Fieldpiece SRL2K7 User Manual

Infrared
Refrigerant
Leak Detector
Model: SRL2

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Description

The SRL2 uses infrared optics to create a
portable refrigerant leak detector technology that
has a superior combination of sensitivity, speed,
sensor life, battery life, portability, and ease of use.

Gas is pumped through the tip of the wand into
the sensor within the SRL2 body. The sensor
detects changes in concentration, not absolute con­centration, making it easy to detect leaks even in
areas with refrigerant in the air.

The SRL2 detects leaks as small as 0.1 oz/year,
which exceeds the toughest SAE J1627 standards.
The SRL2 comes with wall and car charger for its
ultra-compact Lithium-ion battery which powers the
SRL2 for 8hrs of continuous operation before a
recharge is needed. That’s long enough to last your
entire workday.

Unlike many leak detectors, oil vapor does not
trigger the SRL2.

The SRL2 has vari­able sensitivity set­tings, keeping ‘nui­sance tripping’ to a
minimum. A quick and
automatic 30 second self-calibration upon power-up
ensures optimal performance. Abuilt in replaceable
filter blocks moisture and harmful particulates. The
SRL2 also has a mute button and a peak hold func­tion.

Quick Tips

1.

Keep the wand tip moving past suspected leak
locations.

2. Once a leak is detected, sweep the wand back

over to pinpoint.

3. To pinpoint larger leaks adjust sensitivity.

Filter Assessment & Replacement

The filter blocks moisture and other contaminants
from the sensor. When it gets wet, it constricts flow
of air and it will have to be replaced. Unscrew the
sensor tip and replace the white filter so that the
rounded end is closest to the tip of the wand. Use
only the Fieldpiece supplied filter.

You can order from a distributor extra bags of
replacement parts (model RFL2) are available from
Fieldpiece. Model RFL2 contains 10 filters and 5 O­rings.

Comparing Leak Detectors

Fieldpiece has two leak detectors.
The SRL2 uses an infrared (IR) sensor. It detects
a CHANGE in concentration, so the wand
must keep moving. The main advantages of the
Fieldpiece IR sensor are that its sensitivity will
remain the same over the life of the instrument,
the sensor will last the lifetime of the instru
ment, it will not trigger on humidity or on oil,
and it has nearly the same sensitivity to most
refrigerants.The main disadvantage of infrared
sensors is their sensitivity to mechanical
disturbances.

The SRL8 uses a heated diode sensor.
The heated diode'sadvantage is that it detects
absolute concentration levels so it can be held on
a leak and will continue to beep. It is also initially
very sensitive. Its disadvantages are that the
sensor becomes less sensitive over life, eventually
needing replacement and it is more sensitive to
some refrigerants than others.

T2

SENSITIVITY

H

M

L

PEAK

LOW-BATT

Operation

ON/OFF Protection

To turn on/off the SRL2 press and hold the
ON/OFF button for one second. This slight delay
protects against inadvertent pressing. If you forget
to turn it off, it will automatically go off in 10 minutes.

LED Bar Graph Display

The eight segment LED display indicates the

degree of change

in refrigerant concentration. As
the concentration of refrigerant in the air increases,
so does the number of lit bars on the display.

L/M/H Button (Sensitivity)

Set the sensitivity level by pressing the L/M/H but­ton. Low(L), medium(M), or high(H) sensitivity will
be indicated by their respective LED.

The higher the concentration of refrigerant in the
ambient air, the lower the sensitivity setting should
be to minimize false trips.

Mute Button

Pressing the MUTE button toggles the sound of
the SRL2 off and on.

Peak Button

The PEAK function holds the highest change in
concentration achieved while continuing to detect
leaks. Press PEAK to toggle this function on and off.

Turning the PEAK function off will clear the peak
change. The PEAK LED will light when PEAK func­tion is on.

Turbo Mode

The TURBO function is an additional 4th sensitiv­ity that pushes the SRL2 to it highest possible sen­sitivity. This feature is activated by pressing the
PEAK button four times in succession, and can only
be activated while on the high(H) sensitivity level.

When in the TURBO mode the first green LED on
SRL2 will strobe, and the audio detection sound will
be a solid tone.

To exit the TURBO mode, press the PEAK button
again four times in succession, or switch from
high(H) to one of the other sensitivities levels.

Beware: While in TURBO mode the SRL2 is
extremely sensitive and will more easily trigger on
abrupt or violent motions as well as very small
changes in refrigerant levels. Handle with care
when in TURBO mode.

Leak Detection Procedure

Keep the SRL2 away from any areas of potential
refrigerant leakage until the warm-up and calibration
period is over. The warm-up and calibration
sequence lasts about 30 seconds after ON/OFF is
pressed. Allow the SRL2 to fully warm-up before
using to avoid false triggering. On startup, meter
defaults to high sensitivity.

The most likely points for refrigerant leaks are at
the soldered joints in refrigerant lines and changes
in cross section or direction of these lines.

The SRL2 detects changes

in concentration of
refrigerant, not the absolute concentration of refrig­erant. This lets the user easily detect leaks in places
that may have refrigerant in the air, such as a refrig­erator leaking into an enclosed space. Because the
SRL2 detects change, there is a specific “double­pass” method used to find leaks.

1. The tip of the wand should be fairly close to the

line. You may need to be within 1/4” (0.63cm) of
a small leak to detect it. In this case, using a
second hand to guide the tip along refrigerant
lines may be helpful.

2. Keep the tip moving along refrigerant lines at a

rate of 1-3 inches per second.

3. Once the SRL2 indicates a change in concentra-

tion, note the spot on the line and keep the tip
moving past the potential leak to refresh the air
space within the SRL2 with clean air. (Note: If
the SRL2 wand moves through a very high con­centration of refrigerant, you may need to use in
fresh air for 4 seconds before moving to step 4
in order to clear the refrigerant within the SRL2.)

4. Return the tip back to, and past, the spot first
indicated. When the SRL2 indicates a second
change, note the spot on the line. The source of
the leak will be near the midpoint between the
two noted spots of indication.

5. Very high concentrations of refrigerant can
cause an overload which can take a few sec­onds to clear.

SRL2 testing an A-coil in an evaporator, 1/4” from the line.

1/4”

(0.63cm)

WARNING

DO NOT use the SRL2 without the proper fil-

ter correctly installed.

!

!

SENSITIVITY

PEAK

H

LOW-BATT
M

L

L/M/H

ON/OFF

MUTE

Infrared
Refrigerant
Leak Detector

ON/OFF

SRL2

PEAK

PRESS FOR

1 SECOND

T2

T2

Specifications

Sensing element: Enhanced infrared photo optics
Sensor life: 10 years
Refrigerants: HFC, CFC, HCFC, and blends
Sensitivity: Min (Stationary): 0.1oz/yr (3g/yr)

Max (Stationary): >1.05oz/yr (>30g/yr)
Min (In motion): 0.18oz/yr (5g/yr)
Max (In motion): >1.05oz/yr (>30 g/yr)
After exposure to (50g/yr): 0.1 oz/yr (3g/yr)
In poluted environment: 0.1 oz/yr (3g/yr)

Response time: 1 second
Recovery time: ~4 seconds
Auto off: 10 minutes after no activity
Battery: 7.4VDC(nominal), rechargeable lithium

ion technician replaceable battery.

Battery life: 8 hours continuous use prior to need-

ing a charge. Degradation (30%) after 500
charge/discharge cycles or two years, whichever
comes first.

Low battery LED: Lights when approximately 1

hour of battery life remains.

Charge time: Less than 4 hours with either sup-

plied charger.

Operating environment: 32ºF (0°C) to 104ºF

(40°C) at <75%RH (non-condensing)

Storage environment: <80%RH meter and batt.

For 80% battery recovery:

-4ºF (-20°C) to 140ºF (60°C) less than 1 month

-4ºF (-20°C) to 113ºF (45°C) less than 3 months

-4ºF (-20°C) to 68ºF (20°C) less than 1 year

Patents: #6,791,088 and #7,022,993

Notice of Compliance

This instrument complies with the specifications

for an indicating, locating leak detector as
described by the european standard EN 14624,
EN 14624 (2005) with the assumption that the
speed specification in section 7.2 should read as
"2.0 cm/s" as was indicated to us by A. Beatrix
Alke, project manager of Deutsches Institut fur
Normung.

More Products From Fieldpiece
Modular Expandability

Modular expandability is ability for accessory
heads and meters to change configurations to
match the various needs of an HVAC/R technician.

Accessory heads (the sensors) send out a mV
signal, which represents the value of the measure-

ment, to whatever meter is attached to it. Heads can
attach directly to the top of a Stick meter, DL2 data
logger, or EHDL1. They can also plug into any meter
with mV ranges using ASLS2 leads.

Warranty and Service

The product is warranted to the original purchas­er against defects in material or workmanship for a
period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.
During the warranty period, Fieldpiece Instruments
will, at its option, replace or repair the defective unit.

This warranty does not apply to defects resulting
from abuse, neglect, accident, unauthorized repair,
alteration, or unreasonable use of the instrument.
Any implied warranty arising out of the sale of
Fieldpiece's products including but not limited to
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for
purpose are limited to the above. Fieldpiece shall
not be liable for incidental or consequential dam­ages.

Return any defective SRL2 to Fieldpiece for war­ranty service along with proof of purchase. Contact
Fieldpiece for out of warranty repair charges.

v30

Lithium Battery Care

The SRL2 contains a very powerful lithium ion
battery. For a long battery life and safe operation,
you must observe the following:

Cautions

1. Do not expose the battery to temperatures high-

er than 140ºF (60°C).

2. Do not charge the battery in or nearby heated

places, such as fire, hot vehicles, or direct sun-

light.

3. Do not solder directly on battery.

4. Do not expose the battery to direct impact or

throw it.

5. Do not get the battery wet.

6. Do not deform or pierce the battery in any way.

7. If there is any battery leakage, do not touch the

battery. In the case that electrolyte gets into the

eyes, flush with fresh water, do not rub, and see

a physician immediately.

8. Replace immediately if there is any deformity,

bad smell, color change, or other abnormality.

9. The battery is not user-replaceable, if the bat-

tery fail, contact Fieldpiece for replacement.

Charging

Two chargers are included with the SRL2. The
AC charger plugs into a wall outlet and the car
charger plugs into a car cigarette lighter DC plug.

1. The battery is partially charged when packaged.

Fully charge the battery before first use.

2. The LOW-BATT LED will light red when the bat-

tery is low. Charge can be checked at any time

the unit is on with the Battery Check function

(See Operation section).

3. To recharge the SRL2, plug one end of the

charger into the top of the SRL2 and the other

into the power source. LOW-BATT will blink

while charging until the battery is fully charged.

When the SRL2 battery is fully charged, LOW-

BATT turns off.

4. Charge within operating environment specified

in the Specifications section in this manual.

5. Avoid frequent full discharges. Several partial

discharges with frequent recharges are better

for lithium-ion batteries. Unlike nickel-based bat-

teries they have no charge memory, and do not

need to be discharged before charging.

Storage

The battery should have a 40%-50% charge dur­ing prolonged storage of a month or longer. See
Specifications section in this manual for proper stor­age environment.

Battery life is dramatically reduced if the battery
is stored fully charged and/or at high temperatures.

Included Equipment

Use model RRE2 when detecting in tight spaces,
such as through a condenser grille. Model RFE2
extends the wand to 25.5” (65cm). The blow mold­ed case, model holds accessories and chargers.

All accessories shown are included with the
SR2K7.

Standalones from Fieldpiece

The SRL2 refrigerant leak detector is designed
for HVAC/R technicians. Here are some other
standalone products from Fieldpiece Instruments.

T2T2T2

/O

SSX34

Superheat and

Subcooling for A/C

and Refrigeration

SRH2

Diagnostic
Psychrometer

SC77

All-in-one
Expandable
Clamp-on Meter

9”(23cm) Needle Tip
Probe model RRE2

9”(23cm) Flex

Extension

model RFE2

Blow molded Carrying Case

w/ RRE2 and RFE2

Model ABMK3

SC77

APO HOLD n m m F
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400

340

DISCONNECT
TESTLEADS

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TYPE

UNIT

TEMP.

T2

AUTO-OFF BATTERY

CHECK

ON/OFF

PRESS FOR 1 SECOND

Temp Cal

K

SH

SC

T/C

Diagnostic
Psychrometer

°C °F

BATTERY
CHECK

RH/DP/WB/DB

AUTO-OFF

MAX/MIN/H

ENTER

TSH/TEET/NORM

T/C
Cal

ON/OFF

SRH2

T2

T2

Calculates
Target SH
and Target
Evap Exit
Temperature

NTC

SENSOR

T2

ON/OFF

OUTPUT

T2

T2

PRESS FOR
1 SECOND

T2

T2

CLAMP

300V

CAT.III

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AC Current
Clamp

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