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Winter Detection

WINTERIZING PORTABLE GAS DETECTION INSTRUMENTS Preparing gas detection instruments for the upcoming winter months should be a priority for every end user. It is crucial to perform maintenance tasks now so you are prepared when the weather changes. By Joe Buckley

shield washer fluid and . Before temperatures dip below freezing, it’s a good idea to determine the age of your ve- hicle battery. Gas detectors are no differ- ent. Always check the instrument battery before working in very cold conditions. Batteries have a life span usually associ- ated with the number of charge cycles through which they have been. Battery performance deteriorates as it ages; the older the battery, the shorter the run time. Battery age can be determined by looking at the manufactured date on the label and then decoded through the se- rial number. You also can call the manu- facturer’s customer service number for INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC assistance. You do not want to be on a job with an instrument that operates for less than the rated run time. While the battery is disconnected from the instru- ment, closely examine the interior for cracks, tears or leakage. Make sure the contacts are corrosion-free. hen preparing for sea- to check for dirty and damaged filters on If you use alkaline batteries in your sonal changes, we need to your gas monitor, which can inhibit the , they have a much shorter pay the same attention to instrument’s ability to detect gas. run time in the cold, so keep spare bat- our gas detection instru- Gas detection instruments are built to teries handy. Many users have battery ments as we pay to prepar- withstand and operate in extreme environ- chargers in their trucks. If you discover Wing our homes, vehicles and clothing. ments and are certified to do so by agen- that the battery is not fully charging, it We winterize our homes by having the cies such as Underwriters Laboratories may be because of the cold. Recom- inspected for correct operation. and the CSA Canadian States Association. mended battery charging temperatures Inspectors look for cracks in the furnace Gas detection manufacturers typically rec- are 0°C – 50°C (32°F – 122°F). that can reveal leaks. ommend an operating temperature range You may notice the response of the Winterizing gas detection equipment somewhere between -20°C to 50°C (-4°F instrument getting sluggish at tempera- must include inspection of the instru- to 122°F), and disregarding those recom- tures below -20°C. The display may ment exterior for damage such as cracks mendations can lead to instrument mal- get dim and even go blank if it freezes. in the case halves and tears of the case functions or inaccuracies. If this happens, your gas monitor likely molding. Although instruments have an still will detect gas and still will alarm. If ingress protection (IP) rating for water, you have to use it this way, you should cracked case halves or damaged filters Check the Batteries bump test it before each use to make can allow moisture to reach the interior When the cold sets in, it’s time to pre- sure it responds, and you should get the of the instrument leading to ice formation pare our vehicles by checking several instrument warmed up as soon as pos- or instrument failure. It also is important systems: the battery, levels, wind- sible once indoors.

EHSToday I NOVEMBER 2017 I WWW.EHSTODAY.COM 23 Winter Gas Detection

Keep the Instrument Warm below their rated temperatures. area near your nose and mouth. This will but Not Too Warm response accuracy typically is plus or keep the instrument warm from your As the days get colder, we wear flan- minus 15 percent over the full measure- body heat and also monitor toxic and nel shirts, insulated boots, hats and ment and temperature range for most combustible in the atmosphere. gloves to keep the body warm. Being . Keep that in consideration Conversely, in the winter months protected from the cold weather is im- when reading the units of measurement there are many heating sources to keep portant for us to function and survive. while using instruments below the rated us warm. You do not want to expose the Think of the sensors inside a gas de- temperature range. gas detectors to too much hot, dry air. tector as the heart and brains of the in- When using your instrument in tem- Keep the detector off the vehicle dash- strument. They are what make the in- peratures below freezing, keep the in- board when the windshield defroster is strument function. The risk of sensors strument inside your coat and have tub- running. Unclip your instrument from freezing and giving inaccurate readings ing attached to the pump extend out of your cold weather coveralls when you increases when gas detectors are used your coat near the collar in the breathing lay them on the to warm up be- fore you go outside to work in the cold.

The risk of sensors freezing and giving Top Speed Controller for Electronic Throttles inaccurate readings Inhibit direction change if speed increases when gas and/or RPM above set point detectors are used Improves tire life up to 400%, reduces transmission wear below their rated Set 2 different top speeds (or different for Fwd + Rev) temperatures.

Set take-off or ramp-up speed The dry climate has more impact on the performance of some electrochemi- cal sensors than even the coldest of temperatures. To prevent the aqueous electrolytes from drying out, store and Top Speed + Directional Inhibitor Controller charge your instruments in a humidified area when not in use. Keeping the ambi- for Electronic Throttles ent relative at 40 to 50 percent will go a long way toward maintaining the sensitivity of your sensors and will keep them working longer. After exposures to any extreme tem- peratures, bump test and calibrate your Controls safe speeds in your plant (ZONETROLLER speed instruments to ensure they are in proper control option available) working order. Routine maintenance on the instruments will keep them per- Directional control prevents transmission abuse: forming at their best, even in the cold. improved tire wear by up to 400% Winterizing your gas detectors can pro- vide you with reliable and accurate gas Idle time shutdown prevents pull away in 2nd or 3rd gear and excessive wear on transmission detection throughout the coldest months of the year. EHS

Joe Buckley serves as a gas detection professional on the training team at In- dustrial Scientific. He can be reached at [email protected].

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24 WWW.EHSTODAY.COM I NOVEMBER 2017 I EHSToday