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Troubleshooting the Blancett Turbine Meter

The following applies specifically to axial turbines using a magnetic pickup (not a RF pickup and modulated carrier amplifier) with no signal amplifier, 4-20 madc transmitter or display installed directly on the turbine meter. Customer complaint - I've checked my receiving device and it is OK, but it is not showing pulses coming from the turbine meter. The normal troubleshooting procedure is to isolate the turbine from all else and ensure that it is working as a stand alone device. Is the turbine rotor turning? a. Take a long shafted screwdriver, or a similar small diameter rod, and place the blade tightly against the meter body and the other end in your ear. Except in very small turbines, you will hear the rotor spinning. b. If the turbine is quiet, you probably have some foreign matter jammed in it. Take it out of the line and blow through it with your mouth (not compressed air). The rotor should spin freely and then as it comes to a stop, rock slightly as the rotor aligns itself with the magnet in the magnetic pickup. c. If the rotor doesn't spin, it may be to heavy (large). Reach in with a small screwdriver and turn the rotor. It should turn freely. d. If the rotor is jammed, take a look at the exploded view in the Blancett manual. Pry out one of the retaining rings and with a needle nose pliers you can pull out the rotor support, followed by the rotor. Clean it out and reassemble. Is the magnetic pickup providing a signal? a. With flow going through the meter, use a multimeter on a millivolt scale and check for a AC voltage at the two pins on the magnetic pickup. Depending on the flow rate, pickup, etc., you will see anywhere from 10 millivolts to 2 Volts. If you have a connecting cable going to a receiving device, attach the cable and repeat the above at the receiver end. Is it wired correctly? The magnetic pickup signal has no polarity considerations. It must be connected between signal ground and signal input on the receiving device. Typical connections are: Any Kessler-Ellis MiniTrol ................. Terminals 5 & 8 Kessler-Ellis AMP-1 Preamplifier ........ Terminals 1 & 2 Blancett B220-262 Preamplifier ......... Terminals 4 & 5 Blancett B220-230 4-20 Xmitter ....... Terminals 4 & 5 Do not ground the wire shield or drain wire at both ends! Only one end, preferably at the turbine meter.

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