Fox Thermal FT4A User manual

831.384.4300 | 399 Reservation Rd, Marina, CA 93933 | foxthermal.com
MODEL
Instruction Manual
Document #107265
Rev H
Fox Thermal Gas Mass Flow Meter
F T4 A

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Fox Thermal FT4A Manuals:
• Fox Thermal FT4A View™ Manual
All Fox Thermal Manuals and software available in English only.
Model FT4A
Disclaimer
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This publication must be read in its entirety before performing any operation. Failure to
understand and follow these instructions could result in serious personal injury and/or
damage to the equipment. Should this equipment require repair or adjustment beyond
the procedures given herein, contact the factory at:
FOX THERMAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
399 RESERVATION ROAD
MARINA, CA 93933
TELEPHONE: [phone]
EMAIL: [e-mail]
Download Technical Data Sheets from our website:
www.foxthermal.com
Fox Thermal Instruments, Inc. (Fox Thermal) believes that the information
provided herein is accurate; however, be advised that the information contained
herein is NOT a guarantee for satisfactory results. Specically, this information is
neither a warranty nor guarantee, expressed or implied, regarding performance,
merchantability, tness, or any other matter with respect to the products; nor
recommendation for the use of the product/process information in conict with
any patent. Please note that Fox Thermal reserves the right to change and/or
improve the product design and specication without notice.

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Model FT4A
Table of Contents
1. Introduction p. 4-19
a. Quick Start Guide .........................................................................p. 6
b. Menu Trees ..............................................................................p. 8
c. General ................................................................................p. 17
2. Installation (Mechanical) p. 20-31
a. Lateral Placement ........................................................................p. 21
b. Weld Branch Outlet ......................................................................p. 23
c. Installation Depth ........................................................................p. 24
d. Orientation .............................................................................p. 25
e. Mounting Instructions ....................................................................p. 27
f. Retractor Installation......................................................................p. 29
3. Wiring (Electrical) p. 32-42
a. Wiring Access ...........................................................................p. 33
b. Input Power.............................................................................p. 36
c. Signal Wiring ............................................................................p. 35
d. Pulse/Alarm Wiring (optional feature) ......................................................p. 40
e. RS485 Wiring: Modbus RTU (optional feature) ...............................................p. 41
f. HART wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 42
4. Operation (Standard Operation) p. 43-67
a. Start Up ................................................................................p. 45
b. Programming ...........................................................................p. 47
c. CAL-V™.................................................................................p. 63
d. Gas-Select® ............................................................................p. 66
5. Communication Protocols p. 72-86
a. Modbus RTU ............................................................................p. 70
b. HART...................................................................................p. 81
6. Maintenance p. 87-93
a. Safe Meter Removal from Retractor ........................................................p. 87
b. Troubleshooting .........................................................................p. 92

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Model FT4A
Table of Contents
7. Appendices p. 98-109
 ...........................................................................p. 96
b. Agency Approvals .......................................................................p. 99
c. Dimensions ............................................................................p. 100
d. Warranty ..............................................................................p. 105
e. Returning your meter ...................................................................p. 106
 
9. Index p. 109

1. Record inside diameter (ID). Ensure the actual pipe ID
matches the pipe ID shown on the factory calibration


2.
Record up/downstream straight-pipe requirements
based on Pipe ID and meter style (insertion or inline).
[refer to p. 21]
3. a. The Flow Direction Indicator must point in the

b. The housing can be rotated for a better view of
the meter's display. Note that the 2 set screws must
be loosened before the housing will turn. [refer to p.
25]
4.

pipe, please see note on p. 24.
5. Open the housing. If needed, the orientation of
display can be rotated in 90° increments for a better
view.
[refer to p. 26 for more information]
6.
Ensure power wiring [p. 36] and 4-20mA wiring [p.
37 - p. 38] properly connected. [refer to Wiring
section p. 33 for more information]
7.
Verify you have the proper output signal wiring
[refer to p. 37 - p. 42 for more information]
8.

9. 
of the display or by using the FT4A View™ software tool. Record the settings in the spaces given for
items A - F on the following page.
Use the table below as a guide while using the worksheet on the next page to record your notes.
NOTE! Please read the entire quick-start procedure before beginning installation.
ID OD
FLOW
4X = Inline
10X = Insertion
8X = Inline
15X = Insertion
Pipe ID min.
INDICATOR:
- POINT IN DIRECTION
OF FLOW
- REMOVE TO ROTATE
HOUSING ±90º,
±180º
- REPLACE INDICATOR
WHEN DONE
LOOSEN HOUSING
WITH 2 FRONT SET
SCREWS, RETIGHTEN
WHEN DONE
FLOW
FLOW
PIPE
0.73"
(18.5 mm)
L
C
F1 F2 F3 F4
ACCESS DISPLAY
BY UNSCREWING COVER
REMOVE SCREWS ON
DISPLAY TO ROTATE
DISPLAY ±180°
( - ) (+) ( - )(+)(
- )
Power
12-28VDC
4-20mA Pulse
!
F1 F2 F3 F4
Initializing...
( - )(+) ( - )(+)(
- )(+)
Power
12-28VDC
4-20mA Pulse
/Alarm
!(
- )(+)
Power
12-28VDC
4-20mA(
-
)
!
4-20mA(+) Common Tx/Rx(
-
)
Tx/Rx(+)
Quick Start Guide | 6
Model FT4A
Quick Start Guide

Item to verify
Serial Number: Serial Number: Serial Number: Serial Number:
1. What is the Pipe ID? ID = ID = ID = ID =
2. Calculate the Upstream/
Downstream straight-pipe
requirements
UP =
DN =
UP =
DN =
UP =
DN =
UP =
DN =
3. 

b. Must the housing be rotated for
easy viewing?
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
Y / N
4. Is the probe depth setting correct? Y / N Y / N Y / N Y / N
5. Have you rotated the display for
easier viewing?
Y / N Y / N Y / N Y / N
6. Verify proper power wiring
7. Verify proper input/output wiring
After applying power to your meter, check items A - E below by accessing the meter settings either through
the front panel of the meter's display or by using the FT4A View™ software tool.
A. 
meter? (SCFM, KG/H, etc..)
B. Correct values for reference
temperature and pressure?
Y / N Y / N Y / N Y / N
C. 

D. Verify the 4mA and 20mA meter
settings
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
E. 
for your application in the Gas-
SelectX®menu
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
4mA =
20mA =
Your Notes:
Before applying power to your meter, use this worksheet to record your notes.
If you are experiencing any problems after completing this procedure, please call the Fox
Thermal Service Department at 831-384-4300 to review this information.
Quick Start Guide | 7
Model FT4A
Quick Start Guide

MAIN MENU
I/O FLO DSP EXIT
SET I/O
COM 420 EXIT
Comm=Modbus
NXT OK
None
Modbus mA=Flow
NXT OK
20 mA=2345.6 SCFM
CHG OK
4 mA=0 SCFM
CHG OK
Temp
Flow Analog Outputs
Level 2 Password
Baud=9600
NXT OK
Parity=NONE
NXT OK
Address=02
CHG OK
1200
2400
4800
9600
19200
38400
57600
76800
115200
NONE
ODD
EVEN
01-247
Enter menu by scolling to display 4
and entering the password
mA Fault=Not used
NXT OK
Not used
3.6 mA
21 mA
SET I/O
PUL 420 EXIT
If RS485 hardware detected
/with license
Communicaon
OROR SET I/O
COM PUL 420 EXIT
Comm=HART
OK
Address=0
CHG OK
If pulse/alarm hardware detectedIf HART hardware detected/with license
0-63
None
HART
20 mACnt=52900
CHG OK
4 mACnt=2515
CHG OK
}
Display Menu, p. 12
Flow Menu 1, p. 10
Digital Output Menu, p. 9
Model FT4A
Introduction | 8
Introduction
Fig. 1.1: FT4A Menu Tree - Main Menu
NOTE! Some menus will only be available with a level 2 password.
NOTE! Menu tree boxes are populated with example values.

OUT=Pulse
NXTOK
Notused
Pulse
HiFloAlm
LoFloAlm
HiTempAlm
LoTempAlm
SystemAlarm
PulseOutput
P/UU/PFEQEXIT
PLS/UNT=2
CHGOK
UNT/PLS=0.5
CHGOK
MaxFreq=100Hz
CHGOK
MaxFlo=5000SCFM
CHGOK
HiFloAlm=500SCFM
CHGOK
LoFloAlm=100SCFM
CHGOK
HiTempAlm=250°F
CHGOK
LoTempAlm=10F
CHGOK
HighFlowAlarm
LowFlowAlarm
HighTempAlarm
LowTempAlarm
Select1of3
methodstoscale
thepulseoutput
Pulse
OUT=HiFloAlm
NXTOK
OUT=LoFloAlm
NXTOK
OUT=HiTempAlm
NXTOK
OUT=LoTempAlm
NXTOK
SetI/O
PUL420EXIT
Alarmoutput
MAINMENU
I/OFLODSPEXIT
OUT=SystemAlarm
NXTOK

SystemAlarm
(See Flow Menu 2, p. 11, for more alarm
settings)
NOTE! A value of 0 disables the
alarms
Model FT4A
Introduction | 9
Introduction
Fig. 1.2: FT4A Menu Tree - Digital Outputs

FLOWMENU1
DGNUNTFM2EXIT
DIAGNOSTIC
SIMCAL‐VEXIT
FloSim=0SCFM
CHGOK
TmpSim=0°F
CHGOK
ENABLESIM?
YESNO
FLOUNT=SCFM
NXTOK
SCFM
SCFH
NM3/H
NM3/M
KG/H
KG/M
KG/S
LBS/H
LBS/M
LBS/S
NLPH
NLPM
MMSCFD
LBS/D
SLPM
NLPS
MSCFD
SM3/H
MT/H
NM3/D
MMSCFM
SCFD
MCFD
SM3/M
SM3/D
TMPUNT=°F
NXTOK
DegF
DegC
TmpRef=60°F
CHGOK
PRESUNT=Psia
NXTOK
PresRef=14.73
CHGOK
mmHG
Psia
bara
SimulateFlow?
YESNO
SimulateTemp?
YESNO
DNS=1.2323kg/m3
OK
MAINMENU
I/OFLODSPEXIT
Flow Menu 2 Menu, p. 11
CAL-V™ Menu, p. 13
Model FT4A
Introduction | 10
Introduction
Fig. 1.3: FT4A Menu Tree - Flow Menu 1