Elcometer 204 User manual

English
Elcometer 204
Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge
Operating Instructions

English
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The Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge has been tested in accordance with EU
regulations governing Electro-magnetic compliance and it meets the required directives.
is a registered trademark of Elcometer Limited.
All other trademarks acknowledged.
© Copyright Elcometer Limited. 2009.
All rights reserved. Nopart of this documentmay be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored (ina retrieval
system or otherwise) or translated into any language, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
magnetic, optical, manual or otherwise) without the prior written permission of Elcometer Limited.
A copy of this Instruction Manual is available for download on our Website via www.elcometer.com/
downloads.
Doc.No. TMA-0410 Issue 03
Text with Cover No: 20018

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CONTENTS
Section Page
1 About your gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2 Getting started. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3 Taking a reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 Probe Zero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
5 Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
6 Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
7 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
8 Related equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
9 Technical specification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
10 Spares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
11 Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
12 Transducers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
13 Condition and preparation of surfaces. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
14 Application notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

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Thank you for purchasing this Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge. Welcome to Elcometer.
Elcometer are world leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of coatings inspection equipment. Our
products cover all aspects of coating inspection, from development through application to post application
inspection.
The Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge is a world beating product. With the purchase of this
gauge you now have access to the worldwide service and support network of Elcometer. For more
information visit our website at www.elcometer.com.
1 ABOUT YOUR GAUGE
The Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge is a handheld gauge for fast and accurate
measurement of the thickness of steel.
Your gauge is capable of measuring the thickness of material such as steel plate with accuracy as high as
± 0.01 mm (± 0.001"). The principal advantage of ultrasonic measurement over traditional methods is that
ultrasonic measurements can be performed with access to only one side of the material being measured.
1.1 WHAT THIS BOX CONTAINS
• Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge
• Transducer
• Bottle of couplant
• Battery, 2 x
• Carrying case
• Operating instructions

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Your gauge is packed in a cardboard and foam package. Please ensure that this packaging is disposed of
in an environmentally sensitive manner. Please consult your Local Environmental Authority for further
guidance.
To maximise the benefits of your new Elcometer Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge, please take some
time to read these Operating Instructions. Do not hesitate to contact Elcometer or your Elcometer
supplier if you have any questions.
1.2 STANDARDS
The Elcometer 204 Steel Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge can be used in accordance with the following
National and International Standards ASTM E 797, EN 15317.

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2 GETTING STARTED
2.1 FITTING BATTERIES
Your gauge may be used with dry cell batteries or rechargeable batteries.
2 x LR6 (AA) alkaline batteries are supplied in the kit.
To fit or replace batteries:
1. Locate battery compartment cover at top of gauge.
2. Unscrew battery compartment cover.
3. Referring to battery polarity instructions on rear of gauge, insert
batteries into gauge ensuring correct polarity.
4. Replace battery compartment cover.
Remove the batteries from the gauge if it is to remain unused for a long
period of time. This will prevent damage to the gauge in the event of
malfunction of the batteries.
When the battery voltage is low the entire display will start to flash. When
this occurs the batteries should be replaced.
Note: Alkaline batteries must be disposed of carefully to avoid
environmental contamination. Please consult your local environmental
authority for information on disposal in your region.
Do not dispose of any batteries in fire.
Note: An interface is located on the bottom of your gauge. This interface is used to program the gauge at
the factory and has no function for users of the gauge.
Elcometer 204
Steel Ultrasonic
Thickness Gauge
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PRB
0
IN
MM
ON
OFF
Battery
compartment
cover

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2.2 THE TRANSDUCER
The transducer transmits and receives the ultrasonic energy or
sound waves that the gauge uses to determine the thickness of
the material being measured.
The transducer connects to the gauge via the attached cable,
and two coaxial connectors. The orientation of the dual coaxial
connectors is not critical; either plug may be fitted to either
socket.
The transducer must be used correctly in order for the gauge to
produce accurate, reliable measurements.
The diagram shows the two semicircles of the wearface and the
barrier separating them. One of the semicircles transmits
ultrasonic sound into the material being measured, and the other
semicircle receives the sound echoes back into the transducer.
When the transducer is placed against the material being
measured, it is the area directly beneath the centre of the
wearface that is being measured.
Wearface

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2.3 THE KEYPAD
Key Functions
Press to switch the gauge on or off.
When switching off, the gauge retains all of its settings.
If the gauge is idle for 5 minutes, it will switch itself off.
Press to change units (metric/imperial)
Switches the display backlight between three settings; on, off and auto.
• ON - backlight is on
• OFF - backlight is off
• AUTO - backlight automatically illuminates while the gauge is making a measurement and switches
off after several seconds (to conserve battery life).
Press to zero the gauge - see “Probe Zero” on page 10.
ON
OFF
IN
MM
PRB
0

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2.4 THE DISPLAY
INMM/ s µ
Stability indicator
• One bar - no readings
are being taken
• Less than 5 bars -
reading is unstable and
may be inaccurate
• More than 5 bars -
reading is stable
(Refer to “Read display” on
page 9 and “Transducers” on
page 16 for information on
how to achieve a stable
measurement).
Units (IN, MM, IN/µs, MM/s)
Thickness value/Text

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3 TAKING A READING
Disclaimer: Inherent in ultrasonic thickness measurement is the possibility that the instrument will use the
second echo rather than the first echo from the back surface of the material being measured. This may
result in a thickness reading which is TWICE what it should be.
The responsibility for proper use of the instrument and recognition of these types of phenomenon rests
solely with the user of the instrument.
3.1 BEFORE YOU START
•Prepare the surface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . See “Condition and preparation of surfaces” on page 17.
•Zero the gauge.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . See “Probe Zero” on page 10.
3.2 PROCEDURE
1. Apply couplant
For the gauge to work correctly there must be no air gaps between the transducer and the surface of
the material to be measured. This is achieved using a material called a couplant.
Before the transducer is placed on the surface, put a small amount of the couplant supplied with the
gauge on the surface of the material. Typically a single drop is sufficient.
2. Place transducer onto surface of material to be measured
Press the transducer into the couplant. Moderate pressure on the top of the transducer using the
thumb or index finger is sufficient; it is only necessary to keep the transducer stationary and the
surface seated flat against the surface of the material.