MONARCH INSTRUMENT Phaser-Strobe pbx User manual

Instruction Manual
Phaser-Strobe pbx
Portable Phase-Shiing Stroboscope
15 Columbia Drive
Amherst, NH 03031 USA
Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.monarchinstrument.com

SAFEGUARDS AND PRECAUTIONS
1. Read and follow all instrucons in this manual carefully, and retain this manual
for future reference.
2. Do not use this instrument in any manner inconsistent with these operang
instrucons or under any condions that exceed the environmental
specicaons stated.
3. Certain strobe frequencies can trigger epilepc seizures in those prone to that
type of aack.
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 staonary 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 lethal voltages present inside this product. Refer to the secon on
Lamp Replacement before aempng to open this product.
8. Do not allow liquids or metallic objects to enter the venlaon holes on the
stroboscope as this may cause permanent damage and void the warranty.
9. Do not allow cables extending from unit to come into contact with rotang
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 precauons.
AC Stroboscopes that have three wire mains cable must have
the earth wire connected to a suitable Earth point.

In order to comply with EU Direcve 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 regulaons; contact your local authories for
more informaon. 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 Registraon and Extended Warranty Coverage informaon is available
online at www.monarchinstrument.com.
Monarch Instrument holds the following US trademarks and registraons, all rights
reserved: illumiNova®, Nova-Pro®, Nova-Strobe™, DataChart™, Track-It™.
11. The product contains Nickel Metal Hydride baeries which must be disposed
of in accordance with Federal, State, & Local Regulaons. Do not incinerate.
Baeries should be shipped to a reclamaon facility for recovery of the metal
and plasc components as the proper method of waste management. Contact
distributor for appropriate product return procedures.
12. This instrument is not user serviceable. For technical assistance, contact
the sales organizaon from which you purchased the product or Monarch
Instrument directly.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 OVERVIEW ..................................................................................... 1
1.1 Display Panel / Denion of Buons ......................................... 1
2.0 PREPARATION FOR USE ............................................................... 3
2.1 Power ........................................................................................ 3
2.2 Input / Output Connecons ........................................................ 3
3.0 MENU ............................................................................................. 5
4.0 OPERATION ................................................................................... 6
4.1 Internal Mode - Standard Strobe Operaon ............................... 6
4.2 Internal Mode - TACH Frequency Generator .............................. 9
4.3 External Input Mode .................................................................. 9
4.4 Tachometer Mode - External Input Required ............................. 10
4.5 External Delay Modes (Phase Shiing) ...................................... 10
4.6 Power Up Features .................................................................... 11
5.0 USING THE STROBOSCOPE TO MEASURE RPM ............................. 12
6.0 LIMITATIONS OF REMOTE OPTICAL SENSORS ................................ 14
7.0 LAMP REPLACEMENT AND FUSE .................................................. 14
7.1 Lamp Replacement ................................................................... 14
7.2 Fuse .......................................................................................... 16
8.0 BATTERY AND POWER SUPPLY SPECIFICS ................................. 17
8.1 Low Baery Indicaon ............................................................. 17
8.2 Charging the Baeries .............................................................. 18
8.3 External Power Supply/Charger ................................................ 18
8.4 Baery Disposal ....................................................................... 19
9.0 SPECIFICATIONS ......................................................................... 19
9.1 Compliance .............................................................................. 21
10.0 ACCESSORIES, SENSORS and REPLACEMENT PARTS ................. 22

1
1.0 OVERVIEW
The Phaser-Strobe pbx is an extremely sophiscated instrument with many
features, yet remains simple to operate. Select only the features you need.
1.1 Display Panel / Denion of Buons
The display panel consists of a backlighted liquid
crystal display with six numeric digits on top and
ve alphanumeric digits on the boom, which
indicate modes, ash rates, etc. (see Figure 1).
Addional informaon displayed include:
PHASE Indicates Phase Shi Delay Mode is acve
TIME Indicates Phase Shi Time Delay Mode is acve
AUTO Indicates Auto Phase Shiing Mode (Virtual RPM) is acve
ALT. Indicates alternate funcon of each buon (lower secon)
and knob will be used
TACH Tachometer Mode acve (strobe won’t ash)
LOCK Unused
EXT External Input Mode acve
On Target Indicator for Tachometer Mode and Remote
Sensor in External Mode
- - - - - Indicates input frequency exceeds the limit of the stroboscope
Baery indicaon (see 8.1 Low Baery Indicaon)
Figure 1 Display Panel

2
Below the display are six membrane buons which control the
operaon of the stroboscope.
Mulply Flash Rate by 2
ALT Funcon - starts menu (see secon 3.0)
Hold when powering up to show all segments, then rev # and
display test
Divide Flash Rate by 2
Hold when powering up to reset factory defaults
DISPLAY/TACH
Internal/External Mode: toggles display between RPM and RPS
External Phase or Time Delay Mode: cycles display through
RPM, RPS, Phase and Time
Auto Mode: cycles display through RPM, RPS, VRPM and VRPS
ALT Funcon—toggles Tach Mode (ashing) on/o
INPUT/MEMORY
Manually toggles between Internal and External Modes
ALT Funcon—Memory, reads and stores 9 preset ash rates
ALT FUNCTION
Acvates Alternate Funcon for buons (lower secon)
and knob
PHASE DELAY
Internal Mode: toggles between normal ash rate adjust and
“phase” delay adjust
External Input Mode: cycles through External only (no delay),
Phase, Time and Auto (VRPM)

3
The ALT FUNCTION buon toggles ALT. in the display. When ALT. is
displayed, the buons will perform their secondary funcon listed
in the lower secon of each buon. It also changes how the tuning
knob works.
2.0 PREPARATION FOR USE
The strobe may be handheld 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 Phaser-Strobe pbx has internal rechargeable baeries and may
also be powered by an external AC power supply (PSC-pbxU). If using
the internal baeries, the unit should be charged before use (see
secon 8.2 Charging the Baeries). The actual operang me of the
stroboscope depends on the ash rate and duty cycle of operaon. The
strobe can also be run connuously from the AC mains with the power
supply supplied (see secon 8.3 External Power Supply/Charger).
2.2 Input / Output Connecons
The Phaser-Strobe pbx has input and output jacks on the le side
of the stroboscope. These can be used for external triggering or
synchronizaon (daisy chaining two or more strobes). These jacks
accept 1/8" (3.5 mm) phone plugs (input - stereo, output - mono). The
input and output are TTL compable. (See Figures 2 and 3 for connector
connecon detail.)

4
Figure 2 Input Connector Detail (Stereo plug)
Signal Input
+6V Out to
Sensor
+6V Out to
Sensor
Signal Input
Common
(GND)
Common
(GND)
Common
(GND)
Common
(GND)
Pulse Output
from Strobe
Pulse Output
from Strobe
Figure 3 Output Connector Detail (Mono plug)
The oponal ROS-P (Remote Opcal Sensor), MT-190P (Magnec), or
IRS-P (Infrared) sensors may also be used to trigger the unit.
NOTE: When using external sensors that are powered by the Phaser-
Strobe pbx, e.g. Remote Opcal Sensor (ROS-P), the sensor must be
plugged in before the stroboscope is turned on, or the remote sensor
may not be powered up.
The input jack (▲ poinng into socket) enables an external signal to
trigger the strobe. Inserng a plug into the input jack will automacally
put the strobe into the External Input Mode. The INPUT buon 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 opons.

5
With no external input, the output jack (▼poinng away from socket)
provides a TTL compable 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 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 opons.
3.0 MENU
The strobe has a Menu which allows the user to select sengs such as
number of decimal places, backlight on or o, posive or negave edge
for input and output signal, and input blanking on or o.
To enter the MENU:
1. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the MENU buon.
2. SETUP and the menu opon will be displayed.
3. Turn the tuning knob to cycle through the main menu opons.
4. Once the desired menu opon is displayed, press the MENU buon to
select it. Press any other buon to cancel.
5. Turn the tuning knob to edit the menu opon seng.
6. Press the MENU buon to save your changes. Press any other buon
to cancel.
7. Press any buon other than MENU to exit the Main Menu.
8. DONE will be displayed.
Below is a list of the menu items:
DECPT Decimal Point (none, 1 or 2)
BLITE Backlight (Yes=On or No=O)
INPUT Posive (pos) or Negave (neg) Edge for Input Signal
OUTPT Posive (pos) or Negave (neg) Edge for Output Signal
BLANK Input Blanking (Yes=On or No=O)

6
4.0 OPERATION
To turn on the stroboscope, depress and hold the trigger. The trigger may
be locked in posion using the side locking buon. To lock the stroboscope
on, depress the trigger as far as it will go and then press the locking buon.
Once the locking buon 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 operaon.
There are ve (5) operang modes for the Phaser-Strobe pbx. These are
Internal, External Input, External Phase Delay, External Time Delay, and
Auto (Virtual RPM). All but the Internal Mode require an external input
signal.
In the Internal Mode, the knob adjusts the ash rate. In the External Input
Mode, an external signal is used to trigger the ash and the knob has no
eect. The External Delay Modes (Phase, Time and Auto) enable the user
to vary the stopped moon image at any point in the cycle without having
to move the trigger source locaon.
4.1 Internal Mode - Standard Strobe Operaon
In the Internal Mode, the stroboscope generates its own signals and
funcons like a tunable stroboscope. The strobe is in the Internal Mode
when nothing is plugged into the input jack or when manually set using
the INPUT buon.

7
To change the ash rate:
With the power on, turn the knob counter clockwise to increase the
ash rate and clockwise to decrease it. The knob is velocity sensive.
Turn the knob slowly to have each click equal to 0.01 FPM. Turning the
knob more quickly will adjust the FPM by larger steps. When adjusng
ash rate, quickly turn the knob (or use the x2 or ÷2 buons) to coarsely
change the FPM. Then slowly turn the knob for ne adjustments.
NOTE: There are maximum and minimum values in each mode beyond
which you cannot adjust. If you are adjusng the rate and you reach a
value on which the next increment would exceed the maximum ash
rate, the display will not increment. The same is true if you try to
adjust the ash rate below the minimum ash rate.
To mulply or divide the current ash rate by 2:
In addion to the knob, there are two buons on the display panel
marked x2 and ÷2. These enables the user to instantly double or
halve the reading on the display to the maximum or minimum values
allowed. This feature is useful for checking harmonics in the internal
ashing mode.
Alternate Knob Funcon - Mulple by 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
The tuning knob funcons dierently when ALT. is displayed. The
current ash rate is used as an adder. The knob will add (counter
clockwise) or subtract (clockwise) that inial ash rate for each click
the knob is turned. This in eect allows the user to mulply the inial
ash rate by 2, 3, 4, 5, etc., up to the maximum ash rate. This is very
helpful on fan blades. Using this feature, one can superimpose the
blades on top of each other and check for blade tracking, bent blades,
lead and lag tests, etc.

8
Example: A 3-bladed fan is spinning at 3600 RPM. The strobe is ashing
at 3600 FPM. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon to display ALT. Then
turn the knob counter clockwise 2 clicks. The strobe will now ash
at 10,800 FPM (eecvely 3600 mes 3). The fans blades will be all
superimposed on each other. One can now see if the blades are out of
alignment, bent, etc. by viewing the blades from the front or viewing
from the side edge of the blades.
To select a ash rate from a preset (memory) locaon:
1. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the MEMORY buon;
READ will be displayed.
2. Turn the tuning knob to cycle through the preset ash rates.
3. Once the desired ash rate is displayed, press the MEMORY buon
to select it. Press any other buon to cancel; DONE will be displayed.
To select a current ash rate in a preset (memory) locaon:
1. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the MEMORY buon;
READ will be displayed.
2. Do NOT turn the knob and press the MEMORY buon again; STORE
will be displayed.
3. Turn the tuning knob to cycle through the memory locaons.
4. Once the desired memory locaon is displayed, press the MEMORY
buon to store the current ash rate in that locaon. Press any
other buon to cancel. DONE will be displayed.
Internal Phase Delay/Jog:
Once the ash rate has been adjusted to give a stopped moon image,
the PHASE DELAY buon may be used with the knob to increase or
decrease the phase of the reference mark locaon. Use the PHASE
DELAY buon and knob to bring a reference mark, such as a keyway,
into your line of sight.

9
To adjust the Phase Delay:
1. Press the PHASE DELAY buon. PHASE will be displayed on the
boom line and the current ash rate will be displayed on the top
line.
2. Turn the tuning knob to adjust the locaon (phase) of the reference
mark.
3. Press the PHASE DELAY buon again to turn the Phase Delay mode
o.
4.2 Internal Mode - TACH Frequency Generator
In the Internal Mode, the strobe can be used as a frequency generator
(outpung TTL pulses) without having the strobe ash. The pulse
output will sll occur at the ash rate; the strobe is just not ashing.
To stop ashing:
Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the TACH buon. The TACH
icon will be displayed.
To start ashing again:
Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the TACH buon. The TACH
icon will go away and the strobe will start ashing again.
4.3 External Input Mode
In the External Input Mode, the user cannot make any ash rate
adjustments. The ash rate is a funcon of the input signal. This mode
is used to synchronize the ash to an external event (for example, from
an opcal sensor) to stop or freeze moon. 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.

10
4.4 Tachometer Mode - External Input Required
When an external input is supplied 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 without ashing the
lamp. The strobe will not ash in the Tachometer Mode.
To enter the External Tachometer Mode:
1. Plug an external input into the unit.
2. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the TACH buon. The
TACH icon will be displayed.
NOTE: If the external input signal exceeds the maximum ash rate,
the strobe will go into the Tachometer Mode automacally.
To exit the External Tachometer Mode:
1. Press the ALT FUNCTION buon and then the TACH buon. The
TACH icon will go away.
2. The unit will remain in the External Input Mode unless the INPUT
buon is pressed to change the mode.
4.5 External Delay Modes (Phase Shiing)
There are three External Delay Modes: Phase Delay, Time Delay, and
Auto (Virtual RPM). In the External Phase Delay Mode, the ash is
triggered 0.1 to 359.9 degrees aer each external signal pulse. The knob
sets the amount of delay in degrees. In the External Time Delay Mode,
the ash is triggered 0.01 to 1000 milliseconds aer each external
signal pulse. The knob sets the amount of delay in milliseconds. In the
Auto (Virtual RPM) Mode, the ash is triggered by increasing amounts
aer the external trigger pulse so that the image will appear to rotate
at a given (virtual) RPM or RPS. The knob sets this virtual RPM or RPS.

11
To enter one of the External Delay Modes:
1. Plug an external input into the unit.
2. Press the PHASE DELAY buon to cycle to the desired mode.
3. Use knob to adjust delay/angle (phase, me or virtual RPM).
To exit the External Delay Mode:
1. Press the PHASE DELAY buon to cycle back to External only.
2. The word PHASE or the TIME or AUTO icon will go away.
4.6 Power Up Features
When the strobe is powered up, it will remember the last sengs.
Press and hold the x2/MENU buon, then turn on the strobe by
depressing the trigger switch. This will turn on all the display segments
for two seconds or unl you release the buon. It will then show the
soware revision, “REV x.x” and then go through a display diagnosc.
Press and hold the ÷2 buon, then turn on the strobe by depressing
the trigger switch. This will restore the factory programmed presets.

12
5.0 USING THE STROBOSCOPE TO MEASURE RPM
The primary use for a stroboscope is to stop moon for diagnosc inspecon
purposes. However the stroboscope can be used to measure speed (in
RPM/RPS). In order to do this several factors need to be considered. First,
the object being measured should be visible for all 360° of rotaon (e.g.
The end of a sha). Second, the object should have some unique part on
it, like a bolt, keyway or imperfecon to use as a reference point. If the
object being viewed is perfectly symmetrical, then the user needs to mark
the object with a piece of tape or paint in a single locaon to be used as a
reference point. Look only at the reference point.
If the speed of rotaon is within the range of the stroboscope, start at the
highest ash rate and adjust the ash rate down. At some point you will
stop the moon with only a single reference point of the object in view.
Note that at a ash rate twice the actual speed of the image, you will see
two images (reference points). As you approach the correct speed, you
may see three, four or more images at harmonics of the actual speed. The
rst SINGLE image you see is the true speed. To conrm the true speed,
note the reading and adjust the stroboscope to exactly half this reading, or
just press the ÷2 buon. You should again see a single image (which may
be phase shied with respect to the rst image seen).
For example, when viewing a sha with a single keyway you will see one
staonary image of the keyway at the actual speed and at 1/2, 1/3, 1/4,
etc, of the actual speed. You will see 2 images of the keyway at 2 mes
the actual speed, 3 keyway at 3 mes, etc. The Flashes Per Minute (FPM)
equals the sha’s Revoluons Per Minute (RPM) at the highest ash rate
that gives only one staonary image of the keyway.

13
Stopped Image 1/4 mes 1/2 mes 1 me 2 mes 3 mes 4 mes
Flash Rate (FPM) 1250 2500 5000 10000 15000 20000
Example: Object Rotang at 5000 RPM
If the speed is outside the full scale range of the stroboscope (20,000
FPM), it can be measured using the method of harmonics and mulpoint
calculaon. Start at the highest ash rate and adjust the ash rate down.
You will encounter mulple images so be aware of these. Note the ash
rate of the rst SINGLE image you encounter, call this speed “A”. Connue
decreasing the ash rate unl you encounter a second SINGLE image. Note
this speed as “B”. Connue decreasing the speed unl you reach a third
SINGLE image at speed “C”.
For a two-point calculaon the actual speed is given by: RPM = AB/(A-B)
For a three-point calculaon: RPM = 2XY(X+Y)/(X-Y)2 where
X = (A-B) and
Y = (B-C)
If a Remote Opcal Sensor or Magnec Sensor is used to sense one pulse
per revoluon (External mode), the readout will display directly in RPM
(FPM) without any adjustment required.
In instances when you can shut down the device and install a piece of
reecve tape, then an opcal tachometer is easier to use for RPM
measurement. Stroboscopes must be used when you cannot shut down
the device. The human eye is not easily tricked into seeing a stopped
image by a stroboscope when the ash rate is slower than 300 FPM.
Therefore, stroboscopes are just about impossible to use below 300 FPM
for inspecon or to measure RPM.

14
6.0 LIMITATIONS OF REMOTE OPTICAL SENSORS
Remote Opcal Sensors have a limitaon when used with the Phaser-
Strobe pbx because they sense not only the reecve marker but the
strobe ash as well. If the ROS is posioned near the strobe, the light from
the strobe may cause the ROS to trigger the stroboscope at the wrong
me, especially when using a delayed ash mode. The Phaser-Strobe pbx
has an Input Blanking feature to allow it to ignore this false trigger.
Even with the Input Blanking, large delays cannot be obtained using an ROS
if the strobe’s ash is triggering the ROS. The duraon of the ROS pulse in
response to the strobe’s ash is about 0.5 milliseconds to 1.1 milliseconds
depending on the ash rate. This limits the largest delay possible because
the ash swamps the signal from the ROS, and consequently it will not
provide the pulse from the reecve marker. If large delays are desired,
reposion the ROS so it is away from the strobe’s ash or use a magnec
sensor.
The Input Blanking feature itself limits the maximum delay which is
detrimental to non-opcal sensors. It is possible to disable (or enable) the
blanking in the Phaser-Strobe pbx (see 3.0 Menu).
7.0 LAMP REPLACEMENT AND FUSE
7.1 Lamp Replacement
WARNING
Before aempng to remove the lamp, make sure the
stroboscope is turned o and any mains cord is removed from
the AC outlet. Allow the lamp to cool waing at least 5 minutes.
The stroboscope is designed to discharge the internal high voltages
within 30 seconds. However, cauon should be exercised when
replacing the lamp.

15
The lamp can be replaced by using just a pocket screwdriver. It is not
necessary to remove any screws to replace the lamp.
To change the lamp:
Push apart the two tabs on the side of the reector housing and
remove the lens using a small screwdriver to help pry one tab and
li the lens. Take care not to pry the tab any more than is necessary
to free the lens. The reector is held in place by the front lens and
will come loose, but it is not necessary to remove the reector.
Hold the lamp with a cloth between your forenger and thumb
and rock it back and forth gently while pulling out. Do not aempt
to rotate the lamp. The lamp is socketed and will come out easily
when pulled straight out.
WARNING
Do NOT touch the new lamp with bare ngers.
The lamps are polarized and must be put into the socket matching
polarity. Using a lint free cloth, match up the red dot on the plug
with the red dot on the socket and gently rock the lamp while
pushing it into place (see Figure 4). Make sure the lamp is in straight
and centered in the reector hole.
CAUTION
Do NOT allow the reector to contact the lamp.
1.
2.
3.

16
Red Dots
Notches
Figure 4 Lamp Replacement
Reinstall the reector and then posion the front lens in place
matching up the notches on the lens with the two small tabs on the
housing to prevent lens rotaon (see Figure 4). Push the tabs on the
front rim outward and press the lens into place.
7.2 Fuse
Under normal operang condions, the fuse within the stroboscope
should never blow. Examples of abnormal operang condions would
be foreign materials entering the strobe, such as water, pulp, ink, etc.
The Phaser-Strobe pbx has a replaceable fuse, which will reset once
condions are normal again.
4.