MONARCH INSTRUMENT Nova-Strobe PBL User manual

Nova-Strobe DBL
and
Nova-Strobe PBL
Deluxe and Phaser LED Stroboscopes
15 Columbia Drive • Amherst, NH 03031 USA
Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.monarchinstrument.com
Instruction Manual

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Safeguards
and
Precautions
1. Read and follow all instructions in this manual carefully,
and retain this manual for future reference.
2. Do not use this instrument in any manner inconsistent
with these operating instructions or under any conditions
that exceed the environmental specications stated.
3. Certain strobe frequencies can trigger epileptic seizures
in those prone to that type of attack.
4. Users should not stare directly at the light source.
5. Prolonged exposure to the light can cause headaches
in some people.
6. Objects viewed with this product may appear to be
stationary when in fact they are moving at high speeds.
Always keep a safe distance from moving machinery
and do no touch the target.
7. There are no user serviceable parts in this instrument.
Refer service to a qualied technician.
8. Do not allow liquids or metallic objects to enter the
ventilation holes on the stroboscope as this may cause
permanent damage and void the warranty.

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9. Do not allow cables extending from unit to come into
contact with rotating machinery, as serious damage to
the equipment, or severe personal injury or death may
occur as a result.
10. This instrument may not be safe for use in certain
hazardous environments, and serious personal injury
or death could occur as a result of improper use.
Please refer to your facility’s safety program for proper
precautions.
11. Nova-Strobe LED units contain Nickel Metal Hydride
batteries which must be disposed of in accordance with
Federal, State, & Local Regulations. Do not incinerate.
Batteries should be shipped to a reclamation facility
for recovery of the metal and plastic components as
the proper method of waste management. Contact
distributor for appropriate product return procedures.
In order to comply with EU Directive 2012/19/EU on
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE):
This product may contain material which could be
hazardous to human health and the environment. DO NOT
DISPOSE of this product as unsorted municipal waste.
This product needs to be RECYCLED in accordance
with local regulations, contact your local authorities for
more information. This product may be returnable to your
distributor for recycling - contact the distributor for details.
Monarch Instrument’s Limited Warranty applies.
See www.monarchinstrument.com for details.
Warranty Registration and Extended Warranty
coverage available online at
www.monarchinstrument.com.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1.0 OVERVIEW .................................................................................. 2
1.1 LED Strobe Control Panel .................................................. 2
1.2 Modes of Operation ............................................................ 3
1.2.1 Internal Mode............................................................. 3
1.2.2 External Mode ........................................................... 3
1.2.3 Charging Mode.......................................................... 3
2.0 GETTING STARTED..................................................................... 4
2.1 Power ................................................................................... 4
2.2 Input / Output Connections................................................ 4
3.0 LED STROBE OPERATION ......................................................... 6
3.1 Adjusting the Flash Rate - RPM......................................... 6
3.1.1 Using the Knob........................................................... 6
3.1.2 Using the Keypad....................................................... 6
3.1.3 Decade Adjustment.................................................... 6
3.1.4 Multiply or Divide By 2............................................... 7
3.1.5 Fixed Increment N Adjustment ................................. 7
3.2 Adjusting the Flash Duration (Brightness)....................... 8
3.2.1 Flash Duration - Degrees........................................... 8
3.2.2 Flash Duration - Microseconds................................. 8
3.3 Display Units ....................................................................... 9
3.4 Tachometer Mode................................................................ 9
3.5 Mode Selection.................................................................. 10
3.6 Memory .............................................................................. 10

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3.7 Phase Delay ....................................................................... 10
3.7.1 Internal Phase Delay............................................... 10
3.7.2 External Delay (PBL Model ONLY)........................ 11
4.0 MENU..........................................................................................12
4.1 Decimal Places .................................................................. 12
4.2 Backlight ............................................................................ 12
4.3 Input Pulse Edge ............................................................... 12
4.4 Output Pulse Polarity........................................................ 13
4.5 Blanking ............................................................................. 13
5.0 STROBE BRIGHTNESS............................................................. 13
5.1 Calculating Blur................................................................. 14
5.2 Brightness in Degrees of Rotation .................................. 14
5.3 Brightness in Pulse Duration........................................... 15
6.0 USING THE STROBOSCOPE TO MEASURE RPM ................. 15
7.0 BATTERIES ................................................................................ 17
7.1 Low Battery Indication...................................................... 18
7.2 Charging the Batteries...................................................... 18
7.3 External Power Supply/Charger (PBL only).................... 19
7.4 Stroboscope Disposal ...................................................... 20
8.0 SPECIFICATIONS ...................................................................... 20
9.0 SENSORS, ACCESORIES, AND PARTS............................................ 22
Sensors and Accessories ........................................................ 22
Replacement Parts ................................................................... 23

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Figure 1 LED Strobe
Control Panel
1.0 OVERVIEW
The Nova-Strobe Deluxe DBL and Phaser PBL LED (Light Emitting Diode)
are rugged portable battery powered LED Stroboscopes used for inspection
and to stop motion to determine the speed of rotating objects. The units have
a pistol grip with lockable trigger switch and wrist strap for comfortable
hand held operation or they may be mounted on a tripod using the integral
¼ -20 UNC thread at the base of the handle. Although the DBL and PBL
are similar, the PBL has the additional ability to phase shift the image with
respect to an external signal and can animate the image in slow motion
rotation for inspection purposes. The PBL can also run continuously from
an external power supply.
1.1 LED Strobe Control
Panel
The Deluxe and Phaser LED
Strobes have a two line backlit
alpha-numeric liquid crystal
display (LCD) and a 12 key
keypad enables the user to
simply enter data and control
the operation of the unit. The
keys have dual functions – the
primary function is shown by
the black printing on the blue
background on the top half of
the key. The secondary function
is as a numeric keypad and the numerics are shown against a white
background on the bottom half of the key – 0 to 9, period and ENTER. The
LCD display has several icons which will be explained later in this manual.

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1.2 Modes of Operation
The stroboscope has two basic modes of operation – INTERNAL and
EXTERNAL.
1.2.1 Internal Mode
The strobe is in the Internal Mode when nothing is plugged into the
input jack or when manually set using the INPUT button. In the
internal mode the strobe generates its own timing signals and the
users can enter the ash rate using several different methods – see
Section 3.1.
1.2.2 External Mode
In the External Input Mode the user can’t make any ash rate
adjustments with the knob. The ash rate is a function of the input
signal. This mode is used to synchronize the ash to an external event
(for example, from an optical sensor) to stop or freeze motion. The
ash will be triggered on the rising or falling edge (menu selectable)
of the external input pulse. The strobe is in the External Input Mode
whenever there is a plug in the input jack. When the strobe is in the
External Input Mode, EXT will be displayed.
When an external input is applied to the unit and the strobe is put in the
Tachometer Mode, the unit will read the signal from the external input
(sensor) and display the reading on the LCD display without ashing
the lamp. The strobe will not ash in the Tach (Tachometer) Mode.
1.2.3 Charging Mode
The Charging Mode is when the strobe has the battery recharger
plugged into it. The strobe will continuously display the state of the
battery charge while being recharged.

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2.0 GETTING STARTED
The Stroboscope may be hand held or mounted on a tripod or other user
supplied bracket using the ¼-20 UNC bushing at the base of the handle.
2.1 Power
The LED Strobe is battery powered and has internal rechargeable
batteries. The unit should be charged before use (see Section 5.0). The
actual operating time of the stroboscope depends on the ash pulse width.
Narrower ash widths increase the operating time. Note that the DBL strobe
will not operate from the recharger supplied with the unit. The PBL will
run continuously from the supplied AC powered charger (PSC-PBXU).
To turn on the stroboscope, depress and hold the trigger. The trigger may
be locked in position using the side locking button. To lock the stroboscope
on, depress the trigger as far as it will go and then press the locking button.
Once the locking button is set you may release the trigger and the trigger
will be held in place. To unlock the stroboscope, simply depress the trigger
and then release.
NOTE: Unit must power down completely (OFF will be displayed and
then disappear) before unit will power on again. This is normal
operation. Wait 2 seconds before turning the unit back on again.
2.2 Input / Output Connections
The strobe has input and output jacks on the left side of the stroboscope.
These can be used for external triggering or synchronization (daisy-
chaining two or more strobes). These jacks accept 1/8” (3.5mm) phone
plugs (input - stereo, output - mono). The input and output signals are TTL
compatible. See Figures 2 and 3 for connector connection detail.

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Signal Input
+6V Out to Sensor
Common (GND)
Common (GND)
+6V Out to Sensor
Signal Input
Figure 2 Input Connector Detail (Stereo plug)
Pulse Output
from Strobe
Common (GND)
Common (GND)
Pulse Output
from Strobe
Figure 3 Output Connector Detail (Mono plug)
The input jack (pointing into socket) enables an external signal to
trigger the strobe. Inserting a plug into the input jack will automatically
put the strobe into the external mode. The INPUT button can be used to
toggle between External Input Mode and Internal Mode. When the plug is
removed, the strobe will be put back into the Internal Mode. The polarity
of the input pulse can be set in the MENU options. In the external mode
the knob cannot be used to change the ash rate.
With no external input, the output jack (pointing away from socket)
provides a TTL compatible pulse from the strobe’s internal oscillator.
If an external input is applied, the output pulse is in sync with the input
pulse. This output pulse may be used to trigger a second stroboscope
synchronously to illuminate larger areas. Many strobes can be “daisy
chained”. The output jack of one strobe is connected to the input jack of

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the next strobe causing all the strobes to ash together and be controlled
by the rst strobe in the chain. The polarity of the output pulse can be set
in the MENU options.
3.0 LED STROBE OPERATION
3.1 Adjusting the Flash Rate - RPM
There are several ways to adjust the ash rate of the Strobe:
3.1.1 Using the Knob
The ash rate can be adjusted by turning the knob on the side of the
unit – counter clockwise to increase the ash rate and clockwise to
decrease the ash rate. The knob is rate sensitive, the faster you turn
the knob the greater the change in ash rate. The smallest adjustment
is to add or subtract one from the least signicant (right most) digit
on the display.
3.1.2 Using the Keypad
It is possible to enter the required ash rate as a number
by entering the value using the keypad as you would with
a calculator. Press the NUMber key shown right followed
by the numeric keys representing the ash rate (eg 1234),
using the secondary key functions – numbers 0 to 9 and the
period, then press the ENTER button. Note: The system
will round the display to the nearest least signicant digit displayed.
If the display has no decimal places and you enter 1234.6 the display
will show 1235 and the strobe will ash at 1234.6 ashes per minute.
3.1.3 Decade Adjustment
The ash rate can be adjusted in decade steps eg: 1, 10, 100
etc. by pressing the button shown right. This will start a
digit on the display blinking. If the knob is turned this digit
will increment or decrement with rollover and roll under features.
Each time the button is pressed the blinking digit moves one
position to the right, the decade decreases by 10 until the digits stop
blinking. Pressing the button again will cause the left most digit
to start blinking.
To exit the decade adjustment mode while a digit is blinking press
any key other than the button.
3.1.4 Multiply or Divide By 2
The strobe ash rate can be instantly doubled (x2) or halved
(÷2) by pressing the x2 and ÷2 buttons shown right. This
is useful in determining actual rotational speed. Refer to
the section on speed measurement – Section 4.0. Note that
if doubling or halving the ash rate will cause the strobe
to exceed its capability, the display will show OVER or
UNDER respectively and the ash rate will remain at the current
ash value.
3.1.5 Fixed Increment N Adjustment
The strobe ash rate can be incremented or decremented
in xed increments. To do this, adjust the ash rate to the
required adjustment value, say 300, which we will refer to
as N. Then press the ±N button shown right (Note: – N is
the displayed value at the time the button is pressed). The display will
show ALT in the bottom left hand corner which indicates the knob is
in the ALTernate function mode. Turning the knob counterclockwise