Atmospheric Hazard Alarms; Low Battery Alarms; Sensor Over Range Alarms; Pid Lamp Out Alarm - Sperian PHD6 Reference Manual

IQ Express Dock. (See Chapter 6 for direct
menu programming instructions). Alarms may be
set anywhere within the nominal range of the
specific sensor. When an alarm set point is
exceeded a loud audible alarm sounds, and the
bright red LED alarm lights flash.
1.4.1

Atmospheric hazard alarms

PHD6 portable gas
detectors have been designed for the
detection of deficiencies of oxygen,
accumulations of flammable gases and
vapors, and accumulations of specific toxic
gases. An alarm condition indicating the
presence of one or more of these potentially
life-threatening hazards should be taken very
seriously. Failure to immediately leave the
area may result in serious injury or death.
In the event of an alarm
condition it is important to follow established
procedures. The safest course of action is to
immediately leave the affected area, and to
return only after further testing determines
that the area is once again safe for entry.
Failure to immediately leave the area may
result in serious injury or death.
A rapid up-scale reading
followed by a declining or erratic reading may
indicate a hazardous combustible gas
concentration that exceeds the PHD6's zero
to 100 percent LEL detection range. Failure to
immediately leave the area may result in
serious injury or death.
The combustible gas alarms are activated when
the reading for combustible gases exceeds one
of the alarm setpoints. Combustible gas readings
are typically given in terms of percent of LEL
(Lower Explosive Limit), but may also be shown
in terms of percent-by-volume methane (CH
The PHD6 includes Warning and Danger alarms
for the both the LEL sensor and the NDIR-CH
sensor.
Two oxygen alarm set points have been
provided; a low alarm for oxygen deficiency and a
high alarm for oxygen enrichment.
Up to four alarm set points are provided for the
PID sensor and for each toxic gas sensor:
Warning, Danger, STEL (Short Term Exposure
Limit) and TWA (Time Weighted Average).
Appendix A discusses Warning, Danger,
STEL and TWA alarms.
1.4.2

Low battery alarms

The PHD6 includes multi-staged alarms for both
the Li-Ion and alkaline battery packs to let the
user know that the battery is running low.
For detailed information concerning the low
battery alarms, see section 2.5.5.
Use only Duracell MN1500
or Ultra MX1500, Eveready Energizer E91-LR6,
Eveready EN91 batteries. Substitution of
batteries may impair intrinsic safety.
1.4.3

Sensor over range alarms

The PHD6 will go into alarm if a sensor is
exposed to a concentration of gas that exceeds
its established range. In the case of an LEL or
NDIR-CH sensor reading that exceeds 100%
4
LEL, the sensor channel will be automatically
disabled by the instrument and the instrument will
remain in constant alarm until it is turned off,
brought to an area that is known to be safe, and
then turned back on. The display will show a
vertical arrow with two heads in place of the
sensor reading for any channel that has gone into
over range alarm.
See section 2.5.2 for further details.
overrange alarm the PHD6 must be turned off,
brought to an area that is known to be safe
and then turned on again to reset the alarm.
1.4.4

PID lamp out alarm

The PHD6 monitors the status of the PID lamp to
ensure that it is functioning properly. Alarms are
generated if the PHD6 determines that the lamp
is out. See section 2.5.3 for further details
1.4.5

LEL response failure due to lack of O

alarm

The PHD6 features automatic warning against
LEL sensor response failure due to lack of
oxygen. See section 2.5.4 for details.
1.4.6

Security beep/flash

The PHD6 includes a security beep function that
is designed to notify the user that the instrument
is powered up and running. Once enabled the
PHD6 will emit a short audible beep and give a
short flash on the LED at a user-defined interval.
).
4
The security beep/flash can be enabled manually
through the Main Menu (see chapter 5), with
4
BioTrak software or through the PHD6 IQ
Express Dock.
1.4.7

Latching alarms

The PHD6's alarms are self-resetting unless the
alarm latch is enabled. With the PHD6's alarm
latch enabled, the audible and visible alarms will
continue to sound after the atmospheric hazard
has cleared. To reset the alarms, simply press
the MODE button. If the alarm latch is disabled
and the alarm condition is no longer present, the
instrument will automatically return to normal
operation, and the visible and audible alarms
cease without further input from the user.
Latching alarms can be enabled manually
through the Main Menu (see chapter 5), with
BioTrak software or through the PHD6 IQ
Express Dock.
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In the event of an LEL
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