Kane International AUTO600 User manual
AUTO600
SMOKEMETER
Kane International Limited
Kane House, Swallowfield
Welwyn Garden City
Hertfordshire, AL7 1JG
Tel: +44 (0) 1707 375550
Fax: +44 (0) 1707 393277
www.kane.co.uk
Stock No: 18863 February 2010
© Kane International Ltd
Page 2
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The AUTO600 is a ‘partial flow’ smokemeter that takes a sample of
exhaust gas through a flexible insertion probe into a heated tube.
A proportion of the sampled gas is then diverted into a heated measuring
tube along which light of calibrated intensity is directed. (The unused
sample gas is exhausted at the opposite end of the instrument)
The obscuration of this calibrated light gives an accurate measurement of
the density of the smoke in the tube.
Vectored air curtains are directed at the lenses at each end of the
measurement tube to mitigate against sooting up of the lenses.
A fresh air fan is used to clear any smoke from the measurement tube at
the end of a test sequence.
Page 3
BATTERY CHARGING:
The AUTO600 has an integrated NiMh battery pack that can be recharged
by
a) using a mains powered battery charger
b) using the optional charger lead from an in-vehicle 12 V dc supply
c) using the optional charger lead from a portable 12 V dc supply
The first charge should be for 12 hours continuously. When an external
charger is connected and power is detected the green LED above the
charger socket flashes.
NiMh batteries are suitable for top up charging at any time, even for short
periods. The charger can be left connected to the Smokemeter
continuously.
An in-vehicle charger can be used to top up the analyser's batteries from a
12 volt vehicle battery. The part number is KMCU450/12. Alternatively
proprietary automotive battery packs can be used.
The Handset uses 2 x AA cells and is supplied with non-rechargeable
alkaline cells. If required these can be replaced with rechargeable NiMh
cells which must be recharged outside the handset.
Time/date are held for 60 secs with batteries out. When batteries are
changed in the handset always re-check for correct date and time.
NOTE: Please ensure that used cells are recycled according to local
environmental legislation.
Page 4
PREPARING FOR USE
TIP: For maximum battery operating life it is strongly recommended
that the Smokemeter is connected either to a mains adapter or
to an in-vehicle power supply so that the heavy current demands
needed during the warm-up phase are supplied from an external
source. This will increase operational battery life by over 50%.
Attaching the probe:
CAUTION: Wear gloves as the probe will be dirty after use.
The probe attaches to the analyzer body using a metal screw thread
attachment. This only needs to be hand tight. Take care not to over
tighten or cross thread it.
Do not insert the probe into the vehicle exhaust until:
a) the vehicle’s engine is up to the required temperature
b) the smokemeter has completed its warm up sequence and has
auto-calibrated itself.
Only insert the probe into the exhaust when instructed to do so by the
handset
Page 5
THE MAIN SWITCH
There is a master ON/OFF switch located on the underside of the
Smokemeter main unit. This must be switched on before use. The OFF
position is provide for when longer term storage is anticipated to ensure
that the batteries are not discharged
Page 6
The Handset
There are 7 buttons on the handset
0/1 the on/off button
Backlight: press the button for four contrast levels then the backlight
will switch on. Press the button for four levels of contrast with the
backlight on, then the backlight will switch off.
UP : used to scroll or increment
Print/down: also used to scroll or decrement
ENTER: used to select functions
MODE: toggles between operating modes.
UNITS: toggles between /m and hu
Operating the Handset:
Operating the ON/OFF button on the handset initiates the handset and
main analyser start up sequence. The three LEDs on the main unit will
flash slowly between dim and bright until operating temperature has been
reached then the flash rate will change.
KANE
Auto 600
Bluetooth
connected
The handset screen will display the system status and changes to it. The
warm-up sequence counts up for up to 25 minutes and will jump out of
this sequence as soon as the main heaters have reached temperature.
Page 7
After 2 minutes or so the air curtain pump is initiated as part of the auto
zeroing calibration process.
KANE
Auto 600
Sys Init
24.50 min
As the system comes close to temperature the internal fan is operated for
a few seconds to ensure that the measurement tube is completely free
from residual smoke particles.
Once correct operating conditions have been achieved the display shows
KANE
Auto 600
0.00/m
The smokemeter is ready for use.
TIP: Press the UP key and the display will show date and time on its
bottom lines for about 5 secs.
Communication between the handset and the main analyser is normally
achieved using Class1 Bluetooth devices which have a nominal range of
100 metres in free air.
Page 8
Test Sequence:
TIP: Sometimes it is obvious that the emissions from a diesel engine
are unacceptable even without using a smokemeter to make a
measurement. Under such circumstances it is strongly
recommended that remedial action is taken on the engine before
any measurements are made. This will prevent premature
fogging of the smokemeter’s optics.
The AUTO600 Smokemeter operates using a Single Peak test mode. So
that on a single acceleration it is looking for the peak level of smoke
emission over a period of at least 3 secs. The start of the test is detected
automatically by a rising threshold of smoke level. (The sensitivity of this
threshold can be adjusted in MENU … TRIGGER. 3 is the standard
default setting.)
In fresh air the display will be 0.00 but inside an exhaust the background
level of smoke will be detected and displayed 0.2 or 0.3 / metre is typical.
The accelerator must be fully depressed in a smooth motion in under one
second and held at full acceleration for at least 3 seconds. The engine
must be at running temperature at the start of this test.
If the vehicle has been idling for some time it is normal to conduct a
‘dummy’ run with the probe outside the exhaust to pre-condition the
engine.
After 3 secs of operation above the threshold the peak reading is
displayed. There are 32 samples per second taken and these are displayed
on the screen.
Units of display can be Hartridge units (hu) or per metre (m).
After a test the test results can be printed using the KMIRP portable
printer. Always ensure the printer is switched on and there is a clear line
of sight between the printer and the handset.
Page 9
MODES
1) Continuous: the level of smoke in the tube is measured and
displayed.
2) Zerocheck: turns the fan on for 45 secs to clear the tube of any
smoke.
NOTE: the probe must be in fresh air at this time.
The handset prompts REMOVE PROBE FROM EXHAUST…PRESS
ENTER TO CONTINUE
KANE
Auto 600
Zero Chk
Underway
KANE
Auto 600
Zero Chk
Complete
3) Peak: this is the standard 3 second peak hold mode
Smoke
Peak
0.09/mP
The Smokemeter detects the change in level of smoke and holds the
highest reading that it sees. This result can then be printed.
To exit this mode press MENU.
NOTE: If ENTER is pressed this initiates a re-zero. Always remove the
probe from the exhaust before pressing ENTER in this mode.
Page 10
4) Menu:
Use up and down key to scroll through selections.
TRIGGER
TIME
DATE
Serial No.
Press ENTER to select:
TRIGGER
The default setting for the trigger level is 3. In low smoke situations if the
PEAK MODE fails to trigger increase the sensitivity. The range is 0 to 5.
0 should only be used in high smoke situations when absolutely
necessary. High smoke situations risk dirtying the optics.
Trigger
Sens 3
UpKyIncs
DownDecS
TIME
Time
08:08:24
Use up or down to change the time setting.
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