INFICON Extrima Ex-certified Hydrogen Leak Detector - Manual (Page 32)

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EN
INFICON - Operating Instructions EXTRIMA
To Locate Leaks
The Detection Mode is used to locate
leaks. This mode is semi-quantitative, i.e.
it gives an audio and visual signal which
increases as a leak is approached (a higher
gas concentration) and decreases as you
move the probe away from the leak. It
does not display figures.
In this mode of operation leaks can easily
be detected using a sensitivity which can
be pre-set, see ”Sensitivity” on p. 24.
Leaks can be located very accurately, even
when there are other leaks nearby.
If, for example, you are trying to locate
a leak on a fuel tank and the tank has a
major leak, then you will get an audio
signal as soon as the probe is placed close
to the tank. When the probe is moved
around over the tank, the signal will
increase as the probe approaches the
leak. If the signal goes out of scale, simply
reduce the sensitivity setting to bring the
signal within the scale. Working with the
sensitivity setting this way you will be
able to locate multiple leaks that are in
close proximity to each other.
NOTE: Working inside a confined
space such as, for example, a ca-
binet or a narrow passage on a
combustion engine there is a risk
that the background concentra-
tion accumulates to levels close
to the upper detection limit of
the detector. In such case it will
not be possible to locate leaks as
easily as in open spaces.
Do not expose the probe to more
gas than is necessary, because it
will slowly saturate with time. It
is good practice to detect a leak,
locate it, and immediately remo-
ve the probe to avoid saturation.
The probe is not damaged by the
exposure but it will recover more
slowly. After excessive exposure
it will be less sensitive for a short
period of time.