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Bachach Comb Alalyzer

L'town radiant
L'town radiant Member Posts: 36
in THE MAIN WALL
Great! Thanks for your input Paul, it's greatly appreciated!

Comments

  • L'town radiant
    L'town radiant Member Posts: 36
    Bad Oxygen Sensor?

    I have a Bacharach PCA analyzer (part# 24-7216, serial: MS1058). The unit is about 2 years old, but has only been used about a dozen time. This morning I tried to tune up a boiler and got an "O2 sensor error". The analyzer would record all the other paramerters but O2 and CO2.

    I contacted the factory and they suggest that so long as all wiring conacts are in good condition, I'll just have to change out the O2 sensor module.

    Does anyone else have any experiece with this...any suggestions or insight?
  • Paul Fredricks_9
    Paul Fredricks_9 Member Posts: 315


    We use the Pro 125, I think it's basically the same thing. I think two years is about the life span of those sensors. What usually kills them early is moisture. You might get lucky and the sensor will dry out and start working.

    As far as I know a new sensor has to be calibrated. I do my own here since we have 50+ of them. You'd have to send it back to Bacharach.
  • L'town radiant
    L'town radiant Member Posts: 36
    calibration

    Lady at teh factory says no calibration necessary...that sound right? I kinda questioned that...
  • Paul Fredricks_9
    Paul Fredricks_9 Member Posts: 315


    Well, I guess they should know. I do it for mine, but they are a different model and a bit older than yours. When I calibrate I notice the new ones are pretty close. There are others on here who work for Bacharach, or at least they used to be here. See who answers.
  • Timco
    Timco Member Posts: 3,040


    I was sent a can of gas to zero the O2 sensor from the factory. I would NOT trust it without calibrating the sensor. (you show it what no O2 is then show it what air looks like) I made a manifold with a balloon on the end and allowed the balloon to fill, then the tester to suck gas from that. Then disconnect & suck air. Worked very well. Had to buy gauge for small bottle of gas sent, kinda' expensive but I can now calibrate O2 or CO sensor...

    Tim
    Just a guy running some pipes.
  • Paul Fredricks_9
    Paul Fredricks_9 Member Posts: 315
    A balloon?

    That's one way, I guess. I have the Bacharach calibration set up: One for the O2 sensor and one for the CO sensor. Also a manometer for the draft and an electronic thermistor for the temps.

    Other than ease of maintenance on the units, we also do it so that our combustion readings can't be challenged in court. Not sure how a balloon would hold up.
  • Dick Charland
    Dick Charland Member Posts: 178


    Unfortunately, a two year old instrument may very well have a bad O2 sensor. Their average life is 2 years and you cannot prolong their expectancy by not using the instrument. Once the sensor is exposed to oxygen it begins to deteriorate, actually more frequent use could extend the life a bit. Generally, once the sensor is replaced it will take approximately 30 minutes or so for it to "acclimate" itself and should come up to 20.9% oxygen. One way to check accuracy is to use 100% nitrogen and tie the analyzer to the gas through a regulator, with no oxygen the O2 value should endup reading zero. I have not seen big issues in this regard with the O2 sensors. Calibrating a PCA on the CO side requires 2 CO gases and involves a little more than the Fyrite Pro. A two year old unit addtionally should have been sent back for calibration at least once a year.

    **** Charland
    E.R. Stephen Co.
    Bacharach Rep New England
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