Elcometer Protovale 331 Operating Instructions Manual
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Elcometer Protovale 331 Operating Instructions Manual

Elcometer Protovale 331 Operating Instructions Manual

Concrete covermeter
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Elcometer Protovale 331
Concrete Covermeter
Model B
Operating Instructions

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  • Page 1 Elcometer Protovale 331 Concrete Covermeter Model B Operating Instructions...
  • Page 2 The Elcometer Protovale 331 Concrete Covermeter has been tested in accordance with regulations governing Electro-magnetic compliance and it meets the required directives. Note: Readings may be affected if the unit is operated within a radio frequency electromagnetic strength of greater than 3 V/m.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    ONTENTS CONTENTS Section Page About your Covermeter........1 Quick-start .
  • Page 4 ONTENTS Selecting a bar size ........23 Adjusting sensitivity .

  • Page 5: About Your Covermeter

    BOUT YOUR OVERMETER hank you for your purchase of this Elcometer Protovale 331 Model B Concrete Covermeter. Welcome to Elcometer. Elcometer are world leaders in the design, manufacture and supply of inspection equipment for concrete and coatings. Our concrete inspection products include a comprehensive range of concrete, and civil engineering inspection equipment.
  • Page 6 If you require more advanced features such as statistics or memory for readings, Elcometer Protovale 331 models ‘S’ and ‘T’ provide this facility. Your Elcometer Protovale 331 model ‘B’ can be upgraded to a model ‘S’ or ‘T’ - see “Upgrading your Covermeter” on page 32. Contact Elcometer or your local Elcometer supplier for more details.
  • Page 7 BOUT YOUR OVERMETER Figure 1. Elcometer Protovale 331 Model B Concrete Covermeter 1.3 Standards The Elcometer Protovale 331 Model B Concrete Covermeter can be used in accordance with the following National and International Standards: ACI 318 BS1881:204 CP 110 DIN 1045 SIA 162 1.4 Conventions in these instructions...

  • Page 8: Quick-Start

    Covermeter. One battery pack is supplied with the Covermeter. To increase productivity on site, Elcometer recommends that you purchase a spare battery pack which can be charged while you are using your Covermeter. To order an additional battery pack (see “Accessories”...
  • Page 9 ETTING STARTED 1. Referring to Figure 2, unscrew the retaining screw (1) and open the interface access cover (2) on the rear of the Covermeter. Battery Pack Elcometer Offices Li-Ion 7.4V See Charging Instructions www.elcometer.com Made In England Figure 2. Covermeter rear panel 2.

  • Page 10: Fitting Search Heads

    ETTING STARTED Do not allow metallic objects to come into contact with the battery terminals; this may cause a short circuit and result in permanent damage to the battery. Battery condition indicator The state of charge of the battery is shown by a symbol on the display: Symbol Battery charge/action required 70% to 100%...

  • Page 11: The Controls

    All functions of the Covermeter can be controlled using the keypad on the main unit. There are two types of keys on the keypad; fixed function keys and ‘soft’ keys (Figure 5). Menu ALL DIMENSIONS IN m.m. ‘Soft’ keys Fixed function keys Figure 5. Elcometer Protovale 331 Concrete Covermeter main keypad...
  • Page 12 ETTING STARTED Fixed function keys Name Functions Scroll Scrolls up through menus and lists of values Increases sensitivity Scroll Scrolls down through menus and lists of values Down Decreases sensitivity Menu/ Accesses menus Menu Escapes from menus Discards values entered on display On/Off Switches the Covermeter on or off Enter...
  • Page 13 ETTING STARTED Search head keypad The search head is fitted with a keypad which mimics the functions of some of the keys on the main unit. Use the keys on the search head in the same way as you use the keys on the main unit. The function of the Enter and Menu/Esc Menu...

  • Page 14: Switching The Covermeter On And Off

    ETTING STARTED 3.4 Switching the Covermeter on and off Note: Before switching the Covermeter on for the first time read “Selecting a language” on page 12. To switch the Covermeter on, press To switch the Covermeter off, press and hold for two seconds.
  • Page 15 ETTING STARTED The main screen displayed (while you are taking measurements) is the Reading Screen. The components of the reading screen are described below: Signal strength indicator bar (16) Battery condition indicator (6) Bar size/number (23) Depth of cover (21) Sensitivity (24) Search head type (6) Softkey function indicators (8)

  • Page 16: Selecting A Language

    Your Covermeter has a number of built-in languages. When the Covermeter is switched on for the first time after dispatch from the Elcometer factory the display will show the language selection screen (Figure 7). At first switch on Figure 7. Language selection screen 1.

  • Page 17: Using The Earphone

    ETTING STARTED This 5-pin RS232 interface is used with an optional data transfer cable (see “Accessories” on page 36) to connect the Covermeter to the RS232 port of a computer. When the Covermeter is connected to a computer you can: •...

  • Page 18: The Menus

    HE MENUS 4 THE MENUS To access the menus press the MENU softkey. To return to the reading screen quickly, press and hold the MENU softkey. SETUP UNITS BEEP VOLUME LANGUAGE AUTO SWITCH OFF OPENING SCREEN LCD CONTRAST MENU BACKLIGHT SETUP ABOUT ABOUT...
  • Page 19 PROBE INFORMATION . . Press Enter to display technical information about the search head CONTACT ... . . Press Enter to display Elcometer offices worldwide and (if programmed) Supplier contact details HELP .

  • Page 20: Locating Reinforcement Bars

    OCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS 5 LOCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS This section describes how to set up and use your Covermeter to locate reinforcement bars. 5.1 Before you start • Are you using the correct search head? See “Search heads” on page 27. 5.2 To locate a single layer of reinforcement bars 1.

  • Page 21: To Locate Two Layers Of Reinforcement Bars

    OCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS When the search head is approaching a reinforcement bar: • The Covermeter will start to emit a sound which will increase in pitch as the search head moves closer to the bar. • The signal strength indicator bar on the display will increase in length. •...
  • Page 22 OCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS If the bars in the nearer layer are thin compared with those in the deeper layer (Figure 10): Search for the deeper layer first; it gives a stronger signal, and is least influenced by the other bars. Then search for the nearer layer, this time scanning the head in lanes between the now-known positions of the deeper layer of bars.

  • Page 23: To Determine The Orientation Of A Reinforcement Bar

    OCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS 5.4 To determine the orientation of a reinforcement bar 1. Locate the position of the reinforcement bar - see “To locate a single layer of reinforcement bars” on page 16. 2. Hold the search head over the bar. Move the search head side-to-side and rotate the head clockwise/anti-clockwise until the signal is at a maximum (Figure 11).

  • Page 24: Surface Mapping

    OCATING REINFORCEMENT BARS 5.6 Surface mapping When you are locating layers of reinforcement bars it is good practice to ‘map’ the concrete surface in a systematic manner. The following steps describe a mapping technique which can be used to locate two layers of reinforcement bars at right angles to each other.

  • Page 25: Measuring Depth Of Cover

    EASURING DEPTH OF COVER 6 MEASURING DEPTH OF COVER This section describes how to set up and use your Covermeter to measure the depth of cover over reinforcement bars. 6.1 Before you start • Are you using the correct search head? See “Search heads”...

  • Page 26: Accuracy

    EASURING DEPTH OF COVER 6.3 Accuracy The reading of cover will only be accurate if all the following conditions are satisfied: • The instrument has been zeroed. • The search head is over the centre-line of the bar. • The search head is parallel to the bar. •...

  • Page 27: Selecting A Bar Size

    ELECTING A BAR SIZE 7 SELECTING A BAR SIZE The dimensions of reinforcement bars are stored within the Covermeter. The dimensions are grouped into four standard series; Metric, Imperial, ASTM/ Canadian and Japanese. To select a bar size, display the reading screen and press the BAR softkey to access Bar Size selection.

  • Page 28: Adjusting Sensitivity

    DJUSTING SENSITIVITY 8 ADJUSTING SENSITIVITY The sensitivity setting is indicated by the variable wedge- shaped symbol on the display. To increase the sensitivity, press . To decrease the sensitivity, press Typically, set the sensitivity to produce a slow ‘clicking’ sound in the absence of metal.

  • Page 29: Measuring Welded Mesh And Joined Bars

    EASURING WELDED MESH AND JOINED BARS 9 MEASURING WELDED MESH AND JOINED BARS The procedures for locating and measuring depth of cover of welded mesh and joined bars are similar to those for reinforcement bars as described in sections 5 and 6 (pages 16 to 22). This section highlights the additional factors which must be considered when measuring welded mesh or joined bars.
  • Page 30 EASURING WELDED MESH AND JOINED BARS Minimum strength signals Minimum signals are obtained when the search head is over the centre of a single loop. Men u Figure 14. Minimum strength signals at centre of single loop Ordinary strength signals Ordinary strength signals are obtained when the head is accurately aligned with the middle of a side.

  • Page 31: Search Heads

    EARCH HEADS 10 SEARCH HEADS Four types of search head are available for your Covermeter; Standard, Narrow Pitch, Deep Cover and Borehole Probe. Your Covermeter is supplied with a Standard search head which will be suitable for almost all your measurement requirements.
  • Page 32 EARCH HEADS The Borehole Probe has two search fields; forwards looking and sideways looking. Readings can be taken looking forward from the end of the probe or looking sideways (at right angles to the axis of the probe) - Figure 17. A switch on the handle controls which search field is active.
  • Page 33 EARCH HEADS Figure 18. Scanning a borehole 10.1 Search head extension arm This optional accessory allows the operator simple access to areas normally requiring ladders or scaffolding. The search head extension arm reduces the need to kneel down and allows the user to scan bridge decks and floor areas from a standing postion.

  • Page 34: Error Messages

    Switch Covermeter off then on again. LARGE If error persists contact Elcometer. CLOCK Internal error. Return to Elcometer*. LANGUAGE Software error. Return to Elcometer*. MEMORY * Contact Elcometer or your Elcometer Supplier to arrange return. Figure 19. Example error message - search head not connected...

  • Page 35: Personalised Welcome Screen

    This is the first screen displayed when the Covermeter is switched on. 12.1 Creating the screen 1. Download Elcometer ‘Welcome Screen Wizard’ software. This software is available free of charge from the downloads section of the Elcometer website, www.elcometer.com 2. Connect Covermeter to PC using optional Data Transfer Cable - see “Accessories”...

  • Page 36: Storage

    For checks and certification contact Elcometer or your Elcometer supplier. The Covermeter does not contain any user-serviceable components. In the unlikely event of a fault, the Covermeter should be returned to your Elcometer supplier or directly to Elcometer. Contact details can be found: •...

  • Page 37: Related Equipment

    • Batch header fields for text, notes, etc. • Date and time stamping of measurements Upgrading of your Covermeter must be carried out by Elcometer or your local Elcometer supplier. Your upgraded Covermeter will be returned to you with: •...

  • Page 38: Technical Data

    ECHNICAL DATA 17 TECHNICAL DATA 17.1 Performance Standard search head Range: 40 mm (1.6") bar: 15 mm to 95 mm (0.6" to 3.75") 8 mm (0.3") bar: 8 mm to 70 mm (0.3" to 2.75") Accuracy: up to 65 mm (2.6") depth: ±2 mm (0.1") over 70 mm (2.8") depth: ±3% Pitch resolution: 16 mm (#5) diameter bar at 50 mm (2") depth of cover;...

  • Page 39: Power Supply

    ECHNICAL DATA 17.2 Physical Weight: 1.54 kg (3.4 lb) (including Standard search head) Dimensions: 230 mm x 130 mm x 125 mm (including search head and lead) (9" x 5.1" x 4.9") Operating temperature 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 120°F) Case: High impact ABS 17.3 Power supply...

  • Page 40: Accessories

    Your Covermeter is complete with all the items required to get started. The following optional accessories are available from Elcometer, or your Elcometer supplier. To place an order please quote the sales part number which follows the description of each accessory.

  • Page 41: Index

    Computer Search head Connection cable Cover Language, selecting LCD contrast Data transfer cable Deep Cover search head Illuminated Depth of cover Liquid Crystal Display Dimensions Locating Single layer of bars Two layers of bars Earphones Elcometer Protovale 331 Features Overview...
  • Page 42 NDEX Power on/off Maintenance Power supply 4, 35 Mapping Menu items ABOUT Quick-start AUTO SWITCH OFF BACKLIGHT Screen CONTACT Welcome information Screen symbols HELP LCD CONTRAST Battery condition MENU Search head RESET Borehole Probe SERIES Deep Cover SETUP Specifications ZERO Extension arm Menus Fitting...
  • Page 43 NDEX Welded mesh Zeroing the Covermeter...
  • Page 44 NDEX...

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