flammable refrigerant gases can cause an explosion
resulting in death or severe injury.
Figure 3a. Sensor Inst allation (Refrigerant Sensor)
6 0019-9211 Rev 9
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