Refrigerant / Combustibles Leak Detector Instruction 0019-9211 Operation and Maintenance Rev. 9 – November 2012 Pat.
The Informant™ 2 ii 0019-9211 Rev 9
The Informant™ 2 COMBUSTIBLE REFRIGERANT GAS WARNING: For your safety, DO NOT use the Informant 2 with the refrigerant sensor to detect refrigerants which are rated as combustible/flammable gases (e.g. ASHRAE - A2 or A3 rated refrigerants). Use with combustible/flammable refrigerant gases can cause an explosion resulting in death or severe injury. Register Your Warranty by Visiting www.mybacharach.com WARRANTY Bacharach, Inc.
The Informant™ 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Introduction..................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Features ......................................................................................................... 2 1.3. Technical Characteristics ..........................................................................
The Informant™ 2 1. OVERVIEW 1.1. Introduction The Informant 2 Dual Refrigerant / Combustibles Leak Detector (Figure 1) is a portable, battery powered instrument designed to pinpoint the location of either refrigerant or combustible-gas leaks using separate, interchangeable sensors. The type of gas detected depends on the sensor installed. The detector is designed to be quickly responsive, even when high levels of background vapors or gases are present.
The Informant™ 2 1.2.
The Informant™ 2 1.3. Technical Characteristics Specification Power Warm-Up Time Gases Detected Response Time Sensitivity Sensitivity Adjustment Battery Life Sensors Probe Sampling System Flow Rate Weight 0019-9211 Rev 9 Description Four ‘AA’ Alkaline Batteries 10 seconds Refrigerants: All CFC, HCFC and HFC refrigerants including: R-12, R-22, R-123, R-134a and blends R-404A, R-408A, R-409A, and R-410A (i.e., any refrigerant containing Chlorine, Fluorine or Bromine gas).
The Informant™ 2 Specification Switches Size W×L×H (Excludes Probe) Operating Environment Visual and Audible Indicators Approvals CE Mark 4 Description Power ............................ Toggles detector ON/OFF Mute.................. Toggles audible indicator ON/OFF 1.75 x 9.62 x 2.25 inches 44.50 x 244.30 x 57.20 mm Position ............................................................. Any Temperature .................... 32 to 122 °F (0 to 50 °C) Humidity ...............
The Informant™ 2 2. OPERATION 2.1. Battery Installation WARNING: Explosion hazard. To reduce the risk of igniting a flammable atmosphere, batteries must only be changed in an area known to be non-flammable. NOTE: To maintain agency approval, use only the following types of ‘AA’ batteries: Energizer E91; Duracell MN1500; Rayovac 815; and Panasonic AM-3PI. 1. See Figure 2. Using a #1 Phillips screwdriver, first loosen the battery door screw located at the rear of the detector; then remove the door. 2.
The Informant™ 2 NOTE: For dual detectors, the red probe tip will not screw onto a probe that has a refrigerant sensor installed. This feature safeguards against the possibility of an operator mistakenly thinking that a detector with a refrigerant sensor is configured to detect combustibles. See the WARNING below. 2.3. Refrigerant Sensor Installation Install the refrigerant sensor, filter, and “blue” probe tip onto the end of the detector’s flexible probe as shown in Figure 3a.
The Informant™ 2 2.4. Combustibles Sensor Installation Install the combustibles sensor, filter, and “red” probe tip onto the end of the detector’s flexible probe as shown in Figure 3b. Observe the red color coding on both the sensor and probe tip. NOTE: The Informant 2 is intrinsically safe only when its combustibles sensor is installed. Figure 3b. Sensor Installation (Combustibles Sensor) 2.5. Turning the Detector On and Off See Figure 4.
The Informant™ 2 NOTE: During the warm-up period, the detector has zeroed out any background concentration of vapors or gases that were present in the area. After the detector is turned on and allowed to warm up, it is ready to perform leak testing as described in Section Procedure for Locating a Gas Leak. Figure 4. Controls and Indicators 2.6. Low Battery Indication A low-battery condition is indicated when the LO BATT LED glows.
The Informant™ 2 2.8. Locating a Gas Leak After the detector is turned on and allowed to warm up, observe that none of the gas-level LEDs should be glowing. Also note that both the probe tip should be blinking and the audible indicator ticking once per second. All of these indicators show that the detector is currently not detecting a change in gas concentration. IMPORTANT: The detector’s function is to detect a change in gas levels, and not to make a quantitative measurement of the level.
The Informant™ 2 CAUTION: When using the refrigerant sensor, note that exposing this sensor to a steady stream of highly concentrated refrigerant will severely reduce sensor life or damage the sensor. Sensor life is directly proportional to the amount of refrigerant that passes through the sensor. As for the combustible sensor, exposing it to a high concentration of combustible gas may temporarily make the detector less responsive to lower gas levels.
The Informant™ 2 • • • use the detector in windy areas, move the probe tip back and forth faster than 2" per second, allow the probe tip to contact a hot surface. 2.11. Refrigerant Sensor Flooding Indication When the refrigerant sensor becomes flooded with a high concentration of gas, observe that the gas-level LEDs quickly light full scale and then all turn off, leaving both the audible tick rate and probe tip blink rate at elevated levels.
The Informant™ 2 • Always follow the refrigerant system around in a continuous path so that no areas of potential leaks are missed. If a leak is found, always continue to test the remainder of the system. • At each area checked, the probe shall be moved around the location, at a rate no more than 25 to 50 mm/sec (1 to 2 in./sec), and no more than 5 mm (0.2 inch) from the surface completely around the position. Slower and closer movement of the probe greatly improves the likelihood of finding a leak.
The Informant™ 2 3. MAINTENANCE 3.1. Introduction By following the procedures outlined below, The Informant 2 Leak Detector will provide many years of trouble-free and dependable operation. 3.2. Routine Maintenance • Replace the batteries per Section Battery Installation when the LO BATT LED glows. • Periodically check the detector’s sensitivity by exposing the sensor to a source of its corresponding gas (either a refrigerant or combustible gas).
The Informant™ 2 Material Required: • Probe Filter (refer to Section Replacement Parts) Procedure: 1. Turn OFF detector. 2. Unscrew probe tip. 3. Remove filter following the appropriate procedure below: a. Refrigerant Sensor — Remove filter from top of sensor. b. Combustibles Sensor — Remove filter from probe tip (use a straightened paper clip to poke out filter). 4. Insert replacement filter. 5. Reinstall probe tip. 3.4.
The Informant™ 2 3.5. Probe Assembly or Fan Replacement Replace the probe assembly or fan as follows (see Figures 5 thru 8): Material Required: • Probe Assembly or Fan (refer to Section Replacement Parts) • #1 Phillips screwdriver • Medium flat blade screwdriver Procedure: 1. Turn OFF detector; then remove the battery door and batteries. 2. Unscrew probe tip and lay aside. 3. Using a medium flat-blade screwdriver, first pry off the front retaining collar as shown in Figure 6.
The Informant™ 2 9. Turn ON the detector and check that it responds in a positive manner to a source of its corresponding gas. See Figure 6 for instructions on how to remove the Front Retaining Collar. See Figure 7 for instructions on how to replace the fan. See Figure 8 for electrical connector details. Figure 5.
The Informant™ 2 Figure 6. Front Retaining Collar Installation Figure 7.
The Informant™ 2 Figure 8.
The Informant™ 2 4. TROUBLESHOOTING The following table lists the causes and remedies for the most common problems that may occur with the detector. If the information in Table 1 does not solve the problem, or for help with any problem that is not listed, please contact one of the Bacharach Sales/Service Centers listed in Section Parts & Service. Table 1. Troubleshooting Guide Symptom Probably Cause and Remedy Instrument does not a. Batteries are dead or installed backward. Install four fresh ‘AA’ turn on.
The Informant™ 2 Symptom Short refrigerant sensor life. Slow gas response time. Erratic gas indication. 20 Probably Cause and Remedy a. Probe filter dirty, thus not allowing enough air to flow over the sensor to keep it cool. Replace filter often per Section Probe Filter Replacement. b. Sensor has often been exposed to high concentrations of refrigerant. Avoid sampling pure refrigerant for long periods of time. a. Probe filter clogged. Replace filter per Section Probe Filter Replacement. b.
The Informant™ 2 5. PARTS AND SERVICE 5.1.
The Informant™ 2 5.2. Optional Accessories P/N Informant 2 Kit Contents ® Deluxe Upgrade Kit Protective rubber boot, MagLite , 2 ‘AA’ batteries, and a hard carrying case Combustible Gas Upgrade Kit Upgrades a refrigerant-only Informant 2 to a dual sensing instrument. Includes a combustible gas sensor, color-coded probe tip, and 5 probe filters 0019-8046 Refrigerant Upgrade Kit Upgrades a combustible-gas-only Informant 2 to a dual sensing instrument.
The Informant™ 2 P/N Contents 0019-0499 Sensor: Combustibles 0019-0491 Soft Carrying Case 0019-0591 Battery Door Assembly 5.4. Sales/Service Centers Replacement parts and service can be obtained by contacting one of the following Bacharach Sales/Service Centers: United States Bacharach, Inc. 621 Hunt Valley Circle New Kensington, PA 15068 Phone: 1-800-736-4666 Fax: 724-334-5723 Email: help@mybacharach.com Canada Bacharach of Canada, Inc. 20 Amber St.
The Informant™ 2 6.
The Informant™ 2 NOTES 0019-9211 Rev 9 25
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The Informant™ 2 World Headquarters 621 Hunt Valley Circle, New Kensington, Pennsylvania 15068 Phone: 724-334-5000 • Toll Free: 1-800-736-4666 • Fax: 724-334-5001 Website: www.MyBacharach.com • E-mail: help@MyBacharach.
