Toxalert GVU-VOC User Manual

TM

DATA

TOXALERT

SHEET

DIESEL EXHAUST SMOKE/VOC SENSOR MODEL GVU-VOC

TYPICAL INSTALLATIONS:

• Bus Garages • Vehicle Maintenance & Storage

• Fire Stations Highway Departments

• Tunnels Utilities

• Truck Warehouses Public Works

• Welding Shops

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The model GVU-VOC diesel smoke full spectrum sensor is designed
to interface with Toxalert International’s GVU series control units.
The GVU-VOC is a microprocessor-based air quality sensor utilizing
metal-oxide semi conductor technology. This is a full spectrum sensor
sensitive to a wide variety of air pollutants such as smoke,
hydrocarbons, gasoline fumes, acetone, toluene, etc. (see Table 3).
The GVU-VOC indicates its status with indicators for auto-power
on and processor normal, ok, low, mid or high for level of
contaminant detected.

BACKGROUND:

The diesel engine exhausts a great percentage of smoke (soot) as
well as, many hydrocarbons (e.g., ethylene, formaldehyde, methane,
benzene, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons) and toxic gases
(e.g., nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxides of sulfur). The smoke
is particularly evident at the beginning of a work shift, when all
the buses or tracks are started in a maintenance/storage facility.
Even though, the exhaust smoke is not classified as a toxic, it is considered a carcinogen (reference:
carcinogenic effects of exposure to diesel exhaust - NIOSH Publication No. 88-116). Therefore many facility
owners are monitoring the smoke/hydrocarbons (VOC) as well as, the toxic oxides of nitrogen.

Model GVU-VOC

FEATURES:

• Micro processor based

• Power Indication

• Low, mid, high reading indicators

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• Humidity and Temperature compensated

• Completely solid state for long life

• Low voltage class two (2) wiring

SPECIFICATIONS

•

Type: Metal semi conductor

• Input voltage: 20- 30VAC from GVU controller

• Operating Temperature: 32º to 104ºF (0-40ºC)

•

Display: 5 indicaators ok, low, mid, high

• Sample Method: Diffusion

• Supply Current: 220 MA(max)

• Operating Humidity: 0-85% non-condensing

• Enclosure: AE wall mount

2.75”W x 4.65”H x 1.25”D
(70 x 118 x 32mm)

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. INSTALLATION

For best operation, locate a mounting location away from
direct fresh air intakes, doors and supply diffusers and
mount vertically on wall or support column approximately 5
to 6 feet above floor. An alternate location is in the ceiling
space of facilities with top discharge diesel vehicles. Refer to
figures 1 and 2; Table 1 and 2 and installation instructions in
GVU series control unit data sheet and install the GVU­VOC sensor as follows.

2. COVER REMOVAL

Screw set-screw in bottom of cover in (clockwise) and
remove cover.

3. MOUNTING

The sensor has mounting provisions to install directly on a
standard electrical box.

4. SENSOR WIRING
WARNING: To prevent fire or shock hazard, turn

off power source to control unit before making
connections. Comply with all local building codes and
ordinances.

NOTE: Refer to Figure 2 and Tables 1 and 2. Use shield
cable to interconnect sensor and control unit if metal con­duit is not used, or if conduit also contains AC wiring.

1.) Measure distance between sensing unit
and control unit and select proper wire or larger wire
from Table 1.

Figure 1:

Figure 2:

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2.) Run wiring between control and sensing
unit and into enclosure through access
holes. Connect wires from terminal
blocks in sensing unit to control unit per
Table 2 and GVU series control unit
data sheet.

5. START-UP

TABLE 1
AW G DO NOT EXCEED

#22 Wire 500 Ft. Sensor to Controller
#20 Wire 800 Ft. Sensor to Controller
#18 Wire 1300 Ft. Sensor to Controller
#16 Wire 2000 Ft. Sensor to Controller

1.) Verify all wiring connections are correct
and are tight.

2.) Apply power and note the status LEDs.
Initially the LEDs will flash in sequence
(OK, LOW, MID, HIGH and AUTO)
to indicate a successful start-up. The
device will then enter a three minute
warm-up cycle and this is indicated by a

TABLE 2 WIRING CONNECTIONS
GVU-VOC CONTROL UNITS
SENSOR GVU-1 GVU-3

PWR TB11-H(24VAC) TB3-H (24VAC)
COM TB11-N (COM) TB3-N (COM)
NO TB2-1 TB1-A1, B1, C1
COM TB2-7 TB1-A7, B7, C7
** TB2-5 TB1-A5, B5, C5

flashing AUTO LED and lit OK LED.
This mode will continue for three minutes
until the sensor has reached operating

** Shield of cable (if used) should be connected at control unit only.
Make sure sensor end is taped and isolated from terminals or metal.

temperature.

3.) After the initial warm-up period, the device will enter normal operation. This will be indicated by
the AUTO LED being lit and also one pollution level LED being lit (OK, LOW, MID or HIGH).

Note that the sensor is calibrated at manufacture to be suitable for use in average room conditions. The
sensor filter will accumulate dust over a period of inactive time and the sensor must be allowed to burn­in before proper operation. This time will vary depending on the storage time, but the unit will be suit­able for pre-commissioning after about 30 minutes.

4.) Replace cover.

TABLE 3

PARTIAL LIST OF CONTAMINATES DETECTED BY TOXALERT INTERNATIONAL GVU­VOC SENSOR.

CHEMICAL COMMON SOURCE

Ethylene Diesel exhaust
Benzene, Toluene, Xylene Diesel exhaust, solvents and motor fuels
Methane Diesel exhaust, decomposition and sysnthesis
Formaldehyde Diesel exhaust, disinfectants and preservatives
Methyl Ethyl Ketone Solvents and cleaning products
Acetone Solvents and organic synthesis
Ethyl Alcohol Solvents and liquor fermentation
Hydrogen Used in synthetics

Continued on Page 4

TOXALERT INTERNATIONAL, INC., P.O. BOX 159, MOUND, MINNESOTA 55364 [phone] FAX [phone]

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CHEMICAL COMMON SOURCE

Hydrogen Sulfide Water and putrefying matter
Methyl Alcohol Solvents, antifreeze and synthetics
Methyl Chloride Solvents, paints and refrigerants
Vinyl Chloride Textiles and polymers
Trichloroethylene Solvents and cleaning agents
Propane Fuels and chemical synthesis
Carbon Monoxide Combustion of carbon
Freon-22 Refrigerants and aerosols
Ammonia Solvents and refrigerants

GVU SERIES PRODUCTS:

CONTROLLERS -

GVU-1 Control unit for use with one sensor
GVU-3 Control unit for use with one to three remote sensors

REMOTE SENSORS -

GVU-CO Remote carbon monoxide sensor
GVU-CO
GVU-NO

Remote carbon dioxide sensor

2

Remote nitrogen dioxide sensor

2

GVU-VOC Remote smoke/air quality sensor

GVU-VOC 6/05

TOXALERT INTERNATIONAL, INC., P.O. BOX 159, MOUND, MINNESOTA 55364 [phone] FAX [phone]

Visit our website at www. toxalert. com