DIGITAL DUAL MODE
REFRIGERANT LEAK DETECTOR
USER’S MANUAL
RLD440
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
Please read this manual carefully and thoroughly before using this product.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 –4
How the Detectors Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 –4
Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
What’s in the Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Setup Instructions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Install Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 –8
UV Leak Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Detecting and Sizing Leaks Electronically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 –8
Using the Leak Test Vial. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Maintenance Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Changing the Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Replacing the Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Return for Repair Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing General Tools & Instruments’ (General’s) RLD440 Digital Dual
Mode Refrigerant Leak Detector. Please read this user’s manual carefully and thoroughly
before using the product.
The RLD440 is equipped with two leak detection technologies that can be used
separately or in concert. Its long-lasting solid electrolyte semiconductor sensor can
detect and gauge the size of leaks of all halogenated (chlorine or fluorine-based)
refrigerant gases currently in common use. They include HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons),
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons).
Specifically, the instrument can detect:
• Widely used HFC refrigerants such as R-134a, R-410a, R-404a, R-407c and R-507
• CFC refrigerants such as CFC-12 (R-12)—commonly known as Freon
• HCFC replacement blends, such as R-22, approved by the U.S. EPA for complying with
the stratospheric ozone protection provisions of the Clean Air Act
• R-1234yf, the newly approved hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant with a global
warming potential 335 times less than that of R-134a
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The RLD440's second detection mode uses three ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes
(LEDs) to spot fluorescent dye leaking from an air-conditioning (A/C) system. Typically,
technicians would first use UV mode to quickly determine whether an A/C system has a
leak, and then switch to electronic mode to gauge the size of the leak. Electronic
sensing is the most widely used, sensitive and accurate method of refrigerant leak
detection.
WHY LOOK FOR REFRIGERANT LEAKS?
There are three reasons to detect and repair leaks of refrigerant gases from
stationary and mobile air conditioners, refrigeration systems and heat pumps:
1. Leaks allow air and moisture to enter an A/C system or chiller. Moisture can
react with refrigerant to form corrosive acids and sludge that can damage a
compressor, plug up orifice tubes, and/or eat pinholes in evaporators and
condensers.
2. Refrigerant is expensive. It may seem cheaper to keep recharging your
system with refrigerant than fix a leak—but it isn’t in the long run. And A/C
systems and chillers that aren’t fully charged won’t cool efficiently and thus
waste money (electricity-powered systems) or fuel (vehicle systems).
3. Most refrigerants deplete the ozone layer that blocks the Sun's harmful
ultraviolet radiation. In the U.S., the Clean Air Act of 1990 and later
amendments require owners or operators of refrigeration and airconditioning equipment with refrigerant charges greater than 50 pounds to
repair leaks within 30 days when those leaks result in the loss of more than
15% (comfort cooling) or 35% (commercial cooling) of the charge over a
12-month period.
The RLD440’s proprietary sensor and detection technology are the keys to its excellent
performance and durability. Compared to products of decades past with “heated
sensors”, the RLD440 warms its sensor to a much lower temperature. The reduction in
heat reduces the instrument’s power consumption and improves sensor stability while
extending the life of the sensor and maintaining its electrochemical function.
Test data indicate no decline in the sensor’s performance after thousands of hours of
operation. Sensor life is specified at more than ten years of normal use. In addition,
because the instrument and sensor comply with SAE Standards J2791, J2913 and
J1627, the new European standard EN14624:2012, and ASHRAE’s Halocarbon
Refrigerant Leak Detector Standard 173-2012, the sensor will not be damaged by
overexposure to refrigerant gas or by contamination by water. To comply with
SAE J2791, the RLD440 also had to demonstrate its sensitivity to 15 different chemicals
and pass two “garage durability” tests, one requiring it to survive three drops from
4 ft. onto concrete.
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HOW THE DETECTORS WORK
The UV leak detection system works as follows. After charging the A/C system with
fluorescent dye, the technician scans the system's components with UV light from three
LEDs mounted on the end of the instrument's grip. Any dye escaping from the system
will glow a bright yellow-green.
Following are the details of the electronic leak detection system. A small mechanical
pump inside the RLD440 draws a sample of air through the tip of the instrument’s 17-in.
long probe into a proprietary sensor 1-1/2 inches downstream. A proportional halogen
detector in the sensor determines whether any refrigerant gas is in the sample. If any
gas is detected, the sensor and other circuits measure the amount of refrigerant and
convert the value to an electrical signal.
If no leak is detected, no signal is produced and the display remains off (dark). When a
leak is detected, the signal is amplified, digitized, and displayed on the front panel as a
large, bright red number from 1 to 9 corresponding to the size of the leak (1 for the
smallest leaks, 9 for the largest).
The digital readout makes it easy to pinpoint the source of a leak and helps you decide
whether it is large enough to be worth plugging. The reading is independent of the
selected sensitivity level (three are available) and is at its highest when the tip of the
probe is at the source of the leak. A table in the Operating Instructions section of this
manual correlates display readings with leak size, in ounces per year.
The RLD440's electronic detection system also uses sound to help locate the source of a
leak. Whenever the unit is on, it continuously produces three very loud beeps every two
seconds. When a leak is detected, the frequency of the beeping increases dramatically.
The beeper can be muted by pressing a dedicated button on the front panel.
A third feature of the electronic system that helps locate leaks is a red LED adjacent to
the sensor at the end of the probe. This light flashes in sync with the beep. In other
words, it flashes three times every two seconds whenever the unit is on, and much
faster whenever the unit detects refrigerant. When the red LED begins to flash rapidly,
your eye will naturally be drawn to it—and therefore the location of the leak. Like the
leak-size readout, the LED at the end of the probe is bright enough to be visible in full
sunlight.
The RLD440 automatically compensates for ambient levels of refrigerant gas. No
manual sensitivity adjustments or power adjustments are required.
The instrument is supplied with a proprietary leak test vial that lets you verify that it is
working properly prior to searching for a leak. The RLD440 is powered by four “AA”
batteries, which are included in the case.
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