TSI Instruments Flowmaster 250DL User Manual

5
MAINTENANCE & TROUBLE-SHOOTING
5.1 BATTERY MAINTENANCE
Battery pack operating time is 10 hours continuous
usage. The batteries can be recharged at any time
using the mains charger supplied. Connect the battery
charger to the Flowmaster battery charger socket. It is
better to top up charge the batteries at regular
intervals than to allow them to discharge fully.
The batteries can be left on continuous charge when
the Flowmaster is not in use. The batteries have an
operating life of four to ve years and will need to be
replaced thereafter. The operating time will reduce as
the batteries age.
EFFECT OF CONTINUOUS METER USE ON
BATTERY LIFE
The type of battery in use on the Flowmaster 250DL
is lead acid type. This battery type is designed for
regular but intermittent use. It is not designed for deep
discharge such as would happen were the Flowmaster
repeatedly left powered on for eight to ten hours per
day. In these circumstances, the battery life would be
reduced to ten months. Battery replacement under
these circumstances is not covered under warranty.
Should your working procedures require that the
Flowmaster is powered on for up to eight hours per
day, please contact TSI Flowmeters Ltd and request an
alternative battery technology.
TEST FOR RE-CHARGE REQUIREMENT
The ow measurement will become erratic if the
battery voltage is too low. The readout may indicate
zero even when water is owing or the ow reading
may vary considerably even though the ow stream is
steady. Use a voltmeter to check the voltage level of
the battery pack. If the voltage is less than 10 V DC
then immediate recharging is necessary. If the voltage
is less than 12 V DC then you will be able to use the
Flowmaster for some time, but immediate top-up
charging is recommended. If the batteries are allowed
to over-discharge (battery voltage drops lower than 8
volts), they may not recover their original capacity and
may need to be replaced.
CHARGING THE BATTERIES
Connect the battery charger to the Flowmaster battery
charger socket. This socket is located in the power
panel located at the side of the Flowmaster. Plug the
charger into mains. Please refer to the battery charger
instruction manual located at end of this document.
5.1.1
5.1.2
5.1.3
The Flowmaster is practically maintenance free.
Periodically charge the batteries. TSI Flowmeters
recommend charging the batteries after each use and
once per month when the meter is not being used.
Clean the electrodes (especially if the meter has been
used with oily water) to ensure trouble free operation
of the owmaster.
Please avoid dropping the Flowmaster. Please use
your hands to operate the switches and avoid use of
screwdrivers. Please keep abrasive chemicals away from
the exterior of the Flowmaster and wash the inner
tube with clean water after owing foam or seawater.
The ow meter control electronics are in a waterproof
compartment located beneath the display gauge. Please
do not open this compartment. Breaking the seal will
destroy the water-proof feature of this compartment
and void warranty. Subsequent water ingress will
damage the control electronics and lead to loss of ow
measurement function.
5.2 FLOWMASTER MAINTENANCE
CLEANING SENSOR ELECTRODES
The Flowmaster’s ow gauge response is reduced if the
electrodes are covered with a lm of oil, dirt or rust.
This can result in measurement error which is usually in
the form of a lower than expected ow reading.
Clean the electrodes by brushing the inside of the pipe
with a soft cloth or soft brush dipped in water. Use
of a household handwash type dishwashing uid is
acceptable. If necessary, an alcohol or methanol based
cleaning-agent may be used.
The electrodes should be cleaned periodically. The
frequency of cleaning depends on the type of water
being used. If clean tap water is used, then once a year
is sufcient; if river water is used, then we recommend
that they be cleaned every 6 months. If oily water has
been used, then they should be cleaned immediately
after use by running clean tap water.
5.2.1
SCALE ADJUSTMENT
The Flowmaster is calibrated and the scale adjusted
at the factory. Accurate measurements can be made
immediately upon receipt of the unit. It is recommended
that all measuring instruments are calibrated annually. If,
perchance, the display does not seem to be accurate,
then please check that the electrodes are clean.
5.2.2
Fig. 5.1 Flowmaster battery charger socket
Fig. 5.2 Location of electrodes
Electrodes
Version 2.0 (February 2012) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.16

TSI Instruments Flowmaster 250DL Specifications

General

Brand	TSI Instruments
Model	Flowmaster 250DL
Category	Test Equipment
Language	English