Checkline BTM-400PLUS User Manual

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Table of Contents

01.0 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 02

02.0 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

03.0 Operating Principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03

04.0 Preliminary Computations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04

4.1 Determining Belt Density (d)

4.2 Determining Length of Free Belt Span (L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

05.0 Preparing The Gauge For Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 05

5.1 Selecting the Language

5.2 Selecting the Measurement Units (Hz or N/lbf)

5.3 Selecting the Engineering Units (International or U.S.)

6.0 Menu Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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07.0 Measuring Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07

08.0 Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09

9.0 Battery Installation & Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09

10.0 Typical Belt Densities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

11.0 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

12.0 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Figures

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1. Complete BTM-400 Outfit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2. Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

0

3. Free Belt Span (L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

0

4. Measuring Free Belt Vibration Frequency (Hz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

0

5. Keypad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

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12.0 WARRANTY

ELECTROMATIC Equipment Co., Inc. (ELECTROMATIC) warrants to the
original purchaser that this product is of merchantable quality and confirms
in kind and quality with the descriptions and specifications thereof. Product
failure or malfunction arising out of any defect in workmanship or material in the
product existing at the time of delivery thereof which manifests itself within one
year from the sale of such product, shall be remedied by repair or replacement of
such product, at ELECTROMATIC’s option, except where unauthorized repair,
disassembly, tampering, abuse or misapplication has taken place, as determined by
ELECTROMATIC. All returns for warranty or non-warranty repairs and/or replace­ment must be authorized by ELECTROMATIC, in advance, with all repacking and
shipping expenses to the address below to be borne by the purchaser.

THE FOREGOING WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER
WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO, THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR APPLICATION. ELECTROMATIC SHALL
NOT BE RESPONSIBLE NOR LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE,
OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, RESULTING FROM THE USE OF SUPPLIED
EQUIPMENT, WHETHER SUCH DAMAGE OCCURS OR IS DISCOVERED
BEFORE, UPON OR AFTER REPLACEMENT OR REPAIR, AND WHETHER OR
NOT SUCH DAMAGE IS CAUSED BY MANUFACTURER’S OR SUPPLIER’S
NEGLIGENCE WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM INVOICE DATE.

Some State jurisdictions or States do not allow the exclusion or limitation of inciden­tal or consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you. The dura­tion of any implied warranty, including, without limitation, fitness for any particular
purpose and merchantability with respect to this product, is limited to the duration of
the foregoing warranty. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied
warranty lasts but, not withstanding, this warranty, in the absence of such limitations,
shall extend for one year from the date of invoice.

ELECTROMATIC Equipment Co., Inc.
600 Oakland Ave. Cedarhurst, NY 11516—USA
Tel: [phone]/ Tel: [phone]/ Fax: [phone]

Every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual. Electromatic Equipment Co., Inc., assumes
no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of
information contained herein. Any brand or product names mentioned herein are used for identification purpos­es only, and are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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1.0 OVERVIEW

The CHECK-LINE®BTM-400PLUS Belt Tension Meter is an electronic measuring
instrument that precisely measures the static tension or natural frequency of flat, V-,
cog or toothed belts of rubber, leather, fabric, plastic and composite materials—at
standstill.

The BTM-400PLUS consists of a gauge body and two (2) separate sensor probes that
emit and receive a pulsed, ruby-red beam of light. One probe is a detachable type,
best for one-handed operation, and the other is a hand-held, cable-connected type, for
easier access to hard-to-reach and “small-window” measuring locations. After certain
belt characteristics have been entered into the gauge’s microprocessor, and a section of
the belt has been caused to vibrate, the probe is brought close to the vibrating belt.
The reflected light signal is then fed into the gauge’s microprocessor which converts it
into a pre-selected reading of either Belt Vibration Frequency (Hz) or Belt Tension
(Newtons (N) or Pounds Force (lbf).

Note: Where only Belt Vibration Frequency (Hz) is of interest, belt characteristics

need not be entered into the microprocessor.

Figure 1. Complete BTM-400PLUS Outfit

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11.0 SPECIFICATIONS

Measuring range 10 – 400 Hz

Digital sampling error < 1%

Indication error ±1 Hz

Total error < 5%

Nominal temp. 68 °F (20 °C)

Operating temp. 50 to 122 °F (10 to 50 °C)

Max. storage temp. 23 to 158 °F (–5 to 70 °C)

Gauge body material Plastic (ABS)

Dimensions, body* 3.15 in. x 6.5 in. x 1.47 in (80 x 165 x 37mm)

Probe cable length 3.9 ft. (1.2 m) overall

Dimensions, case 8.9 in x 7.0 in x 2.0 in.(226 x 178 x 50mm)

Display 2-line LCD, 16 char./line

Languages German, English, French, Italian, Spanish,

Portugese, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish

Free span length, max. 30 ft. (10 m)

Belt density, max. 10 kg/m

Power supply 9 volt alkaline battery

* Includes detachable type probe.

Note: All specifications subject to change without notice.

Free Span Length

Belt Density

Keys on the membrane
keypad

ENTER

ARROW UP

ARROW DOWN
ON/OFF

Figure 2. Keypad

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2.0 INTRODUCTION

A belt drive achieves its maximum lifetime and efficiency when:

1. It is properly configured and rated for the application.

2. The belt is tensioned to the manufacturer’s recommended tension.

3. The pulleys are perfectly aligned.

The CHECK•LINE

®

BTM-400PLUS Belt Tension Meter affords the user an easy,

reliable method for accurately measuring the tension in a belt system at standstill.

3.0 OPERATING PRINCIPLE

When the Free Span* of a belt is plucked, tapped or struck, it will vibrate at a
frequency known as its “natural” frequency, the value of which depends on the
existing tension in and the total mass of the Free Belt Span, according to the
following relationship:

f = T/4dL

2

or T = 4dL2f

2

where:

f = Natural frequency of the Free Belt Span (Hz)
T = Tension in belt (N or lbf)
d = Belt density (kg/m or lb/ft)
L* = Length of the Free Belt Span (m or ft), which vibrates when struck.

* For definition of Free Span, refer to 4.2 and Figure 2.

The d and L parameters are fixed in the design of the belt, while the “natural”
frequency (f) varies with the applied Belt Tension (T). The BTM-400PLUS picks
up the vibration frequency of the Free Belt Span and displays it, or the corresponding
belt tension, on the instrument’s LCD display panel.

10.0 TYPICAL BELT DENSITIES

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