Newco DTU6 User manual

DTU6
Operating Instructions
English Version
Please read carefully before use
5830-0040 DTU6/IM/ENG/V.04-23

Contents
Description ......................................................................................................................... 3
Technical Specifications................................................................................................... 4
Safety Precautions............................................................................................................. 4
Unpacking .......................................................................................................................... 5
Operating Instructions ....................................................................................................... 5
Setting the test voltage..................................................................................................... 7
Types of fault ...................................................................................................................... 8
Maintenance ..................................................................................................................... 8
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................. 8
Error messages ................................................................................................................... 8
Disposal information.......................................................................................................... 9
Risk Assessment .................................................................................................................. 9
EC Declaration of conformity......................................................................................... 11
UKCA Declaration of Conformity .................................................................................. 11
Contact details ................................................................................................................ 12
Distributor details.............................................................................................................. 12

DTU6
3
Description
The DTU6 unit is designed to deliver an adjustable stabilised DC output voltage of
500V to 6kV for the detection of pinholes or porosity in dielectric (insulating)
protective coatings applied to the metal substrate of a diathermy instrument.
Fault detection is indicated by an audible alarm and a red LED on the front panel.
There are two conditions that will cause an alarm:
•A transient current pulse, caused by the ionisation of the air that exists in an
imperfection of the coating material. Upon transient fault detection, the
high voltage generator is momentarily disabled, during this time the alarm
will sound and the alarm LED will be illuminated. The test voltage will also be
displayed as zero. Disabling the high voltage generator allows the spark
repetition rate to be controlled.
•If a leakage current greater than 100µA flows and the test voltage is
reduced by 100 volts. In this scenario, the generator will continue to apply a
constant current to the fault, the alarm will sound and the alarm LED will be
illuminated. A reduced test voltage will be displayed.
The test voltage is set by the voltage decrease button and the voltage increase
button. This value will be retained when the unit is powered down. This voltage will
remain stabilised as the batteries discharge.
The battery level indicator is displayed in the left side of the LCD display:
█Indicates fully-charged batteries.
= Indicates battery voltage between 5 and 3.8 volts.
- Indicates exhausted batteries.
Replace batteries with alkaline for best performance. Dispose of exhausted
batteries in accordance with environmental regulations.
The high voltage generator is momentarily disabled on fault detection and the
short circuit current is well within the safety limits required for this type of equipment.
Due to the fact that the output voltage is DC, the material under test is subjected
to minimum electrical stress.
For periodic checking of the accuracy of the DTU6 meter, a separate calibration
meter can be supplied, but a good commercial high impedance test meter can
be used (>10MΩinput impedance).

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Technical Specifications
Output voltage range: 500V - 6kV DC (10V steps)
Maximum continuous output current: 150µA
Alarm sensitivity: Automatic
Operating time: 10 Hours at full output no load
Meter accuracy: +- 1.5% plus one digit
Power consumption: 1.2 Watts (6kV no load)
Dimensions: W: 228mm, H: 76mm, D: 216mm
Weight: 900g (unit only)
The unit may be operated from 4 AA cell batteries or from the mains; a DC adaptor
is supplied with the unit.
Please refer to the rear mounted rating label for battery carriage and DC
socket locations.
Safety Precautions
High voltage testing equipment should be operated by authorised personnel only.
The output test voltage of this equipment is derived from a current limited output,
however, should the operator accidentally make contact with the electrode, they
may receive an electric shock. If this situation is unavoidable we recommend that
rubber or plastic insulating gloves be worn.
Furthermore, the operator should be in good health and - in particular – not suffer
from a cardiac condition.
DANGER: Do not use test equipment of this type in any combustible
atmosphere as the test voltage will cause an arc or spark, and an
explosion could result. Therefore the hospital Safety Officer should be
consulted before proceeding with operation.
WARNING: Individuals fitted with a pacemaker, cochlear implant,
or trans-dermal electronic implant - e.g. glucose monitor, should
not operate or use our high-voltage test equipment.

DTU6
5
Unpacking
Remove the DTU6 and accessories from the packing and check them for damage.
If any part is damaged, notify the supplier and carrier immediately, keep all packing
material for inspection and do not use the DTU6.
The package contains the following items:
Standard Kit
Generator unit DTU6 Drum Brush electrode
1m Earth lead 1m Diathermy Lead
Newco Operating Instructions 4 x AA alkaline batteries
1m test lead (red) 1m bipolar lead
Plug-In Power Supply 7.5V DC 800mA Regulated Calibration Certificate
If any of the above items are missing, please contact your supplier immediately.
Keep the packaging in case the unit needs to be sent back for repair or calibration
in the future, or needs to be stored.
Operating Instructions
Connect the diathermy instrument test lead to the HT return socket located on the
rear of the unit (see illustration), or on the side of the unit for older models.
Insert the electrode into the red electrode socket on the top of the unit.
Power up the unit by pressing the On/Off button (2, see Fig.1). The unit will
momentarily display the last set test voltage. The unit will then display ‘Ready’
indicating the unit is ready for use.
The desired test voltage may now be selected using the voltage decrease button
(3) or the voltage increase button (5). This value will be retained when the unit is
powered down. The display will return to the ‘Ready’ message.
Pressing and holding the high voltage on button (4) will energise the electrode to
selected voltage potential which will be displayed in the LCD display window (1).
The instrument under test may be drawn across (or through) the test electrode (see
Fig.2). Fault detection is by audible alarm and the illumination of the red LED alarm
window (6).

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When testing is completed, the unit may be powered down by pressing the power
On/Off button (2). The unit will display ‘Shutdown’ in the LCD display window. The
DTU6 also features auto shut down after five minutes of inactivity.
Fig.1 - DTU 6 Control Panel
1Drum Brush Electrode
2Electrode Socket
3HV return socket
Fig.2 - Testing a diathermy instrument
1LCD display
2Power On/Off
button
3Voltage decrease
button
4High voltage ON
button
5Voltage increase
button
6Alarm indication
LED window
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3

DTU6
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Setting the test voltage
It is important to choose an appropriate test voltage – it must be sufficient to ensure
that faults are detected, but not so high that it may cause damage to the items
being tested.
There are various published specifications for voltage calculation and the surgical
instrument manufacturer may also have published suitable test voltages. If these
are not available, it is necessary to know the coating material and minimum
acceptable thickness in order to establish the necessary voltage for the test. The
voltage must, in all cases, be sufficient to arc across an air gap of the coating
thickness – this is approximately 3kV per millimetre of coating thickness. Thin
coatings are susceptible to damage and care must be taken to avoid creating and
maintaining an arc from a metallic part of the instrument, and then “drawing” this
onto the insulation as the instrument is moved across the electrode as the intense
local heat of an arc will carbonise the insulation and this can only be repaired by
recoating the instrument.
Without detailed information about the coating material and thickness, it is clearly
not possible to provide more than basic guidance however the very thinnest
coatings should be tested at low voltages – eg 500-800V whereas thicker layers will
require a higher test voltage, which may be up to 6kV, the maximum that the DTU
will generate. If damaged instruments of the same type are available as test
pieces, the voltage may be adjusted to the lowest level which will reliably detect a
fault in the material.

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Types of fault
Surgical instruments in service may exhibit several types of defect – the coating may
be cut or cracked, or the thickness may be reduced by abrasion. Cuts or cracks
may not extend all the way to the underlying metal, but careful choice of the test
voltage will enable areas of reduced thickness to be detected, as well as any areas
where the insulation has completely failed.
Other underlying faults in the insulation layer would normally be detected at
manufacture, and need not concern us.
Maintenance
The DTU6 was designed for minimum maintenance by the user, however the
following periodic checks/actions are recommended.
•Check the HT return lead for continuity.
•Keep the unit clean so that the control wording can be seen.
•Send the equipment back to the manufacturer or their agent for recalibration
at yearly intervals.
•Remove the batteries if the unit is not in use for prolonged periods.
Troubleshooting
Q. Alarm sounds for no apparent reason as the test instrument is moved over the
electrode.
A. Is the surface clean and dry? Moisture on the surface is conductive; this may
cause a leakage current of greater than 100µA, which in turn will cause the
test voltage to drop and the alarm to sound.
Error messages
•Error 1 - This indicates that the electrode voltage has exceeded the
operator selected voltage by >100 volts.
•Error 2 - This indicates that the test voltage is present at the electrode
without the HV output button being pressed.
In either case, the DTU6 will attract the operator’s attention by bleeping and
displaying the error message. The DTU6 will then display shutdown and power down.
The unit should be returned to the supplier for repair or calibration.

DTU6
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Disposal information
This Product must be disposed of in accordance with your local WEEE
guidance.
For further information on UK WEEE regulations click on:
http://www.gov.uk/government/collections/producer-responsibility-regulations
Risk Assessment
It the user’s responsibility to complete a risk assessment before using Buckleys
equipment. The following points offer some guidance but must not be assumed to
be complete or sufficient.
Personal safety
Have all users been trained in the correct and safe use of the instruments?
Are they aware that the instrument produces high voltages, and can give
electric shocks if used incorrectly?
Is the instrument in good condition, undamaged? Is the instrument dry? Are
the accessories similarly in good condition, dry and undamaged?
Is it possible to ensure that persons with pacemakers, cochlear implants or
trans-dermal implants of any kind are sufficiently far from the instrument & test
site to be safe?
Ozone is an irritant gas which will be produced when the instrument produces
sparks – is there sufficient, suitable ventilation in place to ensure that this is not
hazardous?
Explosion & Fire Risk
Buckleys high-voltage instruments will produce sparks - Are you certain that
there is no risk of an explosive atmosphere?
Have all easily-ignited and/or flammable materials been removed from the
area to be tested?

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EMC & RFI
Buckleys high-voltage instruments will produce sparks which may create
interference in nearby electronic apparatus, particularly communication and
computer equipment.
Are you certain that there is no risk of such interference causing a danger to
others – particularly medical or life support equipment?
Are you sure that there is no risk of such interference causing costs or
inconvenience to others – e.g. industrial processes, measuring equipment,
scientific apparatus, domestic radio and TV?
Other Risks
Have you checked that there are no ongoing processes in the area that may
be dangerous – X-ray machines, other radiation?
Are you certain that the instrument has not been immersed, dropped or
otherwise damaged in a way that is not obvious?
Is the person responsible for location safety aware of / fully understanding the
testing you are going to do, and has it been reviewed in line with the location
procedures?
NOTE: Wherever you are intending to use equipment of this type, always obtain clearance
from the safety officer.