Total
Customer Satisfaction is our primary objective at General
Monitors. Through presale technical seminars, electronic
documentation, customer product training seminars, maintenance
programs and the Technical Services Group, we want you
as a customer for life. Here you'll find a variety of
tools to assist you with our products.
Are your Flame Detectors
solar blind?
Yes, our Flame Detectors utilize an ultraviolet
phototube that responds to UV radiation in the 185-260
nanometer range thus eliminating any response to
UV radiation from the sun. Will your
Flame Detectors respond to arc welding and / or
lightning?
Arc welding and lightning are two major sources
of UV radiation. General Monitors manufactures three
different Flame Detectors (UV, UV / IR, DFIR). The
only Flame Detector that will respond to arc welding
and / or lightning is the UV-only Flame Detector.
Therefore in applications where arc welding and
lightning are present General Monitors recommends
the use of our UV / IR and DFIR Flame Detectors
which will not false alarm from arc welding and
/ or lightning. How often
should I test my Flame Detectors?
There is no calibration required for our Flame Detectors
although we recommend testing them once every 90
days. As your Flame Detectors are a vital part of
your overall safety system, you want to verify the
operation and alarming sequences. These tests and
verifications can be performed with the General
Monitors Test Lamps. The Model TL105 can be used
to test any of our Flame Detectors while the Model
TL100 is only used to test our UV Flame Detectors.
If you are not sure which Test Lamp to use, please
contact General Monitors for assistance. Why would
I use the FL3101H UV only flame detector over the
FL3100H UV / IR?
The FL3101H responds in less than 500 milliseconds,
thus it is ideal for fires that need fast detection.
An example would be in a munitions plant. Why would
I use a FL3100H UV / IR flame detector over the FL3101H
UV detector?
The FL3100H is immune to lightning and arc welding.
Many compressor stations and other applications
are located in areas where lightning is present. Why would
I use the FL3102 DFIR flame detector over the FL3100H
UV / IR detector?
The FL3102 DFIR has the ability to see a fire through
heavy black smoke. The FL3100H may not see the fire
since the black smoke would block the UV side. Why do I
need to use the test lamp TL105 on the flame detectors
if they already have self checking every minute?
The “COPM” self checking only tests
the lamps, windows for dirt and the UV and IR detector
circuits. It does not test the relays or the 0-20mA
stepped output. The TL105 allows you to test everything
including the relays and output from the 0-20mA. What is the
advantage of a stepped 0-20mA output?
The 0-20mA signal to PLC’s and DCS systems
can be used for warn and alarm conditions along
with diagnostics. Should the detector be reading
8mA then there is some type of IR pulsating source
present which then allows relocation or adjusting
the sensitivity of the unit to overcome this background
IR flickering source. This is also true if the output
is at 12mA, which indicates UV only. The UV could
be coming from arc welding or lightning. How should
the Flame Detectors be mounted?
We use 2 types of swivel mounting brackets. We recommend
the detectors be mounted looking down at an angle
to prevent dirt, dust and moisture from collecting
on the windows. Will the
FL3100 series flame detectors detect a smoldering
fire such as a cotton or cloth fire without a flame?
No, the GMI flame detectors will not detect this
type of fire. A photoelectric or ionization smoke
detector is best suited for this type of application.
