Martindale Electric FL30 User Manual

FL30

LAMP TESTER

Instruction
Manual

GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION: Always read
before proceeding.

Warning
These instructions contain both information
and warnings that are necessary for the safe
operation and maintenance of this product. It
is recommended that you read the instructions
carefully and ensure that the contents are
fully understood. Failure to understand and to
comply with the warnings and instructions can
result in serious injury, damage or even death.

In order to avoid the danger of electrical shock,
it is important that proper safety measures are
taken when working with voltages exceeding
30V AC rms, 42V AC peak or 60V DC.

This product must only be used by a competent
person capable of interpreting the results under
the conditions and for the purposes for which
it has been constructed. Particular attention
should be paid to the Warnings, Precautions and
Technical Specifi cations. Always check the unit
is in good working order before use and that
there are no signs of damage to it. Do not use
if damaged.

Where applicable other safety measures such
as use of protective gloves, goggles etc. should
be employed.

Please keep these instructions for future
reference. Updated instructions and product
information are available at:
www.martindale-electric.co.uk

REMEMBER: SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT

MEANING OF SYMBOLS:

Equipment complies with relevant EU

Directives

End of life disposal of this equipment

should be in accordance with relevant

EU Directives

Caution - risk of electric shock

Caution - risk of danger & refer to

instructions

Thank you for buying one of
our products. For safety and full
understanding of its benefi ts please
read this manual before use. Technical
support is available from 01923 441717
and [e-mail].

CONTENTS

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Inspection 1

1.2 Description 1

1.3 Accessories 1

1.4 Battery Installation 1

2 Product Specifi c Safety Information 2

2.1 Precautions 2

3 Operation 3

3.1 General Testing Procedure 3

3.2 Attaching and Detaching the Antenna 3

3.3 Testing Fluorescent Tubes 4

3.4 Testing Low Pressure Sodium 4

Vapour Tubes

3.5 Testing High Pressure Sodium 4

Vapour Tubes

3.6 Testing Neon Tubes 4

3.7 Testing Mercur y Vapour and Metal 4

Halogen Lamps

4 Maintenance 5

4.1 Battery Replacement 5

4.2 Cleaning 5

4.3 Repair & Service 5

4.4 Storage Conditions 6

5 Warranty 6

Specifi cations

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Inspection

Examine the shipping carton for any
sign of damage. Inspect the unit and
any accessories for damage. If there
is any damage then consult your
distributor immediately.

1.2 Description

The FL30 Lamp Tester is ideal for
the fast testing of gas fi lled lamps,
especially low and high pressure
vapour lamps. The FL30 tests gas fi lled
lamps by ionizing them with a high
frequency voltage (3kV approx.).

The FL30 can be used for testing the
following types of gas fi lled lamps:

 Fluorescent
 Low and high pressure sodium

vapour

 Neon tubes
 Mercury and metal halogen

1.3 Accessories (included)

 Carrying case
 Telescopic antenna
 9V battery
 Instructions

1.4 Battery Installation

Refer to section 4.1 (battery
replacement) for the battery installation
instructions for the FL30.

1

2. PRODUCT SPECIFIC SAFETY
INFORMATION
Overvoltage Category I (CAT I) is for

equipment intended to be connected to
a mains supply in which means have
been taken to substantially and reliably
reduce transient overvoltages to a level
where they cannot cause a hazard.

2.1 Precautions

This product has been designed with
your safety in mind, but please pay
attention to the following warnings and
cautions before use.

Warning

Before use check the unit for cracks or
any other damage. Make sure the unit
is free from dust, grease and moisture.
Also check any associated leads and
accessories for damage. Do not use if
damaged.

Warning
Do not connect the test probe or
antenna of this unit to a live circuit.

Warning
Do not use if the battery cover is not

fi tted.

Warning

Never use the unit when explosive,
fl ammable gas or liquid is nearby.

Warning

Always keep your fi ngers behind the
fi nger guard, and do not touch the test
probe or telescopic antenna if fi tted.

Caution

Avoid severe mechanical shock or
vibration and extreme temperature.

Caution
Remove the battery when not in
use for an extended period, to avoid
corrosion from leaking batteries.

3. OPERATION

3.1 General Testing Procedure

Warning

Do not touch live parts or circuits with

the test probe or antenna.

If the lamp under test is installed do not
make contact with the pin area, only
contact the glass body.

Referring to sections 3.2 to 3.7 for the
lamp or tube type being tested, touch
the test probe to the glass body or pins
of the lamp or tube.

Press and hold down the TEST button
for the duration of the test. Typical test
time is <2 seconds.

Do not touch electronic devices with
the test probe or antenna. Damage to
the electronic device may result.

Do not touch the lamp pins with your
hand as this could lead to faulty test
results.

3.2 Attaching and Detaching the
Antenna

Figure 1. Attaching the Antenna

Push on the antenna until it clicks into
position.

Figure 2. Detaching the Antenna

Figure 2. Detaching the Antenna

Press down the antenna button and
pull apart.

3.3 Testing Fluorescent Lamps

3.3a Testing Fluorescent Tubes

Fluorescent tubes can be tested by
contacting either the glass tube or the
end cap with the test probe. Illumination
of the tube during the test confi rms that
there is suffi cient gas. The spiral wound
fi lament should also be checked prior to
installation. By using a continuity tester
or standard multimeter (eg Martindale
MM39), test between the cap pins to
prove continuity of the fi lament. If the
tubes do not function when installed, the
ballast may be faulty.

3.3b Testing Fluorescent 2D Lamps &
PL Lamps

Fluorescent 2D lamps and PL
lamps should be tested using the
same procedure as used for testing
fl uorescent tubes.

3.3c Testing Compact Fluorescent
Lamps

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL)
are constructed with the control gear
housed inside the body of the lamps.
Because of the different designs
of compact fl uorescent lamps, the
procedure for testing the control gear
may vary. All types of fl uorescent lamps
can be checked for suffi cient gas by
contacting the tube or the cap section
with the test probe. For most compact
fl uorescent lamps, place the test probe
across both of the contacts. The lamp
should illuminate and pulsing of the light
should be clearly visible. A minority of
designs do not display the pulsing in the
illuminated tube so functional testing will
be required. Please note that contact
on the glass tube or the side of the
cap fi tting with the test probe will only
confi rm suffi cient gas is present and the
internal controls will remain untested.

3.4 Testing Low Pressure Sodium
Vapour Lamps (SOX)

Test the tube by contacting the pins
with the test probe and observe that the
inner tube is glowing. In some cases,
only part of the tube will glow. The other
part should glow when the test probe
contacts the second pin.

3.5 Testing High Pressure Sodium
Vapour Lamps (SON)

Touch the tube with the test probe.
A clear, blue line within the arc tube
indicates that the tube is in good
condition. Any other result indicates a
defective tube.

3.6 Testing Neon Tubes

Touch the tube or pins with the test
probe. The tube will need replacing if no
illumination is visible.

3.7 Testing Mercury Vapour and Metal
Halogen Lamps

Touch the tube pins with test probe.
The arc tube is defective if there is no
constant glowing.
If the tube only operates when not
installed and goes on and off or seems
unstable within the lamp holder, check
if the lamp holder or the lamp are
subjected to unusual or extreme heat.
Unusual or extreme heat can cause
repeated opening and closing of the
thermal tube switch.

3.8 Filament testing

Filaments can be tested using a
multimeter or continuity tester.

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3

4

5