Inficon TEK-Mate User manual

TEK-Mate
®
Refrigerant Leak Detector
OPERATING MANUAL

1
Declaration Of Conformity
This is to certify that this equipment, designed and manufactured by
INFICON
®
Inc., 2 Technology Place, East Syracuse, NY 13057 USA
meets the essential safety requirements of the European Union and
is placed on the market accordingly. It has been constructed in
accordance with good engineering practice in safety matters in force
in the Community and does not endanger the safety of persons,
domestic animals or property when properly installed and
maintained and used in applications for which it was made.
Equipment Description . . . .TEK-Mate® Refrigerant Leak Detector
Applicable Directives. . . . . . 73/23/EEC as amended by 93/68/EEC
89/336/EEC as amended by 93/68 EEC
Applicable Standards . . . . .EN 61010-1: 1993 EN55011, Group 1,
Class A: 1991 EN50082-1: 1992
CE Implementation Date. . .March 1, 1997
Authorized Representative . Gary W. Lewis
Vice President, Quality Assurance
INFICON Inc.
Any questions relative to this declaration or to the safety of INFICON's
products should be directed, in writing to the quality assurance
department at the above address.
WARNING
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and maintenance
servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying
the instrument.

2
Contents
Declaration Of Conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
TEK-Mate's Features And Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
How to Install the Alkaline Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
How to Install or Change the Sensor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Using Your INFICON TEK-Mate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
How To Find Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
How To Change the Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Cleaning The TEK-Mate's Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Disposing Of The Alkaline Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Return Authorization Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Replacement Parts and Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Warranty and Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Special Information For Automotive Technicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
TEK-Mate®, Toolbox Tough™and INFICON®are trademarks of INFICON Inc.
DURACELL®is a registered trademark of Duracell Inc.

3
TEK-Mate's Features And Specifications
TEK-Mate combines sophisticated technology with durability for an
instrument with outstanding sensitivity that's Laboratory Accurate,
Toolbox Tough™.
Electrochemical heated-diode sensor.
"No-reset" detection of CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs.
Automatic adjustment (zeroing) to refrigerants in leak test area.
Rugged flexible probe with a foam filter for sensor protection.
High/Low leak-sensitivity and ON/OFF in one switch.
Variable-pitch audible leak signal.
To get the best performance from your TEK-Mate Leak Detector,
please read this manual carefully before you start using it. If you
have any questions or need additional assistance, please call
800-344-3304. We'll be happy to help you!
Specifications
Usage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Indoor or Outdoor
Minimum sensitivity to R12, R22, and R134a . . . . 0.4 oz/yr (11 g/yr)
Operating temperature range . . . .+32 ˚F to 113 ˚F (0 ˚C to +45 ˚C)1
Storage temperature range . . . +14 ˚F to + 140 ˚F (-10 ˚C to +60 ˚C)
Humidity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95% RH NC Max.
Altitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6500' (2000 m)
Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Two “D”cell alkaline batteries
Battery Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Approximately 16 hours
Pollution degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Overvoltage category . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Weight (with power cells) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.28 lb (0.58kg)
1
May be operated for a limited time in lower temperature environments.

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Getting Started
1. Install the batteries and sensor as described below.
2. Slide the OFF-LOW-HIGH Sensitivity switch to the HIGH
position.
3. Wait for the TEK-Mate to warm up. A high-pitched audible tone
will be heard and the “LEAK”indicator will be illuminated while
the TEK-Mate is warming up. When this tone changes to a chirp
and the “LEAK”indicator starts flashing, the TEK-Mate is ready
to find leaks.
4. Begin checking for leaks.
The INFICON TEK-Mate Refrigerant Leak Detector provides similar
responses to all CFC's, HCFC's, HFC's and refrigerant blends (i.e.
R-404A, R407c) as well as SF6. There is no need to select the
refrigerant you're working with.
How to Install the Alkaline Batteries
1. Remove the battery cover by releasing the latch and sliding the
cover down and off the handle.
2. Install two “D”size alkaline batteries as shown in Figure 1.
3. Reinstall the battery cover by aligning it with the handle and
sliding it up until the latch engages.
When the batteries are nearing the end of their useful life, the yellow
Low Battery indicator illuminates. While the batteries may operate
the TEK-Mate up to a period of one hour after the Low Battery
indicator illuminates, the batteries should be replaced as quickly as
possible.

5
Figure 1. Properly Installed Alkaline Batteries
How to Install or Change the Sensor
A new TEK-Mate is shipped with its sensor packed separately. The
sensor must be installed in the TEK-Mate before use. This
specialized sensor will operate for about 100 hours before it will
need to be replaced.
1. Remove the rubber sensor cover by lifting at the outer edge.
2. If you are replacing a worn out sensor, remove the worn out
sensor by pulling it straight out of the socket and discard it.
WARNING
If you are replacing the sensor, the worn out sensor
may be hot.
3. Remove the new sensor from its packaging.
4. Carefully align the three sensor leads (small wires coming out of
the bottom of the “can”) with the three holes in the sensor socket.
Insert the leads into the holes by gently pressing straight down
on the sensor until the sensor leads contact the bottom of the
socket. Be careful not to bend the sensor leads. See Figure 2.
+
+
-
-

6
5. Reinstall the rubber sensor cover by pressing it down firmly
around the edges. Be sure the edges of the cover are flat against
the surface of the detector.
Figure 2. Installing the Sensor
Using Your INFICON TEK-Mate
WARNING
Do not operate this instrument in the presence of
gasoline, natural gas, propane, or in other
combustible atmospheres.
How To Find Leaks
NOTE: A sudden whipping of the leak detector probe or "blowing"
into the sensor tip will affect the air flow over the sensor and
cause the instrument to alarm.
1. Place the tip of the leak-detector probe as close as possible to
the site of the suspected leak.Try to position the probe within 1/4
inch (5 mm) of the possible leak source.
2. Slowly (approximately 1 to 2 inches/second (25 to 50
mm/second)) move the probe past each possible leakage point.

7
NOTE: It is important to move the tip of the probe past the
leak. If held on a leak, the auto zero feature will
gradually zero out the leak signal.
3. When the instrument detects a leak source, it will emit a different
audible tone.
4. When the TEK-Mate signals a leak, pull the probe away from the
leak for a moment, then bring it back to pinpoint the location. If
the refrigerant leak is large, setting the sensitivity switch to LOW
will make it easier to find the exact site of the leak.
5. Return the sensitivity switch to HIGH before searching for
additional leaks.
NOTE: When you reset the instrument to HIGH, as when you
turn it on initially, the tone will sound continuously then
give way to a chirp.
6. When you've finished leak-testing, turn OFF the instrument and
store it in a clean place, protected from possible damage.
How To Change the Filter
The foam filter at the probe tip should be replaced if it becomes
plugged with water or oil. To replace the filter, simply pull out the old
filter (with a paper clip or similar device). Then, push in the new filter.
Cleaning The TEK-Mate's Housing
The TEK-Mate's plastic housing can be cleaned with standard
household detergent or isopropyl alcohol. Care should be taken to
prevent the cleaner from entering the instrument. Since gasoline and
other solvents may damage the plastic, protect your INFICON
TEK-Mate from contact with these substances.

8
Disposing Of The Alkaline Batteries
At the end of the life of a set of alkaline batteries, please dispose of
them according to applicable state and local regulations. In the
absence of such regulations, Inficon encourages its customers to
recycle and/or dispose of the cells through voluntary waste recycling
programs.
Troubleshooting
Except for the batteries and the sensor, the internal parts of the
TEK-Mate Leak Detector are not user serviceable. If you experience
a problem with your TEK-Mate, see the Troubleshooting Table below
to determine how to remedy the problem. If you can not remedy the
problem, take your TEK-Mate to your wholesaler for warranty
evaluation.
PROBLEM CAUSE REMEDY
1. Poor sensitivity.
The TEK-Mate does
not find leaks.
1a. Sensor has
reached the end of its
useful life.
1a. Replace the sensor. See
page 5.
1b. Power switch set
to LOW instead of
HIGH
1b. Set the Power Switch to
HIGH and scan for the leak
again.
2. The TEK-Mate
responds slowly to a
leak.
2a. Dirty or wet filter. 2a. Replace the filter. See
page 7.
2b. Failure in the
pumping system.
2b. Turn the TEK-Mate on
and listen for a high-pitched
motor sound. If you do not
hear the motor, return the
TEK-Mate to your
wholesaler for warranty
evaluation.