MONARCH INSTRUMENT Instruction Manual Pocket LED Strobe Portable LED Stroboscope 15 Columbia Drive Amherst, NH 03031 USA Phone: (603) 883-3390 Fax: (603) 886-3300 E-mail: support@monarchinstrument.com Website: www.monarchinstrument.
Safeguards and Precautions 1. Read and follow all instructions in this manual carefully, and retain this manual for future reference. 2. Do not use this instrument in any manner inconsistent with these operating instructions or under any conditions that exceed the environmental specifications stated. 3. Certain strobe frequencies can trigger epileptic seizures in those prone to that type of attack. 4. Users should not stare directly at the light source. 5.
10. The Pocket LED Strobe contains Lithium Ion batteries which must be disposed of in accordance with Federal, State, & Local Regulations. Do not incinerate. Batteries should be shipped to a reclamation facility for recovery of the metal and plastic components as the proper method of waste management. Contact distributor for appropriate product return procedures. 11.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 OVERVIEW ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Modes of Operation ................................................................. 2 1.1.1 Internal Mode .................................................................. 2 1.1.2 External Mode................................................................. 2 1.1.3 Charging Mode ............................................................... 3 1.2 Brightness ....................
1.0 OVERVIEW The Pocket LED Strobe (PLS) is a rugged, portable battery powered LED (Light Emitting Diode) stroboscope used for inspection and to stop motion to determine the speed of rotating objects. The unit is ergonomically designed for comfortable hand held operation or it may be mounted on a tripod using the integral ¼ -20 UNC bushing on the underside of the unit. 1/4-20 Bushing EXT MENU Charger Jack Input Jack Output Jack Battery Cover Figure 1.
EXT Figure 1.2 Pocket LED Strobe Control Panel 1.1 Modes of Operation The stroboscope has two basic modes of operation – INTERNAL and EXTERNAL. The unit does not operate when in the Charging Mode. 1.1.1 Internal Mode The strobe is in the Internal Mode when nothing is plugged into the input jack. In the internal mode the strobe generates its own timing signals and the user can adjust the flash rate – see Section 3.1. 1.1.
whenever there is a plug in the input jack. When the strobe is in the External Input Mode, EXT will be displayed. When an external input is applied to the unit and the strobe is put in the Tachometer Mode, the unit will read the signal from the external input (sensor) and display the reading on the LCD display without flashing the lamp. When there is a valid external signal the on target indicator will turn on. The strobe will not flash in the Tach (Tachometer) Mode.
image. Imagine a shaft rotating at 6000 RPM or one rotation every 1/100 of a second (10 msec). If the strobe flashes once every 10 msec for a brief moment, the user sees the flash at the same spot in the rotation of the shaft and the persistence of the eye remembers this until the next flash making the shaft appeared to be stopped. As the target is rotating there is some movement evident during the strobe flash. The longer the flash duration, the more obvious the rotation is and this increases the blur.
and remains constant as the flash rate increases or decreases. The strobe automatically calculates how wide the pulse width should be at different flash rates to keep the blur constant – the faster the flash rate, the narrower the pulse width. The pulse width equals: (setting in degrees/360) x (1/flash rate in Hz). Thus the blur remains constant no matter what the flash rate*. 1.2.2 Pulse Duration Adjustment The second method is to adjust the flash pulse width to a fixed number of microseconds.
To turn on the stroboscope, depress and hold the left most button until the display shows the rev level - REVXX then release the button. The unit will start up with the same settings it was last left at. To turn the power off, hold the left most button ◄ until the display shows OFF then release it. 2.2 Input / Output Connectors The strobe has input and output jacks on the right side of the stroboscope. These can be used for external triggering or synchronization (daisychaining two or more strobes).
The input jack (closer to the front of the strobe ▲) enables an external signal to trigger the strobe. Inserting a plug into the input jack will automatically put the strobe into the External Mode. When the plug is removed, the strobe will be put back into the Internal Mode. With no external input, the output jack (closer to the rear of the strobe ▼) provides a TTL compatible pulse from the strobe’s internal oscillator. If an external input is applied, the output pulse is in sync with the input pulse.
3.1 Adjusting the Flash Rate – RPM The flash rate can be adjusted by pressing the large UP/DOWN key (D). Pressing the UP end of the key ▲ will increase the flash rate and pressing the DOWN end of the key ▼ will decrease the flash rate. The flash rate can be adjusted in decades by pressing the LEFT ◄ (A) or RIGHT ► (C) which will change which digit is adjusted. The active digit will blink. As the flash rate is increased or decreased, the active digit will roll over to the next significant digit.
MENU (B) at any time to select that setup option. Note that currently selected options are indicated by the star icon ( ). Setup options are in order as follows: MODE > BRITE > SAVE > LOAD > UNITS > BKLIT > DECPT > INPUT These options are described in the following sections. Note that the order of the options within each setup option may change depending on current operating settings. 3.3.1 MODE Set the strobe into the flash (strobe) mode or the tachometer (no flash) mode.
3.3.2 BRITE (Brightness) Adjust the flash pulse width and consequently the brightness. See Section 1.2. When the display shows: SEtUP BRITE Press the MENU button to enter. Width can be set in degrees or microseconds. DEG - Set the flash width in degrees 0.2° to 18°. Use the UP/ DOWN button ▲▼ to change the degrees in 0.2° steps. Note that the decade being edited can be changed using the LEFT ◄ or RIGHT ► buttons. 5.6 DEG Press the MENU button to move to microseconds.
Press MENU to select, use the UP/DOWN button ▲▼ to select a memory location, press MENU to select the location. The flash rate is shown on the top row, memory location on the bottom row (see below). 3600 SM 3 (SM = Save Memory) Press MENU to save and EXIT OUT OF MENU. The unit will indicate DONE when the value has been changed. 3.3.4 LOAD Loads the saved flash rate from a memory location. Press MENU to select, use the UP/DOWN button ▲▼ to select the memory location, press MENU to select.
3.3.6 BKLIT (Backlight) Turns the display backlight on or off. When the display shows: SEtUP BKLIT Press MENU to select, use the UP/DOWN button ▲▼ to select on or off. As the status changes, the backlight will activate accordingly. OFF BKLIT Press MENU to save and exit back to the main menu. 3.3.7 DECPT (Decimal Point) Set the number of decimal places to display. When the display shows: SEtUP DECPT Press MENU to select, use the UP/DOWN button ▲▼ to select none, 1 or 2.
to return to the main menu without saving. The unit will indicate DONE when the value has been changed. At the MAIN MENU press the LEFT ◄ button to exit to the operational condition. 4.0 USING THE STROBOSCOPE TO MEASURE RPM The primary use for a stroboscope is to stop motion for diagnostic inspection purposes. However the stroboscope can be used to measure speed (in RPM / RPS). In order to do this several factors need to be considered.
Minute (RPM) at the highest flash rate that gives only one stationary image of the key way. Stopped Image Flash Rate (FPM) 1/4 times 1250 1/2 times 2500 1 time 5000 2 times 10000 3 times 15000 4 times 20000 Example: Object rotating at 3000 RPM If the speed is outside the full scale range of the stroboscope (300,000 FPM), it can be measured using the method of harmonics and multipoint calculation. Start at the highest flash rate and adjust the flash rate down.
5.0 BATTERIES The Pocket LED Strobe is fitted with a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery pack. These batteries are prone to self-discharge over time. For maximum performance, charge the batteries prior to use and do not store in hot locations. The strobe uses an external charger. Allow 3-5 cycles of charging and discharging for batteries to reach full capacity.
CAUTION: Use of rechargers other than the one supplied (Model LBC-U or F037-005-W) will damage the stroboscope and void the warranty. DO NOT LEAVE A CHARGER THAT IS NOT PLUGGED INTO THE AC POWER CONNECTED TO THE STROBE. When charging, the strobe will indicate CHRGE in the bottom right of the display when turned on and then it will shut off. The recharger will fast charge the batteries for about 4-5 hours and then trickle charge the batteries.
6.0 Specifications Internal Mode: Flash Range Flash Rate Accuracy Flash Rate Resolution Display Update Rate External Modes: Flash Range Tachometer Mode Accuracy Display Update Rate Trigger to Flash Delay External Input: Output Pulse Pulse In to Out Delay Time Base Display Indicators Memory 30 to 300,000 FPM (Flashes Per Minute), 0.5 to 5000Hz 0.005% of setting or ± last digit 0.01 to 1 FPM (menu selectable), 0.1 FPM resolution above 9,999.99 FPM, 1 FPM resolution above 99,999.
Flash Duration Input Power Light Output Run Time Charge Time Weight Adjustable 0.5 to 2500 microseconds or .1 to 18 degrees of rotation (auto adjusts with flash rate) Battery powered: Internal Li-Ion Rechargeable Batteries 3.6Vdc Average: 1800 Lumens @6000 FPM 8” from lens 5 - 6 hours typical at 6000 FPM, and 2.8° pulse width with fully charged batteries 4-5 hours typical with supplied charge. 0.6 lbs [0.
7.0 OPTIONS AND ACCESSORIES / SENSORS CA-4044-6 6 foot [1.8 m] Pulse Input / Output cable, 1/8 inch [3.5 mm] male phone plug to male BNC connector T-5 Reflective tape - 5 foot [1.5 m] roll, 0.5 inch [12.7 mm] wide CC-13 Latching carrying case for Strobe with provision for accessories Mini Tripod Miniature tripod with 1/4” x 20 threaded stud LBC-U Universal Li-Ion Recharger, 115/230 Vac with USA ROLS-P Remote Optical Laser Sensor with 8 foot [2.
Printed in the U.S.A.