Agilent Technologies Helium User manual

Agilent Helium Leak Detector
User Manual

2 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
Notices
Manual Part Number
G8610-90002
Edition B.00, July 2023
Copyright
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2023
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Safety Notices
A CAUTION notice denotes a hazard. It
calls attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or the like that, if
not correctly performed or adhered to,
could result in damage to the product
or loss of important data. Do not
proceed beyond a CAUTION notice
until the indicated conditions are fully
understood and met.
A WARNING notice denotes a hazard.
It calls attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or the like that, if
not correctly performed or adhered to,
could result in personal injury or death.
Do not proceed beyond a WARNING
notice until the indicated conditions
are fully understood and met.
WARNING
CAUTION

Contents
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 3
Contents
1Instructions for Use 9
About this manual 10
Validity 10
Definitions and terminology 11
Definition of Caution, Warning and Note 11
Warning Symbols 12
Safety 14
Proper and Improper use 14
Solvents 14
Vacuum Equipment and Cleanliness 15
O-ring Care 15
Metal Seal Care 16
Equipment, General 17
Touch Panel Display 18
Radio 18
Power and Static Sensitivity 19
Spectrometer 22
Pumps 22
Protective equipment 23
Safety guideline for Helium Leak Detector 24
Product Description 25
Transport & Storage 25
Installation 26

Contents
4 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
Preparation for Installation 26
Unpacking 26
Installation requirements 32
Bench System Installations 33
Helium 34
Recommended Additional Service 34
Startup and Operation of the Leak Detector 35
Startup Procedure 35
Shutdown Procedure 37
Maintenance 38
Daily Maintenance 42
Sensitivity Check 42
Dry Nitrogen Vent 42
Disposal 43
Service 44

Contents
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 5
2Technical Information 45
Description of the Leak Detector 47
Leak Detector Configurations 49
Technical Specifications 50
Front Panel Display and Operations 52
Home Screen 53
Front Panel Display - Home Screen Display 55
Rear Panel 57
Features 61
Operating the Leak Detector 62
Screens 62
Basic Functions 62
Home Screen 63
Graphical Display Screen 69
Menus Screen 70
Calibration Screen 71
Calibration Set-Up 71
Test Configuration Screen 77
Test Configuration 77
Reject and Audio Set Points 77
Test Configuration Advanced Features 80
Transfer to Test 83
Stabilization Wait Timer 84
High Pressure Test Set-Up Procedure 84
Home Screen - Activate Gross Test 85
Application Setup 86

Contents
6 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
Sniff Method 87
Spray Method 89
High Sensitivity 91
Auto Sequencer 92
Auto Sequencer Set-Up 95
Rough Time Setup 95
Test Time Setup 96
Set Point 1 Setup 96
Set Point 2 Setup 96
Using Set Point 1 and 2 together (Optional) 96
Pressure Set point (High & Low Limit) - Optional 96
Split Flow 97
PPM (parts per million) Sniff Method 100
Settings Screen 110
Settings Menu 110
Main Settings 111
Configure Date and Time 113
Screen Settings 115
Analog Output 117
Remote Control 119
Password and Restrictions 120
Wireless 121
Maintenance Screen 122
Maintenance Menu 122
Software Update 123
Internal Calibrated Leak Setup 124
Manual Tuning 127

Contents
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 7
Maintenance: Valve Control 130
Maintenance: Pump 133
Maintenance: Gauge Calibration 134
Current Setup Menu 139
Communications Protocol 143
Protocol (RS-232) 143
Communicating with RS-232 144
Windows HyperTerminal Set-Up Instructions 144
Printing with HyperTerminal 146
Customer Accessible Inputs and Outputs 157
Serial Connector 157
I/O Connector 158
Introduction to Leak Detection 161
Leak Testing—Why is it Needed? 161
Agilent's Helium Leak Detection Technologies 161
Methods of Leak Testing 163
Vacuum Testing Method (Outside-in) 164
Pressure Testing Method (Inside-out) 165
System Leak Test Methods 167
Typical Leak Detection Applications 168
Quality Control of Production Parts and Assemblies 168
Maintenance of Systems 169
System Integrated Leak Detection 170
Mass Produced Parts 170
Accessories and Spare Parts 172

Contents
8 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 9
1 Instructions for Use
About this manual 10
Validity 10
Definitions and terminology 11
Definition of Caution, Warning and Note 11
Warning Symbols 12
Safety 14
Proper and Improper use 14
Solvents 14
Vacuum Equipment and Cleanliness 15
O-ring Care 15
Metal Seal Care 16
Equipment, General 17
Touch Panel Display 18
Radio 18
Power and Static Sensitivity 19
Spectrometer 22
Pumps 22
Protective equipment 23
Safety guideline for Helium Leak Detector 24
Product Description 25
Transport & Storage 25
Installation 26
Preparation for Installation 26
Unpacking 26
Installation requirements 32
Bench System Installations 33
Helium 34
Recommended Additional Service 34
Startup and Operation of the Leak Detector 35
Startup Procedure 35
Shutdown Procedure 37
Maintenance 38
Daily Maintenance 42
Sensitivity Check 42
Dry Nitrogen Vent 42
Disposal 43
Service 44

Instructions for Use
10 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
About this manual
Validity
This manual lists the instructions for the users of the Helium Leak Detector (HLD),
with particular reference to the notions relating to safety, operation and first level
maintenance, limited to maintenance operations for which the user is responsible.
The maintenance operations, illustrated in the specific sections, with specific
provisions relating to the higher level of maintenance (personnel specifically trained
for maintenance operations) must not be carried out by the user.
For a correct installation and start/stop, please refer to "Technical Information"
section.
NOTE 1 This manual contains useful information so that all personnel using the
Helium Leak Detector (HLD) can operate it safely and guarantee perfect
efficiency, for its entire life span.
2 Keep this manual, together with all the related publications, in an accessible
place known to all operators/maintenance personnel.

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 11
Definitions and terminology
Definition of Caution, Warning and Note
Some important references of this manual are highlighted and framed in
contrasting color.
CAUTION Caution messages are displayed before procedures which, if not observed, could
cause damage to the equipment.
WARNING
Warning messages draw the operator's attention to a specific procedure or
practice which, if not performed correctly, could result in serious personal
injury.
NOTE Notes are intended to call attention to important information and provide more
detail regarding specific steps.

Instructions for Use
12 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
Warning Symbols
The following is a list of symbols that appear in conjunction with warnings on the
HLD. The hazard they describe is also shown.
A triangular symbol indicates a warning. The meanings of the symbols that may
appear alongside warnings in the documentation are as follows:
Dangerous voltages Generic hazard
Protective Ground
Terminal
Alternate current (AC)
Power ON
Power OFF
Earth (Ground) Terminal
Hot surfaces
Indoor, Dry Location
Use Only
European Declaration of
Conformity
Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment
Frame or chassis
Terminal

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 13
The following symbol may be used on warning labels attached to the instrument.
When you see this symbol, refer to the relevant operation or service manual for the
correct procedure referred to by that warning label.
The following symbols appear on the instrument for your information.
Generic Hazard
Earth (Ground) Terminal
CE certification
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Instructions for Use
14 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
Safety
This section contains the information, prescribed by the Low Voltage Directive
2014/35/EU, which is essential for the compliance and observance of the safety
regulations both generally and in relation to the specific use of the product.
Failure to comply with these instructions and the other instructions contained in this
manual may render the safety conditions envisaged in the design phase inefficient and
cause accidents to those operating the product.
Agilent Technologies declines all responsibility for damage to the product or for the
physical safety of the operator or third parties deriving from the non-observance of the
safety rules indicated in the technical documentation.
Proper and Improper use
Solvents
WARNING
The mechanical components of leak detectors are typically cleaned with
alcohol, methanol, or other solvents.
When heated, sprayed, or exposed to high-temperature equipment, these
solvents become flammable and explosive, causing serious injury or death.
Do not use these solvents near a high-temperature source. Ventilate the
working area with a blower and work in a large, well-ventilated room.
Alcohol, methanol, or other solvents are irritants, narcotics, depressants
and/or carcinogens. Their inhalation and/or ingestion may produce serious
side effects. Prolonged or continued contact with the skin results in
absorption through the skin and moderate toxicity. Always ensure that
cleaning operations are carried out in large, well-ventilated rooms, and wear
eye shields, gloves, and protective clothing.
To clean the leak detector enclosure and the Touch Panel display use only a
soft cloth slightly dampened with water or a mild soap.
DO NOT USE EXCESS WATER OR CLEANING SOLVENTS OF ANY KIND.
Avoid splashing any cleaning solvents into the unit through the ventilation
openings or Front Panel buttons. Wipe the surface with a dry lint-free cloth.
CAUTION Do not clean any aluminum parts with Alconox®. Alconox is not compatible with
aluminum and will cause damage.

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 15
Vacuum Equipment and Cleanliness
Cleanliness is vital when servicing the leak detector or any vacuum equipment.
There are some techniques that are more important in leak detector servicing than
in general vacuum work:
CAUTION Do not use silicone oil or silicone grease.
Use powder-free butyl or gloves to prevent skin oils from getting on vacuum
surfaces
NOTE Agilent does not recommend the use of vacuum grease.
Vacuum grease absorbs helium tracer gas and releases this slowly resulting in
helium background during leak test operations. If it must be used, use it sparingly
and avoid silicone types.
Apiezon® L grease is recommended (Agilent Part No. 695400004).
O-ring Care
When removing, checking or replacing O-rings, keep in mind the following:
NOTE Agilent recommends replacing all O-rings during routine maintenance or during any
maintenance procedure requiring that O-rings be removed.
NOTE Due to the effective cleaning nature of VacuSolv solvent and its residue-free
properties, Agilent’ Component and Spectrometer Cleaning Kit (Part Number
670029096), used in accordance with the kit instructions, is recommended for
cleaning spectrometer components. The kit can also be used for fine cleaning of
other parts in the leak detector’s vacuum system such as valves and fittings. No
rinsing steps or high-temperature drying are required following cleaning with
VacuSolv. Although appropriate precautions are advised, VacuSolv is compatible
with most materials and does not contain toxic chemicals or CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons).
Other acceptable solvents are isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or Dow Corning® OS-20.

Instructions for Use
16 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
CAUTION
Remove O-rings carefully with your fingers. Do not use metal tools for this
task; this prevents scratching of any sealing
surfaces.
• Wipe all O-rings clean with a lint-free cloth before installation to ensure that no
foreign matter is present to impair the seal.
• Do not use grease or any other substance on O-rings that will come in contact
with the spectrometer.
• Do not use alcohol, methanol or other solvents on O-rings. Doing so causes
deterioration and reduces their ability to hold a vacuum.
• Agilent does not recommend the use of vacuum grease. If applicable, apply a
small amount of Apiezon® L grease and wipe the O-rings shiny dry.
Metal Seal Care
CAUTION Metal Seals must be replaced during routine maintenance or during any
maintenance procedure required. All fasteners must be installed and torqued per
assembly procedure specifications. Remove Metal Seals carefully with your
fingers. Do not use metal tools for this task, this prevents scratching of any
sealing surfaces. Wear non-powdered, ESD safe Nitride or equivalent gloves prior
to removing or replacing Metal Seals.
• All Metal Seals come in clean room condition packages. No cleaning is
required. If necessary, Metal Seals can be cleaned using alcohol or methanol.
Wipe all Metal Seals clean with a lint free cloth before installation to ensure
that no foreign matter is present to impair the seal.
• Do not use grease or any other substance on Metal Seals that will come in
contact with the spectrometer.

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 17
Equipment, General
Environment of intended use:
 Indoors use in an industrial and laboratory installation only.
 Altitude up to 2000m
 POLLUTION DEGREE 2, Material group III
 Operating Temperature: +12 °C to +40 °C, Relative Humidity (RH) up to 90%
max., non-condensing.
 Storage ambient conditions: RH from 0% to 95%, non-condensing, temperature:
-20°C to +60°C.
WARNING
• Do not use in presence of flammable or explosive gas.
• Do not attempt to disassemble or modify the equipment. Such action could
lead to electric shock or injury. Agilent's authorized technician will do any
repair work.
• If there is smoke or unusual smell or noise, stop the using the equipment
immediately, and contact the Agilent Service Cent.
WARNING
The leak detector is not designed for use with hazardous gases.
Verify that the system to be tested has been purged of all hazardous gases
prior to using the leak detector. When testing a system that contained
hazardous gases, connect the exhaust of the leak detector to a scrubbed or
toxic containment exhaust. Exposure to hazardous gases could result in
serious injury or death.
WARNING
Equipment tightness is guaranteed for normal operating conditions when the
equipment leaves the factory. It is the user’s responsibility to maintain the
level of tightness, particularly when pumping dangerous products.

Instructions for Use
18 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
CAUTION The performance and operating safety of this equipment can only be guaranteed
if it is operated according to normal conditions of use.
Allow at least 2 to 3 feet of clearance adjacent to the slots at the front, sides and
back of the equipment enclosure.
Allow sufficient room for the operator to safely maneuver to perform testing.
Touch Panel Display
CAUTION Do not apply excessive pressure to the Touch Panel display as this may cause
smears.
In general, the lower the temperature, the longer it takes the Touch Panel display
to turn on. Performance of the Touch Panel display may deteriorate in low
temperature.
Radio
The Wireless Remote Control and Base Board PCB are built around Laird's, model
RM024, RF transceiver module operating in 2.4 GHz ISM band. The same type of
the RF module is built in an Agilent Technologies Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak
Detector Wireless Base Station PCB and Wireless Remote unit (see Agilent
Technologies Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak Detector Wireless Remote
Operational Manual (6999099945A).
Agency Identification Numbers for Laird, Model: RM024 AC4424-100:
 US/FCC ID: KQL-RM024
 CAN/IC: RSS-210
 EUR/ETSI EN: CE
 Taiwan: CCAI13LP3400T1, CCAI13LP3330T3
are also applied to the Agilent's Wireless Remote and Agilent Technologies Helium
Mass Spectrometer Leak Detector Wireless Base Station, when the units are used
the approved antennas.

Instructions for Use
Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual 19
WARNING
The Wireless Remote complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
To satisfy RF exposure requirements for mobile type transmitting devices,
maintain a separation distance of 20 cm or more between the antenna of the
Wireless Remote and persons during operation.
Maintain a separation distance of 20 cm or more between the operator and
the RF antenna of the leak detector with a wireless base station.
CAUTION Use only approved type of antennas for:
• Wireless Remote: Centurion, Model WCP2400-MMCX2, www.centurion.com.
• Agilent Technologies Helium Mass Spectrometer Leak Detector Wireless Base
Station, Nearson, Model S181FL-5-RMM-2450S, www.nearson.com.
Power and Static Sensitivity
WARNING
Depending on the unit configuration ordered, the mains power supply
requirements for Agilent Technologies Helium Mass Spectrometer leak
detectors are:
• 100 VAC, 50 Hz, 5 A
• 115 VAC, 60 Hz, 5 A to 9 A (G8611A)
or
• 230 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 3 A to 4 A
Before powering the unit for the first time, verify that the unit is configured to
operate for the local mains supply voltage. Need nominal current for all
models.

Instructions for Use
20 Agilent Helium Leak Detector User Manual
CAUTION Use surge protection to improve the immunity of the leak detector against
unidirectional transients caused by the following phenomena:
• Switching phenomena in the power network (e.g., switching of capacitor
banks, inductive loads, electrical motors, etc.)
• Faults in the power network
• Indirect lightning strokes.
CAUTION Many components of the leak detector are static sensitive.
Wear a grounding device when performing any maintenance on the leak detector,
especially when performing maintenance of static sensitive parts, such as circuit
boards and the spectrometer.
CAUTION
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when it is operated in
a commercial environment.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate RF energy, which if not installed
and used in accordance with the instructional manual, can cause harmful
interference to radio communications.
When this equipment is operated in a commercial environment, operation is
subject to the following two conditions:
• This equipment must not cause harmful interference.
• This equipment must accept any interference received, including interference
(RF and ESD) that may cause undesired operation.
The equipment may need to be reset after RF and/or ESD events by cycling the
Power Switch/Circuit Breaker on the back panel of the unit.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is also likely to cause harmful
radio communications interference, in which case, the users will be required to
correct the interference at their expense.