User's Manual
Maintenance
P/N 81-CO2MAN-001 6-9 September 2013
4. Slight resistance will be met just before stem locks.
5. Use manometer test set Part No. 81-840041-000, and pour water into the open glass tube
until the water level in both tubes is exactly at the zero mark.
6. Close off the rubber tube “A” by squeezing tightly with the fingers or use a crimp clamp.
Apply pressure by gradually squeezing the rubber bulb "C". The control head should
operate at the factory pressure setting with +/- 10% tolerance allowed. The pressure
required to operate the control head is the difference, in inches, between the water levels
in the two tubes, and is equal to twice the reading of either tube.
6-5.4.2 CONTROL HEAD VENT TEST
Before disconnecting manometer from the control head, the vent must be tested. To test the
vent for correct calibration, perform the following steps:
1. Squeeze rubber bulb "C" about halfway or enough to achieve sufficient vacuum for test.
Then close tube "A" by pinching with fingers or crimp clamp.
2. Let bulb expand gradually to its normal shape. This creates a partial vacuum, causing the
manometer water level to change, indicating inches of vacuum applied to the control head.
The vacuum must be more than a minimum of 3 inches in order to observe a drop from 3
inches to 1 inch.
3. The water column will recede to "0" level as air passes through the vent. The vent setting
is the time required (in seconds) for the water column to drop 2 inches from a level of 3
inches to 1 inch on both legs (or from 1-1/2 inches to 1/2 inch on each leg) of the U-Tube
manometer. This is also known as the calibrated rate of flow. For example, if the time
required to pass the above amount of water is 5 seconds, the control head vent is "No. 5".
When vents are tested in control heads, the time will vary due to the added volume in the
control head diaphragm chamber, and a No. 5 vent will test 5-7 seconds, which is
acceptable. If a vent time reads much higher, it will increase system sensitivity; if a vent
time reads much lower, it will decrease system sensitivity and may not be acceptable.
Repeat above procedure for testing tandem control head, if installed. Since there is no vent
in the tandem control head, the vacuum should hold.
4. Disconnect manometer test set from the control head, test fitting "A". Reset the control
head by turning the reset stem to its “SET” position.
Note: For accuracy, Kidde Fire Systems test set Part No. 81-840041-000 must be used.
6-5.4.3 TEST FOR LEAKAGE OF SYSTEM TUBING AND DETECTORS
1. Connect the test fitting of the manometer to the pneumatic detector tubing at the control
head connection nut.
2. Squeeze the rubber bulb "C" fully. Close off the open rubber tube "A". Very gradually,
release the rubber bulb to its normal shape. This will cause the water level in the two tubes
to change, and a maximum vacuum will develop. Hold a minimum of 8 inches vacuum, the
difference between the two sides of the "U" tube, or 4 inches on each side of the "U" tube.
3. If all connections are absolutely tight, the water level will remain in the position taken in
paragraph 2 above and will not change as long as the rubber tube "A" is held closed.
Observe the level of the water for at least one minute, and then release the rubber tube
"A". It is absolutely essential the water level remain the same as long as the rubber tube
is held closed. Even a slow, steady fall of the water level is serious, for it indicates a leak
which may prevent automatic operation of the system. Disconnect the test set from the
detector tubing. After tests have been completed, reset the control heads.
CAUTION
After the control head has operated, be sure to release rubber tube "A" first
before allowing the rubber bulb "C" to expand to normal; otherwise, water may
be drawn into the tubing and control head, causing serious problems.