Finally! We've taken the first baby steps in implementing the program. Now comes the fun part.

I'm actually doing a small on site training course with our maintenance guys and am finding some very interesting situations. We have an assembly line that is not running but air is still "turned on". While this is a waste of money it is an excellent training ground. It actually gives the guys a chance to walk through the line and take their time discovering leaks. And yes we will turn it off by Friday!!!

I asked in an earlier post about dB range etc., I have noticed that leaks may show 38dB but cannot be felt in some places and 41dB in others that are obvious. I realize that this is training, and I have set the sensitity at 70 (S=70) and the htz @ 40. These same leaks of course change with variations in these two settings. What settings do you use for detecting air leaks?

Hello,

We have U/E 9000 Ultrasonic guns. We set the HZ at 40 for airborne detection and then adjust sensitivity dial until a DB reading appears and then adjust as you get closer to leak. Very important to do sensitivity validation on your scanning modules

Regards, Dave

Your UE9000 is set correctly. However, the idea is stay consistent with your readings if you are going to compare. Sensitivity @ 70 (S-70) may be too high for some, too low for others. Say that you stay at S-70 and 40 khz (Kilohertz, not hertz), ultrasonically your Ultraprobe hears the "compressed air leak" at 38-40khz very well. There is NO reason to change the sensitivity, UNLESS you feel you are not picking up all the leaks you are looking for. For instance, the ones you can hear but cannot feel at S-70, you are fine. Note or mark those leaks as "small", others as medium or large. The so-called "GUESSTIMATOR" is just that “a guess”. However, if you feel using it works for you fine, "just don't go and tell your energy manager you have 1500 cfm’s of leaks, when you only have a 1000 cfm compressor". They reading is easily manipulated and fooled by moving the instrument further or closer and/or changing the angle. Whether you use 38, 39 or 40 or 41 khz keep it the same every time for comparisons.
As ddane mentioned, as you walk towards the leak you can lower the sensitivity to help focus in on the leak. Always, remember to start your scan with the “RUBBER Focusing Cone” off and as you get closer to the leak, then put it on to FOCUS in on the leak.
Welcome to the wonderful world of ultrasonic leak detection……..

Whoops I did mean KHZ