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Technical Help
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
General Q&A
Why would I buy an ACD instrument rather than a cylinder of cal gas?
Our gas instruments are more accurate, versatile, price effective and environmentally friendly than cylinders.
How do the instruments work?
There is a liquid containing generating source inserted into the instrument. Current is passed through the source and calibration gas is generated on demand and blended with air to create calibration gas or it simply permeates out and is blended with air to create calibration gas.
How do I know how much calibration gas I have left?
Each instrument has an indicator that warns the user before he runs out of cal gas.
How long do the calibration gas sources last?
We have a range of gas sources that run from 2 to 100 hours of use, roughly the equivalent of 2 to 100 cal gas cylinders at a fraction of the cost.
Can I use one instrument to generate more than one type of cal gas?
Most instruments can be used with several gas sources. For instance, you can have one CAL 2000 instrument and five different generating sources for it.
Does altitude or temperature effect the instrumentation?
Yes, but the instrumentation ranges from all internal self adjustment to easily user adjustable settings.
What does it mean when my instrument reads 'source failure'?
Usually it means that the instrument is not recognizing the source. Check the four pin connector and ribbon connector for corrosion and clean if necessary. It may also mean that the electrolyte level of the generating source is low. The level should be about < from the top. Distilled water can be added if necessary.
What does it mean when my instrument reads 'flow too low'?
'Flow too low' means that the internal pump in the instrument cannot achieve the flow rate you have set the instrument to operate at. Look for a restriction in the calibration equipment such as a kink in the hose or a small orifice in the calibration cup. Insure free flow for the instrument through the calibration equipment.
My instrument is due for calibration, what do I need to do?
Contact Customer Service to obtain an RMA #.
Does the flow rate affect the output?
The flow rate determines the minimum and maximum concentrations. The concentration does not change the output but rather limits it. We rate our cells at 0.5 LPM. If you pass a certain current across our cell at 0.5 LPM, the output would be halved at 1.0 LPM.
Do ACD calibration gas instruments support multiple languages?
Yes, many are multiple language capable.
CAL 2000
Why is my CAL 2000 instrument reading flow too low?
The CAL 2000 instrument has an internal mass flow sensor that measures the flow through the unit and is used to control the flow. If the sensor is not seeing the flow that the user has asked for, it shows a flow too low error and then shuts off. The reason for this is so that the calibration gas concentration is accurate. Typical reasons for the flow too low error include flow restrictive calibration adaptors, as well as customers who are trying to calibrate a sample drawing sensor with a lower flow rate than our unit is providing. Sample drawing systems can be calibrated by setting the flow to zero on the CAL 2000 and attaching the hose to the sensor. The CAL 2000 will read the sample draw flow and then you may set the desired calibration of calibration gas and calibrate the sensor. If calibration adaptor is too restrictive, the restriction needs to be reduced so that the pump in the CAL 2000 can achieve the desired flow rate.
Does the flow rate affect the output on the CAL 2000?
When you change the flow rate on the CAL 2000, the range of output changes. If you are flowing at 0.5 LPM, you can choose any output between 0.5 PPM and 50 PPM. If you have the flow set to 1.0 LPM, you may select any output between 0.25 ppm and 25 PPM. If you have selected 0.2 LPM of flow, you may select from 1.25 to 125 PPM. So the real range with one cell is .25 to 125 PPM, this full range can be achieved by altering the flow rate of the instrument.
GENie QC-1
How is the flow controlled in the GENie QC-1?
The GENie QC-1 utilizes a sealed glass ampoule with an ammonia solution inside as the source for the ammonia gas. Once the user breaks the vial and places it inside the instrument, the ammonia permeates out of the ampoule at different rates depending on many variables. The user selects the concentration of calibration that they want, say 50 PPM. The instrument then adjusts the flow rate in order to achieve that output and displays the flow rate to the user. There is a coarse adjust knob that user can change in order to achieve the concentration that is required. If the user sets the output to 50 PPM and the instrument then can’t achieve that output, it will give a “output too low” indication. At that point the user adjusts the coarse adjust knob until the required output can be achieved. The instrument will stabilize and run at that 50 PPM level and display the flow rate. The flow will be between 0.2 and 1.0 LPM.
CAL-101
How does the CAL 101 Bump Test instrument track 350 bumps?
A memory chip inside the source keeps track of the number of bumps used and how long the button is pressed down.
