Product Tip of the Month

Product Tip of the Month

June 2000

All Analyzers

The Effects of Weather

Weather elements can destroy electronics and maybe even a good balance job. Some of the most common problems people face with their balancing equipment are weather related. The following are a few conditions that can literally destroy your equipment or successful balancing efforts.

Optical Sensors

The effectiveness of optical sensors such as the Phototach and LASETACHŽ are based on being able to project a light to a reflective target and then see the light when it is reflected back from that target. Snow, rain, and fog create obstructions to the projected and reflected light that may seriously degrade or eliminate the sensor's ability to work correctly.

Precipitation can also form droplets on the lens of the sensor which will block the projected light beam or form a lens which dissipates the light beyond its performance parameters.

Fog, which sometimes forms in the inlet of a jet engine when the pressure drops due to an increase in engine speed, will also block the light from these sensors. Operating these sensors in any of these conditions is not recommended. If you experience problems with the speed indication in otherwise clear weather conditions, check the engine inlet for fogging.

Protect the sensors from a soaking rain. They are water resistant, but not waterproof. If left exposed in a soaking rain, some moisture may get inside the unit which will either corrode the metal components or cause the lens to fog up from the inside when the units heats up and evaporates the moisture.

Temperature extremes are not normally a problem for these sensors. As a general rule of thumb, if you can stand the heat or cold, so can they.

Analyzers

Just as mentioned with the optical sensors above, analyzers are water-resistant but not waterproof. If you get caught out in the rain with an analyzer in hand, that doesn’t mean it will be destroyed. Common sense should tell you to remove the analyzer to dry ground as soon as possible. The electronics are coated to prevent damage from condensation and the occasional unexpected shower but the unit will not withstand being submerged in water. Some ACES Systems' units are built to military specification (MIL SPEC) and are waterproof.

Temperature extremes are not usually a problem. The most significant temperature-related problem you might run into is the limits of the LCD screen on all the units. This issue was discussed in a previous Tip of the Month, July 1999.

Cables

Cables are probably the most durable components of the system. They have protective coatings, shielding and even anodized connectors. When speaking strictly from the viewpoint of weather, not much can harm the cable assembly itself. The problem comes when moisture gets into the plug or pin portion of a connector and causes voltages to go astray. Once connected they are pretty much moisture proof, but always check to make sure moisture isn’t in the connector prior to locking it in place on the analyzer or sensor. Failing to do this only insures that the moisture can’t escape the confines of the connector body.

Vibration Sensors

Vibration sensors, for the most part, are hermetically sealed against damage from anything that might fall from the sky. This includes volcanic ash and small meteorites. Exercise caution when handling vibration sensors when they are wet. A four-foot drop to the concrete causes much more damage to these sensors than a one hundred-year flood can.

Carrying Case

If you want to make sure your equipment is 100% safe from the weather, leave it securely locked in the carrying case. ACES Systems uses the Pelican brand of carrying case, which is absolutely watertight when closed and latched. The case is also tough as nails and guaranteed against everything but shark attacks and two-year-olds.

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