TSI Instruments Flowmaster 250 Guide
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
FLOWMASTER 250
PORTABLE FLOW & PRESSURE
TEST INSTRUMENT
Easy and simple to use everywhere
www.tsi.ie
Unit 1, Portlaoise Enterprise Centre, Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32VK07, Ireland
THE FLOWMASTER 250 MEASURES THE FLOW RATE AND THE
PRESSURE AT EVERY WATER DRAWING OFF POINT
OPERATION
MANUAL
AND
MAINTENANCE
MANUAL
Flowmaster 250 and Flowmaster 400
incorporating model EMF-300E ow sensor
www.tsi.ie
Unit 1, Portlaoise Enterprise Centre, Clonminam Business Park, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32VK07, Ireland
Version 1.7
June 2017
OPERATION MANUAL
AND
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
Flowmaster 250 and Flowmaster 400
incorporating model EMF-300E ow sensor
CONTENTS
3
1GETTING TO KNOW YOUR
FLOWMASTER
1.2 QUICK START GUIDE
1.1 INTRODUCTION
2 SPECIFICATION
2.2 FLOWMETER
2.1 GENERAL
2.4 BATTERY PACK
2.3 PRESSURE GAUGE
3 FLOWMASTER OPERATION
3.2 TOTALISER FUNCTION
3.1 POWER ON SEQUENCE
4USINGYOUR FLOWMASTER
4.2 FLOW & RESIDUAL PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
4.1 PRECAUTIONS
5MAINTENANCE & TROUBLE-SHOOTING
5.2 FLOWMASTER MAINTENANCE
5.1 BATTERY MAINTENANCE
5.3 TROUBLE-SHOOTING
6 NiMH BATTERY CHARGER
6.2 HOW TO USE THE CHARGER
6.1 MASCOT CHARGE DIAGRAM
7 ACCESSORIES
7.2 TRANSPORT & STORAGE CASE
7.1 BALL VALVE WITH BS INST. M/F FITTINGS
7.4 FLOW MONITORING SYSTEM
7.3 ADAPTORS
8LIMITED WARRANTY
4.3 STATIC PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
1.4 EXPLANATION OF USER PANEL
1.3 APPLICATIONS
5.4 CALIBRATION OF YOUR FLOWMASTER
7.5 REPLACEMENT BATTERY / MAINS CHARGER
2.5 FLOWMASTER 400
9 CE DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
4.4 FLUSHING
7.6 UPGRADE TO A FLOWMASTER 250DL
4
4
5
5
6
6
6
6
6
7
8
4
6
7
9
10
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18
10 CALIBRATION CERTIFICATE 19
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
This portable ow and pressure test meter was
developed in conjunction with UK and Irish Fire
Brigades to meet the need for professional and easy
appraisal of available pressure and ow at the service
point.
GETTING TO KNOWYOUR FLOWMASTER
The main features of the TSI Flowmaster are:
• Measures static pressure, residual pressure,
instantaneous ow, total ow
• Fully portable
• Easy to use - simply attach to the re hydrant outlet
• There are no moving parts in the sensor - eliminating
breakdowns
• Easy to read digital display
• Convenient carrying handle
• Powered by internal, rechargeable battery pack
• Robust and durable
Fig. 1.1 Main components of the Flowmaster
1
4
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The Flowmaster is now used by most UK and Irish
re services and has been exported to 50 countries.
The Flowmaster meets the requirements of the JOIFF
standard, ‘Guideline for the testing of re hydrants.
Our re service customers use the Flowmaster to test
hydrants and re ghting equipment such as pumps,
hoses, dry risers and branches. Customers from the
water services use the Flowmaster when ushing to
regulate the ow rate and to measure the volume
discharged for use in leakage gure calculations.
Internal Battery
Pack
Connection socket for
battery charger
On/Off Switch
Data Interface
Supporting Feet
Handle
Outlet BS Inst. Female
Digital Display Flow Rate
Analog Display for
Pressure
Intake BS Inst. Male
1.2 QUICK START GUIDE
1) Connect to hydrant
2) Turn ON
3) Open valve
4) Read pressure and ow
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
1.4
Fig. 1.8 User panel explanation
(1) Bar graph display of ow reading
(2) Digit display of ow reading
(3) Set / Select switch
(4) Plus switch used to increment setting in calibration
mode
(5) Mode / Minus switch:
Mode - selects between ow and totaliser operating
modes
Minus - decrements setting in calibration mode
(6) Indicates totaliser mode and volume
(7) Totaliser range extender:
No. Display Total as displayed
X 10 Multiply displayed volume by 10 to
get total
X 100 Multiply displayed volume by 100 to
get total
(8) Flashes on and off to indicate there is no water in
the sensor
(9) Flashes on and off to indicate there may be dirt on
the electrodes. Ignore this signal when there is no
water in the sensor
(1)
(8)
(9)
(2)
(3)
(5)
(6)
(4) (7)
EXPLANATION OF USER PANEL
1.3 APPLICATIONS
Fig. 1.3 Testing pillar re hydrants on high pressure ring
main
Fig. 1.4 Testing re pump
Fig. 1.5 Testing a new branch
Fig. 1.2 Testing underground re hydrants
MEASURING STATIC AND DYNAMIC
PRESSURE AND FLOW RATE
USING THE FLOWMASTER TO TEST A FIRE
HYDRANT
USING THE FLOWMASTER TO TEST A FIRE
PUMP
1.3.2
1.3.1
1.3.3
USING THE FLOWMASTER TO TEST FIRE
FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
1.3.4
5
Fig. 1.6 Flushing
USING THE FLOWMASTER TO CONTROL
FLOW VELOCITY DURING FLUSHING.
1.3.5
Fig. 1.7 Use totalise function of Flowmaster to record
volume released during ushing for input to leakage
gure records
FLOW TOTAL
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
GENERAL2.1
Weight 12.0 kg including battery pack
& instantaneous adaptors
Dimensions 390 (L) x 240 (W)
x 210 (H) mm
Power Internal Battery Pack. DC
12V @ 250 mA
Case Material Corrosion resistant LM25
aluminium
Operating Temp. -10°C ~ +50°C
Adaptors 2.5” BSPM or BS
Instantaneous (4.0” BSPM for
Flowmaster 400)
2.5” NST for USA and other
adaptors available on request
Colour Firemen Red & anodised
aluminium
Sensor Type Electromagnetic
Range 30 - 3,000 lpm carriage return
By changing the sensor
control pcb, range can be
extended to 5,000 lpm
Resolution 50 ~ 750 l/min ± 15 l/min
750 l/min ~ ±2%
Standard Functions Flow reading
Totaliser reading
Casing Material Corrosion resistant ADC6-12
(JIS) aluminium (anodised)
Pressure rating 49 bar
Digital LCD display gauge
• 4 digits
• 17.6mm high digits
• Analog bar graph
• Internal backlighting
Type Bourdon Tube
Range 0 ~ 10 bar, ±1%. (0-7, 0-15,
0-20, 0-25 bar also supplied)
Dial Analog type, 60 mm dial
Battery Type Nickel-metal hydride, NiMH
Rated Capacity 2.2 Ah (10 hours continuous
operation)
Recharging Mains operated recharger is
supplied
In-car charger Available as separate item
SPECIFICATION
2
6
FLOWMETER2.2
PRESSURE GAUGE2.3
BATTERY PACK2.4
FLOWMASTER 4002.5
Weight 15.0 kg including battery pack
and 100mm ttings
Dimensions 510 (L) x 240 (W)
x 210 (H) mm
Streamlined Pressure loss is minimal
thanks to the use of tapered
adaptors from 65mm bore to
100mm adaptors
Adaptors 100mm French adaptors
tted onto 100mm BSPM
Other adaptors available on
request
Other specications as per Flowmaster 250
Fig. 2.1 Flowmaster 400
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
3FLOWMASTER OPERATION
The pressure gauge does not need a power source to
operate. Pressure measurements can be made with the
ow meter in the OFF position.
The Flowmaster is ready to measure ow as soon
as battery power is applied. Turn on the Flowmaster
by pressing ON/OFF switch to “1” position. The
Flowmaster can also be powered using an external 12V
DC power source.
Following power_on, the ow meter begins a self test
sequence lasting approximately 5 seconds and then
automatically enters ow measurement mode. The
typical ow meter display in ow measurement mode
is as shown below.
Fig. 3.3 Flow meter display when ready for ow
measurement and there is no water in the pipe. Note
the ashing symbols on the left side of the owmeter
gauge
Fig. 3.2 Flow meter display when ready for ow
measurement, water is lling the pipe and is owing
Fig. 3.1 Flow meter display when ready for ow
measurement, water is lling the pipe but is not
owing
The Flowmaster is now ready to make both ow and
pressure measurements.
7
3.1 POWER ON SEQUENCE
The Flow meter backlight LEDs will turn on. After
a few moments, the self-test mode will commence
and the display sequence will be as shown below.
The nal display in the sequence indicates that the
self-test is complete and the Flow meter is in ow
measurement mode.
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
TOTALISER FUNCTION3.2
8
1) Press M (mode) switch once, to enter totaliser
mode
2) Display shows total litres own since last reset.
Press M again to re-enter ow measurement mode
3) Re-set totaliser by pressing S and P switches
simultaneously for at least one second and then
releasing
4) Figure displayed will automatically re-set to zero
The ow meter has a built in totalising function. The
volume of water that has passed through the ow
meter is totaled and stored in internal memory.
Put the meter readout into totaliser mode by pressing
the M (mode) switch once.
The volume reading is stored in ash memory and is
does not return to zero even after power is turned off.
Volume accumulates until a manual reset is carried out
as explained in g 3.2.3.
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
The Flowmaster provides ow and pressure
measurement functions. One of it’s primary uses is
for the testing of hydrants. The procedures used for
testing hydrants vary and depend on individual user
requirements.
USINGYOUR FLOWMASTER
4
Fig. 4.1 Testing an underground hydrant using a
standpipe. Photographs courtesy of Essex County Fire
and Rescue Service.
Fig. 4.2 An example of a ow readout and a residual
pressure reading. Photograph courtesy of Laois Fire
Service.
The principal international standards for hydrant
testing are The JOIFF Standard; “Guideline for ow
and pressure testing of hydrants” and NFPA 291; “Fire
ow testing and marking of hydrants”. The Flowmaster
is an approved instrument meeting the instrument
stipulations laid down in The JOIFF Standard and
simplies the measurement procedures outlined in
NFPA 291. Please refer to these standards for further
information
An operators guide for static and residual pressure
measurements and for ow measurements is supplied
on the following pages.This information is provided for
guidance only. It is preferential that the Flowmaster user
follow the guidelines provided by their organisation. A
copy of The JOIFF Standard is available on request.
Fig.4.3 Flow testing with ball valve to facilitate static and
residual pressure measurements at Portlaoise Hospital.
Photograph courtesy of Portlaoise Hospital Service
Fig. 4.4 Inline use of Flowmaster. Photograph courtesy
of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
Fig. 4.5 Flowmaster with ttings for use with Hoselay-
ers. Photograph courtesy of Greater Manchester Fire
and Rescue Service
9
Additional information and video tutorials are available
online. For demonstrations, click on links below:
• Using the Flowmaster 250 to test a Hydrant
- http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=8EQOp5E3TJ8
• Using the Flowmaster 250 for Flushing
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu8b_
UXd3Mk
• Using the Flowmaster 250 to test a Canadian
Hydrant (Hetek)
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a19GwFK
kT9w&feature=player_embedded
Other tutorial videos are also available at www.tsi.ie
Version 1.7 (June 2017) TSI Flowmeters Ltd.
IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ THIS SECTION
BEFORE USINGYOUR FLOWMASTER
4.1 PRECAUTIONS
!
It is important to think safety rst, especially when
working with pressure.
Please ensure the Flowmaster is securely attached to
the service tting (eg, hydrant outlet, pump, etc) before
pressurizing.
Please consider carefully the expected system pressures
if you plan to use a length of hose between the service
point and the Flowmaster, as shown in gure 4.6. For
pressures exceeding 5 bar, the weight of the Flowmaster
may not be sufcient to ensure the meter will remain
on the ground. If service pressure exceeds 7 bar, the
meter at the end of a hose will move freely in the air
and this is very dangerous.
!
!
!
Fig. 4.6 Caution! Never allow the Flowmaster to be
used in an open-ended position. It is essential to secure
the Flowmaster so that it cannot move about freely
10
4.2 FLOW & RESIDUAL PRESSURE MEASUREMENT
Note 1
Flow reading is generally taken after dirt and debris in
the water stream have been exhausted and the water is
clear. This will typically take 10 to 20 seconds.
Note 2
Flow measurement can be taken without any attachment
to the Flowmaster outlet.
Note 3
When a residual pressure is required, an attachment
such as a valve or hose length is placed on the
Flowmaster outlet to create back pressure.
!
!
!
1) Attach the Flowmaster to the standpipe and
switch it on
2) Attach valve, hose, etc. to create back pressure
and to direct water to safe location
3) Open hydrant fully so water is owing
4) Read ow (in l.p.m.) and pressure (in bar). When
readings are taken, close hydrant fully
This manual suits for next models
2
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