AccuTools BluVac LTE User manual

AccuTools
®is a registered trademark of Core Enterprises, Inc. P/N 10527-01 Rev. B
BluVac LTE
Digital Vacuum Gauge
User’s Guide

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
1
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of the AccuTools®BluVac LTE Digital Vacuum Gauge. Utilizing
patent-pending technology, the BluVac LTE is the most accurate vacuum gauge available.
With the BluVac LTE, you can accurately measure vacuum pressure in Microns, Pascals, Millibar,
Millitorr, and mmHg with a resolution of 1 micron. Ideal for the HVAC/R professional, the BluVac
LTE is small, lightweight, rugged and easy to use
Features
•Large, high-visibility back-lit LCD display
•Measures Vacuum in Microns, Pascals, Millibar, Millitorr and mmHg
•0 to 25,000 Micron Range with 1 Micron Resolution
•“Analog” Vacuum Level Bar Graph
•Automatic Oil Sensor
•Built-in memory retains all previous settings
•Rugged, Compact Design –About the Size of a Manifold Gauge
•Long Battery Life
•Calibration Self Test -- Can be field calibrated with no special equipment
•Ideal for HVAC/R Service and Industrial Use
Specifications
Range: 0 –25,000 Microns
(3333 Pa, 33.330 mBar, 25,000 mTorr, 25.000 mmHg)
Vacuum Accuracy: 5% of Reading +/-5 Microns
Vacuum Resolution: 1 Micron
(1 Pa, 0.001 mBar, 1 mTorr, 0.001 mmHg)
Warm-up Time: Instant
Response Time: Instant
Power: 9V Alkaline Battery
(9V Lithium recommended for low temperature operation)
Battery Life: Up to 300 Hours
Operating Temperature: 10°F –122°F (-12°C –50°C)
Vacuum Port Fitting: ¼” Male Flare –Nickel Plated for Durability with Dust Cap
Weight: 6 oz. (170g) including Battery and Swivel Hook
Dimensions: 3.5” x 3” x 1.25” (9cm x 7.5cm x 3cm)
WARNING: To avoid personal injury and to prevent damage to the BluVac LTE Digital Vacuum
Gauge, never exceed 500 PSI.

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Parts Diagram

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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LCD Display
Item Function
AMain Numeric Display
BAlternate Numeric Display
C“Analog” Vacuum Level Bar Graph
Backlight Indicator. Flashing: Temporary, Solid: Always On
Sound Indicator
Battery Level Indicator
Oil Sensor Indicator
Calibration Mode Indicator
Indicates that Temperature is Displayed on the Alternate Numeric Display (during
calibration)
Indicates degrees Celsius on the Alternate Numeric Display (during calibration)
Pascal Units Indicator
Millibar Units Indicator
Millitorr Units Indicator
Millimeters of Mercury Units Indicator
Micron Units Indicator

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Keypad
Quick Start
To operate the BluVac LTE as a basic vacuum gauge:
1. Install the battery as described in the “Battery Installation” section below.
2. Turn the power on by pressing . The display will show to indicate pre
ssure greater
than 25,000 Microns.
3. Select the desired units by repeatedly pressing .
4. Attach the BluVac LTE
to the system to be evacuated with a high quality vacuum hose. Start the
vacuum pump. Read the vacuum level from the Main Display.
5. Turn the power off by pressing and holding .
WARNING: To avoid damaging the BluVac, only hand-
tighten sensor connection. If greater torque is
required, support the sensor housing with a ¾” wrench.
NOTE: To assist in the use of this gauge and the interpretation of vac
uum information, please refer to
the Frequently Asked Questions Section at the end of this guide.
Item Function
Press to Turn Power On, Press and Hold to Turn Power Off
Press to Change Display Units
Press and Release to Activate Backlight
Press and Hold to Mute/Un-mute Sound

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Battery Installation & Replacement
1. Remove the battery cover from the rear of the BluVac LTE
by compressing tab at the base of the
battery cover.
2. If necessary, remove and detach old battery from battery clip.
3. Attach battery clip to new battery and insert into battery compartment. Replace battery cover by
aligning tab and snapping back into place.
IMPORTANT: TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM LEAKING BATTERIES, DO NOT LEAVE A DEAD
BATTERY INSIDE THE BluVac LTE. REMOVE BATTERY IF THE BluVac LTE IS NOT TO BE
USED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Battery Level Indicator
The battery level indicator shows the relative strength of the battery. Four bars indicate full power.
As the battery is depleted, the number of bars displayed decreases, unti
l no bars are left. At this
point, it is necessary to replace the batteries (refer to the Battery Installation section above). If the
battery power drops to the point where the BluVac LTE can no longer function accurately, the alarm
will beep 10 times an
d the power will turn off automatically. When the battery is replaced, and the
BluVac LTE is turned back on, the BluVac LTE will resume operation with all previous settings intact.
Hi-Pressure Indication
If the sensed vacuum pressure exceeds 25,000 Microns (3333.1 Pa, 33.331 mBar, 25,000 mTorr, or
25.000 mmHg), the display will show .
Sleep Mode
Unlike other Digital Vacuum Gauges, the BluVac LTE
helps to conserve battery life through advanced
power management. After 5 minutes of displaying , the BluVac LTE
will enter “Sleep Mode”
in which the sensor and backlight are turned off, thus reducing the load on the battery and extending
the battery life up to 300 hours or more. While in this mode, the display will show .
Approximately every 35 seconds, the g
auge will automatically check the pressure and exit Sleep
Mode if the pressure is less than 25,000 Microns. The gauge can be manually brought out of Sleep
Mode by pressing any key on the keypad. While in Sleep, the gauge will beep twice every 5 minutes
to remind you that it is on. The BluVac LTE
will not sleep in the Calibration Mode (see the Calibration
section below).
Auto Power-Off
After 1 hour in “Sleep Mode” the
BluVac LTE will automatically turn itself off to further conserve
battery power.
Units
Change the displayed units by pressing the key on the keypad. The appropriate units indicator
on the LCD display will show Pa,mBar,mTorr,mmHg,or Microns depending on the units set.

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Range and Resolution
The BluVac LTE has a broad vacuum pressure measurement range and very high resolution
according to the table below:
Vacuum Range Resolution
Pascals (Pa) 0 —3,333.1 0.1 Pa
Millibar (mBar) 0 —33.331 0.001 mBar
Millitorr (mTorr) 0 —25,000 1 mTorr
mmHg (mmHg) 0 —25.000 0.001 mmHg
Microns (Microns) 0 —25,000 1 Micron
“Analog” Vacuum Level Bar Graph
The BluVac LTE
also displays a Vacuum Level Bar Graph allowing for a quick visual determination of
the vacuum level achieved. Each bar corresponds to a vacuum pressure range depending on units
according to the following table:
Units
Bar
Value Microns Pa Millibar Millitorr mmHg
10K 10,000 —ATM 1,000 —ATM 10 —ATM 10,000 —ATM 10 —ATM
5K 5,000 —10,000 500 —1,000 5 —10 5,000 —10,000 5 —10
2K 2,000 —5,000 200 —500 2 —5 2,000 —5,000 2 —5
1K 1,000 —2,000 100 —200 1 —2 1,000 —2,000 1 —2
500 500 —1,000 50 —100 0.5 —1 500 —1,000 0.5 —1
200 200 —500 20 —50 0.2 —0.5 200 —500 0.2 —0.5
100 100 —200 10 —20 0.1 —0.2 100 —200 0.1 —0.2
50 50 —100 5 —10 0.05 —0.1 50 —100 0.05 —0.1
20 20 —50 2 —5 0.02 —0.05 20 —50 0.02 —0.05
10 10 —20 1 —2 0.01 —0.02 10 —20 0.01 —0.02
Oil Sensor
It is necessary to prevent oil from being drawn into the Vacuum Sensor. For HVAC/R service, always
recover refrigerant prior to attaching gauge. If possible, always close the blank-off valve on the
vacuum pump prior to turning the vacuum pump off. Over time, oil vapor and other materials may
contaminate the sensor. The BluVac LTE has a built in Oil Sensor that will detect this condition. If the
OIL indicator on the display illuminates, this is an indication that the vacuum sensor has been
contaminated and is no longer functioning accurately. If the sensor becomes completely saturated
with oil to the extent that it cannot function properly at all, the message
will show on the
display. Prior to further use of the BluVac LTE, clean the sensor as describe in the “Cleaning the
Vacuum Sensor” section below.

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Backlight
To activate the Backlight temporarily, press once. The indica
tor on the display will flash, and
the backlight will turn off automatically after 1 minute. To activate the Backlight permanently, press
again. The indicator on the display will show solid. Turn off the backlight by pressing
repeatedly until the indicator turns off. During Sleep Mode, the backlight will turn off to help
conserve battery power, but will turn on again automatically upon resumption of normal operation if it
was previously set in the permanent
-on mode.
Sound
The BluVac LTE has an internal speaker that will emit a beep for each valid key press, and also
functions as an alarm in the Calibration mode (see the Calibration section below). It will also beep
every 5 minutes in Sleep Mode. For silent operation, the sound can be muted by pressing and
holding the key. The Calibration mode alarm is not affected by the mute status. The
indicator on
the LCD display indicates that the sound is on (not muted).
Swivel Hook
The BluVac LTE’s removable stainless steel swivel hook enables hangi
ng of the gauge and will allow
it to swivel freely in any direction. The gauge may be operated with or without the hook attached.
When fastening the hook to the gauge, turn it finger tight only. Use of a tool to tighten the hook may
result in damage to the BluVac LTE case.
Maintenance
The BluVac LTE should provide many years of service with no maintenance required. When not in
use, the dust cap should remain in place over the sensor port. Clean the plastic enclosure with a
damp (not wet) rag. Mild detergent is acceptable, but use no solvents. Take care not to expose the
vacuum sensor to oil. If the Oil Sensor (described above) indicates a contaminated sensor, follow the
Sensor Cleaning Procedure below.
Cleaning the Vacuum Sensor
If the vacuum sensor
becomes contaminated with oil (as indicated by the Oil Sensor), carefully follow
this procedure:
1. Turn the BluVac LTE power off.
2. Shake the gauge to remove any large quantities of oil from the sensor.
3. Apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol inside the sensor vacuum port. (DO NOT INSERT ANY
OBJECT INTO THE PORT, AS THIS WILL PERMANENTLY DAMAGE THE SENSOR).
4. Place your finger over the port and shake for a few moments.
5. Remove your finger and shake out the alcohol.
6. Repeat steps (3) –(5) at least three times.
7. Allow the sensor to air dry over at least an hour, or pull a vacuum on the sensor to dry it more
quickly.
8.
Replace the battery and turn on the gauge. The Oil Indicator should be off. If it is still on, repeat
the cleaning procedure.
9. If full accuracy is desired, perform a calibration cycle as detailed in the Calibration section below.
NOTE: It is important to remove all alcohol vapors from the sensor, either through air-drying or via
vacuum. Any remaining vapors will cause an incorrect vacuum reading.

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Calibration Test
The BluVac LTE should rarely require recalibration, though it may be necessary to know that your
gauge is calibrated properly for full accuracy. The Calibration Test mode assures you that the
BluVac
LTE is calibrated to factory specifications. Test the calibration as follows:
1. Turn the BluVac LTE power off.
2. Important: Expose the BluVac LTE to atmospheric pressure.
3. Press and hold (do not release) the key for about 5 seconds.
4. The display will show if the instrument is calibrated properly.
5. The display will show if the instrument requires calibration. Please see the
Calibration section below.
Calibration
If the Calibration Test indicates recalibration is required, the gauge may be recalibrated. Unlike any
other vacuum gauge, the BluVac LTE can be easily recalibrated to factory specifications without any
special equipment, with the following procedure:
1. For best results, clean the sensor with alcohol prior to calibration. Ensure the sensor is
completely dry before proceeding.
2. Turn the BluVac LTE power off. If necessary, install a fully charged battery into the gauge.
3. Place the dust cap over the vacuum fitting.
4. Hold while pressing . As soon as the power turns on, release and and then
press quickly at least three times. The CAL indicator should illuminate, and
should show on the Main Numeric Display. If not, turn the power off again and repeat.
5. Place the BluVac LTE in a clear Ziploc (resealable zipper storage) bag, press out any extra air,
and seal.
6. Place the bagged BluVac LTE into a freezer with a temperature of less than –5°C (23°F).
7. Allow the BluVac LTE to cool to below -2°C (28.4°F). At this point, the alarm will sound and the
display will change to .
8. Remove from freezer and press any key to silence the alarm.
9. Place the BluVac LTE undisturbed in an area with a room temperature of at least 23°C (73.4°F)
but no greater than 30°C (86°F).
10. Allow the BluVac LTE to warm to 20°C (68°F). At this point, the alarm will sound, and
will show on the display.
11. Press any key to silence the alarm. The BluVac LTE is now calibrated to factory specifications.
NOTE: For accurate calibration, it is necessary to allow the BluVac LTE to warm slowly. Attempting
to accelerate the warming by using a heat source will not provide satisfactory results. During the
cooling/warming process, the temperature will be indicated on the Alternate Numeric Display in
degrees Celsius. The calibration process may be canceled at any time by turning off the BluVac LTE
.
The previous calibration will be unchanged.

BluVac LTE User’s Guide
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Restoring Factory Calibration
The original factory calibration can be restored at any time by the following procedure:
1. Turn the BluVac LTE power off.
2. Hold while pressing . As soon as the power turns on, release and and then
press quickly at least three times. The CAL indicator should illuminate, and
should show on the Main Numeric Display. If not, turn the power off again and repeat.
3. Press five times followed by .
4. The gauge will beep 5 times and return to normal operation. The BluVac LTE
is now reset to the
original factory calibration.
Low Temperature Operation
The BluVac LTE can operate accurately at temperatures as low as 10°F (-12°C). While operating
below freezing (32°F/0°C), the display update rate will slow from 3.5 readings every second to one
reading every two seconds.
A standard alkaline battey may not provide acceptable battery life at temperatures below 0
°C (32°F).
For low temperature operation, a 9V Lithium battery is recommended.
Troubleshooting
Under certain conditions, the display may read or . Please use the table
below to determine and fix the problem:
Display Mode Possible Problem Solution
Sensor Contaminated Clean the Vacuum Sensor
Normal
Operation Ambient Temperature too
Low
Turn the BluVac off, warm the
vacuum port with your hand,
turn the BluVac back on.
Calibration Sensor Contaminated Clean the Vacuum Sensor
and Restart Calibration
Normal
Operation Sensor Failure Contact Customer Service
Gauged Warmed too
Quickly Restart Calibration. Allow the Gauge to Warm Slowly
Calibration Gauge Disturbed During
Calibration
Restart Calibration. Leave
the Gauge Undisturbed
During Warming Phase.