Tinker & Rasor RF-IT PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

Web: www.tinker-rasor.com E-mail: [e-mail]

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Sponsoring members of NACE International, NACE Foundation

QMF-570 112-071

CORROSION MITIGATION INSTRUMENTATION

2828 FM 758, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130 TEL: [phone]

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

MODEL RF/IT

PIPELINE INSULATOR TESTER

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use this instrument in an explosive environment.

Contents of the shipping package:

Model RF/IT Instrument Kit Includes:

• (1) 9v Battery (installed)

• Probe, Red with lead wire and needle point tip (factory installed backwards for safety)

• Probe, Black with needle point tip (factory installed backwards for safety)

• Additional needle tips (in small baggie, between foam and case in the lid)

• Instruction manual

• Warranty Card & Quality Statement

Inspection of the instrument should be performed upon receipt. If damage has occurred in shipment, file a
claim with the carrier immediately. If it is necessary to contact your supplier or Tinker & Rasor, be sure to
include all information such as serial number, purchase order number and invoice number.

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a
commitment on the part of Tinker & Rasor.

Any and all reproduction or transmission of any part of this manual, in any form or by any means and for any
purpose other than the personal use by the purchaser is strictly forbidden without the express written authorization of
Tinker & Rasor.

For updates, please visit our website:
http://tinker-rasor.com

© 2018 Tinker and Rasor, Inc.
All rights reserved.

Web: www.tinker-rasor.com E-mail: [e-mail]

- 2 -

Sponsoring members of NACE International, NACE Foundation

QMF-570 112-071

CORROSION MITIGATION INSTRUMENTATION

2828 FM 758, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130 TEL: [phone]

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not use this instrument in an explosive environment.

DESCRIPTION

The Model RF/IT Insulator Tester is a highly sensitive device, designed to test above ground pipeline insulators
individually to determine their effectiveness. The Model RF/IT Insulator Tester is effective in the testing of pipeline
insulators in parallel or series installations, even if one or more of the insulators are not operating properly. The
tests conducted are fast and accurate.

METHOD

Two common methods used to measure a pipeline insulator are DC resistance and Radio Frequency Skin Effect.
Radio Frequency Skin Effect is the phenomenon where the apparent resistance of a conductor increases as the
frequency increases. With DC, the charge carriers have an even distribution throughout the area of the conductor.
However, as the frequency increases, the charge carriers subsequently move towards the edge of the wire,
decreasing the effective area and increasing the apparent resistance.

Because the Radio Frequency meter does not use a DC voltage, it is unaffected by DC or AC voltages under 50
volts and there is no need to disconnect the cathodic protection voltage applied to the pipe and/or structure.
Another advantage of the skin effect is that errors due to diameter, relative permeability of the pipe and insulator
distance are negligible.

To measure an insulator using the Radio Frequency method is similar to that of the DC measurement. The probes
are placed across the insulator and the technician reads the display. Maximum deflection of the meter (100 or all
the way to the Right) indicates a resistance of a high enough value as to indicate a good insulator, whereas if the
insulator is shorted or has a low electrical resistance, the meter will only show reads to the left of top center (older
analog meter shows one or two bars from the Left).

EQUIPMENT
The Model RF/IT Insulator Tester consists of a portable battery powered electronic instrument with detachable

probes for making positive electrical contact across the insulator. The instrument is packaged in a plastic case
complete with batteries ready to operate. Two extra steel needle points are supplied with the Tester (stored in a
small bag between foam insert and instrument lid).

Due to the design and method of operation, a certificate of calibration with traceability to NIST standards is not
available for this equipment. A certificate of calibration showing test results with a statement of conformity can be
provided upon request at time of purchase or repair. The RF/IT is recommended for annual inspection by Tinker &
Rasor trained repair technicians.

The Model RF/IT Insulator Tester is factory tuned and needs no field adjustments. The length and size of the
probe wire conductors are critical to the tuning and performance of the Model RF/IT Tester. Do not make
changes or substitutes for probes & wires.

Push the “RED” button on the panel to turn the Tester “ON”. Push again for the “OFF” position. If tester is not
turned off manually, it will turn off automatically after 10 minutes. If Tester seems to fail during testing, the first

thing to check is the “ON-OFF” switch. The built-in timer is designed to save batteries in case the operator fails to
turn the Tester “OFF” after each usage.

Web: www.tinker-rasor.com E-mail: [e-mail]

- 3 -

Sponsoring members of NACE International, NACE Foundation

QMF-570 112-071

CORROSION MITIGATION INSTRUMENTATION

2828 FM 758, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130 TEL: [phone]

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

Battery condition
battery. (Older RF/IT use (6) “AA” size alkaline batteries) The Tester will operate properly until output battery
voltage drops to 7 volts DC.

Note: The display will flash when the batteries are low.

Pre-operation check of the Model RF/IT Tester

A. Remove black probe from lid of case and "INSERT" into either port locator on the front end of Tester.

B. Remove red probe from lid of case and “INSERT” into the other port on the front end of Tester.
C. Unscrew the knurled end of each probe to loosen the tip. Remove the tip and invert it back into the probe.

Each probe uses a very sharp, needle point tip, which are shipped and stored backwards for safety. The
sharp point of each tip is necessary to get under any coatings on the surface to be tested. Tighten the
knurled end back down.

D. Turn Tester “ON”

E. Observe LCD meter. The indicators should be all the way to the Right or the “100” end of the scale. (On

older models, the meter should show solid black square dots completely across the top and the bottom of
the meter face. Between the bars, at each side, two black arrows should flash slowly.)
The tester is equipped with audible signal and tone frequency varies from slow to fast according to
resistance across probes. The lower the electrical resistance of the insulator the faster the frequency of the
audible signal. A short will sound as a continuous beep. Test this by shorting the two probe tips to one
another, and hear the continuous beep, and the meter deflect all the way to the Left.

indicated on the LCD meter when replacement needed. For best results, use with a fresh 9v

F. Tester is now ready to operate.

OPERATION TO CHECK SINGLE IN-LINE INSULATOR

A. Place solid “black” probe’s steel point on one side of insulator, making positive electrical contact to the

metal pipe.

B. Place the flexible cable “red” probe’s steel needle to the opposite side of the insulator, making positive

electrical contact to the metal pipe.

C. If insulator is “shorted”, (low electrical resistance” the LCD meter will show down low (Left) towards the

“0”. (On older meters, only one or two black square dot on both top and bottom rows on the LCD meter).

D. If the LCD meter reads all the way to the “100”, the insulator is performing extremely well. (Older meter

shows black square dots completely across the top and bottom rows)

E. LCD meter readings between these two extremes gives the operator the degree of quality of the insulator.

The lower the LCD meter readings, the lower the electrical resistance of the insulator. Low resistance
reading may be cause to watch for impending failure.

F. It is recommended that the RF/IT probes be used to take multiple measurements at locations around the

circumference of the flange. On large diameter flanges, greater than 16” diameter, readings should be
made at each clock position around the circumference. (12 o’clock, 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, etc)

Web: www.tinker-rasor.com E-mail: [e-mail]

- 4 -

Sponsoring members of NACE International, NACE Foundation

QMF-570 112-071

CORROSION MITIGATION INSTRUMENTATION

2828 FM 758, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130 TEL: [phone]

PRODUCT INSTRUCTIONS

OPERATION FOR CHECKING INSULATED FLANGE BOLT(S)

A. On single insulated pipeline flange type insulators (where the bolts are insulated only halfway through the

flange), make positive contact with the fixed probe of the Tester to the insulated flange and make positive
contact with the flexible probe to each bolt on the same side of the flange. Read meter for every bolt.
Meter readings will be same as when checking single in-line insulators described above.

B. On double insulated pipeline flange type insulators, make positive contact with fixed probe of the Tester

to one side of a double flange and the flexible probe to each bolt, individually, on the opposite flange side.
Read meter for every bolt. Meter readings will be the same as when checking single in-line insulators
described above.

SERVICE & SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS

All instruments being returned for repair should be sent PREPAID to the address below:

Tinker & Rasor
ATTN: Repair
2828 FM 758
New Braunfels, TX 78130

Include with shipment information the nature of the problem, purchase order, serial number and return delivery
address. Immediate service is guaranteed!
There is an online form to fill out, print and return with your repair / calibration. You can find the form on the Tinker &
Rasor website, under Contact Us menu: www.tinker-rasor.com

THEORY OF OPERATIONS RF-IT

RF-IT works at about 221 kHz. The 221 kHz signal is applied to one side of a pipe by one of the two
probes. The second probe then receives the high frequency signal. If the received signal is almost as strong
as applied, the pipe is shorted.

RF-IT has an internal band-pass filter which will filter out all the frequencies above and below 221kHz.
This allows taking measurements on pipelines that are under cathodic protection or have other induced or
impressed currents or signals.

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

P. O. BOX 6890 SAN BERNARDINO, CA 92412

Web: www.tinker-rasor.com E-mail: [e-mail]

Sponsoring members of NACE International, NACE Foundation

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QMF-571 007-118