innovAg MiniTest User manual
MiniTest
Dairy Vacuum
& Pulsation Meter
USER MANUAL
Part No. DR51-0028-10
2 © 2017 InnovAg
FCC Compliance Statement
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Declaration of Conformity
Standards to which Conformity is Declared:
• EN 61000-4-2
• EN 61000-4-3
• EN 61000-6-1
• EN 61000-6-2
• EN 61000-6-4
• IEC 61326-1:2005
• EU Directive 2002/95/EC
• EU Directive 2004/108/EC
• China RoHS (See following page)
Manufacturer’s Name: innovAg Pty. Ltd.
Manufacturer’s Address: 37/328 Reserve Road, Cheltenham
Victoria 3192, Australia
Type of Equipment: Pulsation Tester/ Vacuum Gauge
Brand Name: MiniTest II
Model Number: DR40-0080
© 2017 InnovAg 3
I, the undersigned, hereby declare that the equipment specied above
conforms to the above Directives and Standards.
Braham Basser Date: 30 October 2001
Director
InnovAg Pty. Ltd
Enclosure
LCD
Silicone tubing
Metal ttings
Front panel label
Rating labels
© 2017 InnovAg 5
Contents
1. What is MiniTest? 6
2. Safety Precautions 6
3. Maintenance and Calibration 6
4. The Front Panel 7
5. Vacuum – Setting up 8
6. Checking Vacuum 9
7. Pulsators – Setting up 9
8. Checking Pulsation 10
9. Software Version and Calibration Date 11
10. Replacing the batteries 12
11. Repairs 13
12. Troubleshooting your MiniTest 14
13. Specications 15
14. Warranty 16
All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced,
transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any
language in any form by any means without the written permission of
innovAg Pty. Ltd.
6 © 2017 InnovAg
1. What is a MiniTest?
MiniTest is a small, light, handheld instrument for testing vacuum supplies
and pulsators in dairies. It uses the same high-accuracy analysis as its
‘big brother’ DairyTest Professional, but in a smaller, lighter, lower-cost
format. It is intended for use by personnel with technical knowledge of
dairy operation as an accessory to a professional test kit, eg. for bench-
testing of pulsators or a quick check on dairy performance. It has only a
single vacuum port and cannot be connected to a PC or printer.
If you have difculties, we have a Freecall help line within Australia
(1800 061 167). International users should call their local distributor or
2. Safety Precautions
MiniTest is intended to be used in the milking stall – always allow for the
unpredictable nature of animals.
During the measurements, sharp needles may be used – take care they
don’t hurt people or animals.
Always ask the dairy farmer about the behaviour of the animals and
milking method used.
If using MiniTest in wet tests, always keep the unit above the test point
to prevent uid entering. Damage to the unit from uid entering the
sensor is not covered under the warranty.
3. Maintenance and Calibration
Maintenance
Clean the MiniTest with a moist cloth. Do not use cleaning agents.
MiniTest performs a self test when turned on, turning on all segments
of the LCD. If an error message is displayed (E-01 for example), or you
suspect the unit is damaged; contact innovAg or the local distributor for
further information.
Calibration
MiniTest automatically performs a zero calibration when turned on.
Do not turn on your MiniTest with vacuum connected. If the unit
© 2017 InnovAg 7
reads other than zero on start-up, a manual ‘force-zero’ feature can be
used. Refer to Section 12: ‘Troubleshooting your MiniTest’.
A complete calibration should be performed with an approved and
certied calibration test instrument every 24 months. This can be
organised by InnovAg or the local distributor.
4. The Front Panel
In Pulsation Mode, MiniTest can measure six pulsation parameters
(A+B, B, C, D ratios, rate and Max Vacuum) and provide indication of
B-phase drop and pulsation stability. In Vacuum Mode three vacuum
parameters are measured (Minimum, Average and Maximum). The
picture below shows the front panel indicators and controls.
Low-Battery Indication
If the remaining battery capacity is getting low the battery symbol will
ash. Replace/recharge the batteries.
8 © 2017 InnovAg
5. Vacuum – Setting up
MiniTest can display vacuum in either kiloPascals (kPa) or inches-of-
mecury (inHg) units as required. The Units Indicator on the left-hand
side of the display will appear next to those currently set.
Changing/checking the setting.
1. Make sure the unit is turned ON and in Vacuum mode.
(Min, Avg or Max displayed).
2. Press and hold the Forward/Setup key for about 3
seconds to enter setup mode. The display wil show
unt (Units).
3. Press either the Power/Up or Mode/Down
keys to change between kPa and inHg.
4. Press the Forward/Setup key to save the changes and
return to normal operation.
Auto Exit
MiniTest will automatically exit Setup mode after 1 minute if you don’t
press any keys.
Startup Mode
Vacuum mode defaults to Average (AVG) on startup. The setting is kept
when the mode is changed to Pulsation but is reset when the unit is
turned off or the batteries run at.
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6. Checking Vacuum
When set to Vacuum mode, MiniTest will display the minimum (Min),
average (Avg) or maximum (Max) vacuum level on the digital display.
Press the Forward/Setup key until the required parameter is selected.
Auto-power OFF
If there is no vacuum on the port and you don’t push any keys the unit
will automatically turn OFF after 10 minutes to save battery life.
What is it measuring?
All vacuum measurements are taken over a rolling 1.6 second period,
sampled 1000 times per second.
7. Pulsators – Setting up
MiniTest can display Pulsation Ratios (A+B, B, C and D) as either
percentage (%) of the total cycle, or in milliseconds (ms). The selected
method applies to all ratio parameters (A+B, B, C and D). Rate
measurement is xed in Cycles-per-minute (CPM).
Changing/checking the setting.
1. Make sure MiniTest is turned ON and in Pulsation mode.
2. Press and hold the Forward/Setup key for about 3
seconds to enter setup mode. The display will show
rAt (Ratio).
3. Press either the Power/Up or Mode/Down
key to set the required Ratio display method;
percentage (%) or milliseconds (ms).
4. Press the Forward/Setup key to save the changes and
return to normal operation.
10 © 2017 InnovAg
Auto Exit
The tester will automatically exit Setup mode after 1 minute if you don’t
press any keys.
Saved Settings
Settings are kept until changed by you. They do not reset when the unit
is turned off or the batteries run at.
8. Checking Pulsation
MiniTest can display Pulsation Ratios A+B, B, C and D as well as Rate
(in CPM).
Press the Forward/Setup key until the required parameter is selected.
Note: Use Vacuum Mode to measure Maximum Vacuum of the pulsation
waveform.
Stability Indication
If the current reading varies from the average by more than 5%, then the
pulsation being measured is not stable. Avg will ash to warn the user
to wait until the readings settle. If Avg does not stop ashing, there is a
problem with the pulsation being measured.
B-Phase Drop Indication
If a vacuum drop of more than 4kPa is detected within the B Phase then
the pulsation is not within ISO specication and ‘B’ will ash to warn the
user.
Auto-power OFF
If there is no vacuum on the port and you don’t push any keys, MiniTest
will automatically turn OFF after 10 minutes to save battery life.
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