Robinair 16455 User Manual
Operating Manual
Model 16455
TruTrack Ultrasonic
Leak Detector
Table of Contents
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Theory of Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Operation of Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Tips on Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
A Note About Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The Contact Probe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Background Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Reducing Background Noise Interference . . . . . . . . . . 7
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Other Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Electrical Arcing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Ductwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pneumatics and Hydraulics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaks Behind Walls or Under Insulation . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Optional Sound Generator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Battery Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Replacement Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
WARNING
Contact with gases may cause personal
injury. To prevent injury, wear protective
equipment including safety goggles.
1
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Robinair TruTrack Ultrasonic
Leak Detector, the only ultrasonic instrument specically designed for air
conditioning and refrigeration leak detection. TruTrack is the ideal tool
for detecting both vacuum and pressure leaks of any refrigerant. Because
this instrument detects sound, it is gas-independent. Even dry nitrogen
leaks can be detected.
The TruTrack Ultrasonic Leak Detector locates leaks in gas-saturated
areas, in windy conditions, and in systems under negative pressure
(vacuum states). It eliminates the need to use tracer gases since it uses
sound waves to locate leaks.
Description
The TruTrack Ultrasonic Leak Detector is a non-invasive detector that
locates both pressure and vacuum leaks. It represents an advanced level
of technology, because it is a listening device that detects ultrasonic
sounds, not chemical refrigerants.
A leak is any unwanted ow of a substance out of a system, or in a
vacuum, into a system. Friction in ow generates sound. For example,
water owing in pipes creates sound just as air leaking out of a tire. The
sound humans can hear represents less than a third of the total spectrum
of frequencies generated. The sound made by small leaks is mostly
ultrasonic—above the human hearing range.
The TruTrack Ultrasonic Leak Detector “hears” the sound of the
turbulent gases moving through the opening at the leak site and displays
the strength of the sound. The larger the leak, the stronger the indication
on the detector. The detector also produces an audio reproduction of
the leak sound. The intensity of the audio changes proportionally to the
intensity of the leak sound.
2
Introduction
Theory of Operation
The theory of operation of the TruTrack Ultrasonic Leak Detector is
based on the turbulent ow of uids and gases. Turbulent ow has a high
content of ultrasound, which is above human hearing range but can be
heard by TruTrack and traced to its source.
Turbulence must occur for a leak to be detected. If a straight piece of
tubing is connected to a gas supply and left free to exhaust into the
atmosphere, it will not generate any sound if the volume of gas moving
through it is too gentle for turbulence to take place. Normally, at the leak
site, there will be holes and / or cracks that are jagged and have odd,
internal chambers. Fluids or gases escaping through openings like this
are forced into turbulence—random circular-like motions.
The intensity of sound generated at a leak is a complex combination
of the viscosity, temperature, speed the uid is moving, Raynolds
number, pressure differential across the leak, and physical dimensions
and characteristics of the crack or hole. Because of these variables, it is
possible for a smaller leak to generate more sound than a larger one.
WARNING
Ultrasonic detectors do not indicate a leak
if there is no turbulent flow producing
soundwaves. If you suspect a toxic gas,
natural gas, or other combustible gas leak, but
do not detect it with the TruTrack Ultrasonic Leak
Detector, DO NOT ASSUME that a leak does not
exist. To prevent personal injury, use another
method of verification to ensure no dangerous
gases are present.
3
Loading...