Believe it or not, strict laws exist for the purpose of controlling the amount of noise/sound that fill our environments and devices such as the General Tools Sound Meter w/ SD Card make it possible to gather ‘evidence’ about suspected noise ordnance violations w/ ease.

General Tools Sound Meter w/ SD Card

The article mentioned that the occupants of the house may have complained to the landlord about a gas leak earlier that day. We would HATE to have that person’s conscience right now, that’s for sure!

Moral of the story

If you own property(ies) and have any reason to suspect that a gas line, valve or gas powered appliance such as a furnace, stove, washer, dryer, or even gas heating log in a fake fireplace may have a leak, don’t waste one red second checking it out thoroughly yourself with a device like the CD200 Combustible Gas Leak Detector or, better yet, having a service professional come out and investigate — and most likely he or she will have a device as good or better than the CD200 Combustible Gas Leak Detector.

CD200 Combustible Gas Leak Detector

So… what can the above meter detect? All sorts of potentially explosive, hazardous and dangerous gases, vapors and steams!

Combustibles:

• Natural Gas (Methane)
• Gasoline
• Propane
• Jet Fuel
• Tolulene
• Ethylene oxide
• Ammonia
• Lacquer Thinner
• Acetylene
• Halon
• Industrial Solvents
• Naptha
• Combustible Refrigerants
• Butane
• Alcohol

Other Detected Vapors & Steams:

• Steam
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Smoke
• Acetone Ammonia

Why? Because A/C units in cars and attached to buildings pretty much ALL use refrigerant and when their tanks keep running out of refrigerant for no apparent reason, SOMEbody will need to figure out the location of the leak… and a meter such as the Inficon D-Tek Select (712-202-G1) can make that task a whole lot simpler!

Inficon D-Tek Select Refrigerant Detector

The Inficon D-TEK Refrigerant Leak Detector utilizes innovative infrared absorption sensing technology that makes it extremely sensitive to all refrigerants… and more importantly ONLY to refrigerants.

While other refrigerant detectors may lose their sensitivity over time, the D-TEK Select maintains its sensitivity over the lifetime of the sensing cell (approximately 800 hours) and provides consistent, accurate and reliable results for both older and newer refrigerant blends.

Other key features include:

• Charging status indicator
• Status light to indicate failure of sensing unit
• NiMH (nickel metal hydride) batteries
• Equal sensitivity to all refrigerants including R-22, R-134a, R-404a,
• ‘Poison-proof’ infrared cell that will not fail due to exposure large amounts of refrigerant

Looking for a lower cost refrigerant leak detector? Try the 705-202-G1 which retails for about $200 less and still provides excellent detection for a wide range of refrigerants.

The Garrett Super Wand makes checking for metal objects like knives, guns and crowbars a simple task — even for the inexperienced door man or woman.

While some metal detectors require users to keep a specific face of the detection area pointed at the subject getting checked, the Garrett Super Wand Metal Detector works equally as well no matter what side of the 9.5″ scanning area faces the person getting checked.

Turns out the guy’s question had a lot of validity. Apparently when racing nitro powered RC cars the manufacturers suggest monitoring the engine temperature as a means of determining whether or not you have properly tuned the engine.

Makes sense, sure, but honestly we never though of that as an application for infrared thermometers. In our experience people looking for infrared thermometers typically work in HVAC or in the food & beverage industry. Learn something new all the time, right?

Infrared Thermometer w/ Laser Sighting

Infrared Thermometer w/ Goose Neck Probe

]]> http://test-for.com/blog/2010/09/infrared-thermometer-for-rc-car-engine-tuning/feed/ 0 http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/what-are-refractometers/ http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/what-are-refractometers/#comments Mon, 24 May 2010 11:28:21 +0000 Test For Admin http://test-for.com/blog/?p=606 In all honesty, we had no idea refractometers had so many uses in so many different industries:

• Automotive industry uses refractometers to analyze antifreeze and transmission fluids
• Wine growers use refractometers to measure the amount of sugar in their product at various times
• Environmentalists an use refractometers to measure the salinity (saltiness) of water.
• … and the list goes on.

Refractometers work on the principle of refraction, or the bending of the path of a beam of light as it passes through a medium of some sort. Different mediums will cause the light to bend in different amounts and thus a direct relation between concentration and changes in light path exists.

Below you will find a listing of 20 different refractometers currently available from National Safety Products

Refractometer: 1.333 to 1.384 ND (REF500COT) Used with Industrial Fluids, Oils & Water	REF500COT		$99.95
Refractometer: 1.333 to 1.520 ND (REF505RI) Used with Industrial Fluids & Mineral Oils	REF505RI		$329.00
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 10% (REF101) Used with Industrial Fluids & Low Concentration Juices	REF101		$89.95
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 10% (REF111ATC) with ATC Automatic Temperature Compensation	REF111ATC		$129.00
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 20% (REF102) Used with Industrial Fluids & Low Concentration Juices	REF102		$99.75
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 20% (REF112ATC) with ATC Automatic Temperature Compensation	REF112ATC		$119.00
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 32% (REF103) For Industrial Fluids, Fruit Juice and Soft Drinks	REF103		$99.55
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 32% (REF113ATC) with ATC Automatic Temperature Compensation	REF113ATC		$119.00
Refractometer: Brix 0 to 90% (REF107) Wide Range with Carrying Case	REF107		$329.00
Refractometer: Brix 28 to 62% (REF104) Used with Concentrated Fruit Juices, Canned Goods & High Sugar Solutions	REF104		$99.95
Refractometer: Brix 28 to 62% (REF114ATC) with ATC Automatic Temperature Compensation	REF114ATC		$119.00
Refractometer: Brix 45 to 82% (REF105) Used with Concentrated Fruit Juices, Canned Goods & High Sugar Solutions	REF105		$99.95
Refractometer: Brix 58 to 90%, Water 17 to 27% (REF106) Used with Honey, Jams, Marmalades & Malts	REF106		$99.95
Refractometer: Digital Brix 0 to 35%, 1.3330 to 1.3900 Refractive Index (DREF45-121) with ATC	DREF45-121		$399.00
Refractometer: Digital Wide Range Protein/Urine (DREF-UP320)with ATC	DREF-UP320		$399.00
Refractometer: Digital Wide Range Protein/Urine ATC (DREF300) with Carrying Case	DREF300		$329.00
Refractometer: Glycol to Measure Freezing Point -50 to 0°C (REF402) 1.15 to 1.3 Specific Gravity	REF402		$99.95
Refractometer: Glycol to Measure Freezing Point -60 to 32°F (REF401) 1.15 to 1.3 Specific Gravity	REF401		$99.95
Refractometer: Salinity 0 to 100% (REF201) Used with Seawater Density, Brine Solutions & Saline	REF201		$99.95
Refractometer: Salinity 0-28% (REF202) Seawater, Brine Solutions & Saline	REF202		$99.95

]]> http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/what-are-refractometers/feed/ 0 http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/testing-for-air-gas-and-refrigerant-leaks/ http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/testing-for-air-gas-and-refrigerant-leaks/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 11:28:00 +0000 Test For Admin http://test-for.com/blog/?p=604 Back in the old days a technician would break out some soapy water and coat areas of an air or gas line he/ suspected of leaking and wait to see if any bubbles formed. We imagine that after a few accidental electrocutions, because water and high voltage equipment typically do not mix, someone came up with a safer, better and more efficient way to detect air and gas leaks: Ultrasonic Leak Detectors.

711-202-G1	Ultrasonic Leak Detector 40.5kHz Whisper (711-202-G1) w/Earphone & Case		$269.00
GS-400	Ultrasonic Leak Detector Transmitter (GS-400) Produces 40kHz Tone		$99.95
GS-5800	Ultrasonic Leak Detector: Detect Ultrasound at 20-100kHz (GS-5800) with Case		$229.95

]]> http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/testing-for-air-gas-and-refrigerant-leaks/feed/ 0 http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/moisture-in-hay-and-grain-samples/ http://test-for.com/blog/2010/05/moisture-in-hay-and-grain-samples/#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 14:05:39 +0000 Test For Admin http://test-for.com/blog/?p=587

Ever have a problem w/ moisture ruining a loaf of bread prematurely? Or how about a colony of mold and/or mildew showing up on material that did not dry properly before getting folded up and put away?

Those problems do not COMPARE to the problems farmers go through if they do not keep accurate tabs on the moisture levels inside their hay and grain bales. If the levels get out of range, their crops can spoil and that means devastating financial problems for their business.

The GrainMaster comes with an integrated grinder-compressor unit that enables the user to take on-site moisture readings in ground samples quickly and easily.

Along with the GrainMaster, which comes in a handy carrying pouch, you also get a grinder-compressor unit, grain cup, sample spoon, brush and ‘Quickcheck’.

Besides having the ability to detect moisture levels from 0% to 100%, the GrainMaster has 15 pre-programmed calibrations for Wheat, Barley, Oats, Oilseed Rape, Canola, Linseed, Peas, Corn, Sunflower, Coffee, Soya, Rice, Sorghum, Paddy and Beans.

Need to test down inside a bale or down in a barrel? No problem. You can pick up optional probes for measuring temperature in stored grain (GRN6046) and moisture levels in baled hay and straw (GRN6138) as well.

Tony from Orlando asked, “What is the ASTM Test Method associated with testing the hardness of steel and what type of instrument is used?”

Well, Tony, we know of several different hardness scales including Shore A, Shore D, Rockwell, Vickers and Brinell. We imagine that you COULD measure hardness of steel using any of those scales, but we also know about ASTM A956 — Standard Test Method for Leeb Hardness Testing of Steel Products.

For those not familiar with ASTM A956, you can read a synopsis of the method’s purpose and scope below.

ASTM A956

Significance and Use

Hardness of a material is a poorly defined term that may have many meanings depending on the type of test performed and the expectations of the person involved. The Leeb hardness test is of the dynamic or rebound type, which primarily depends both on the plastic and on the elastic properties of the material being tested. The results obtained are indicative of the strength and dependent on the heat treatment of the material tested.

The Leeb hardness test is a superficial determination only measuring the condition of the surface contacted. The results generated at that location do not represent the part at any other surface location and yield no information about the material at subsurface locations.

1. Scope

1.1 This test method covers the determination of the Leeb hardness of steel, cast steel, and cast iron (Part A), including the methods for the verification of Leeb hardness testing instruments (Part B), and the calibration of standardized test blocks (Part C).
Note 1

The original title of this standard was “Standard Test Method for Equotip Hardness Testing of Steel Products.”

1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

ASTM Standards
E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to Determine the Precision of a Test Method

You can purchase a full copy of the method on the ASTM Web Site.

For those interested in purchasing a meter to test hardness of steel per ASTM A956, take a look at this meter: Hardness Tester ASTM Rated Professional Pen Style (EMHT40).

OK, so if you don’t already know what the term ‘wet bulb globe temperature’ means, don’t worry. We didn’t, either, before writing this blog entry.

The term refers to the way the human body ‘feels’ in response to actual temperature, real-time exposure to sunlight, and humidity. Many refer to the wet bulb globe temperature, often as WBGT, as heat index.

As the Summer months slowly start to creep into the Northern Hemisphere, and temperatures along with humidity readings begin to climb, industrial hygienists, athletic trainers, the military, Summer Camp administrators all over start to keep a close watch on the weather not just to make sure on one gets caught in the rain, but to make sure people under their charge don’t wind up getting heat stroke!

Instruments like the Heat Index Monitor Wet Bulb Globe Meter (WBGT8758) w/ 40mm Black Globe take the guesswork out of heat index monitoring and provide instant, on-the-spot heat index data.

Features of the Heat Index Monitor Wet Bulb Globe Meter (WBGT8758) w/ 40mm Black Globe include

• Ability to Measure Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – a commonly used heat stress indicator that considers the effects of temperature, humidity and radiant energy.

• Measures Black Globe Temperature (TG) – measured by the black globe thermometer, which monitors the effects of direct solar radiation on an exposed surface.

• Monitors Ambient Air Temperature (TA).

• Provides Real-Time Relative Humidty (%RH).

• Allows users to keep tabs on conditions in direct sunlight and out of direct sunlight at the same time.

• Audible Alarm Will Go Off When Conditions Exceed User Specified Limits.