The LD-18
Digital Water Leak Detector is primarily designed for water
leak “pinpointing,” the term used to describe the
task of finding the exact location directly over a leak in
a pressurized water pipe:
Listening with the LD-18
directly over the pipe
Listening at different spots
to detect differences in loudness of the leak
The LD-18
has both Standard Accessories and Optional Accessories:
Amplifier
with LCD Display, Controls, and USB Connection (to
PC Computers)
Padded Case for Amplifier
40
inches Belt (50 inches and 60 inches Optional)
Ground
Microphone and Handswitch
Magnet
Base and Nutdriver
Heavy-Duty
ABS Plastic Carrying Case
Aviation-Grade
Stereo Headphones
PC
Software and USB Cable
Sensor
with Strong Magnet and 9.75 ft. Cable (to listen
at valves and hydrants)
Controls and switches for the LD-18 digital amplifier:
Amplifier’s LCD Display screen for listening
and pinpointing:
Adjustments
in the field:
Use the Sensitivity Control
to adjust the Sensitivity Level.
Adjust so the Sound Level
is between 30 – 70, and
sounds are clearly heard
in the headphones.
Use the LO Filters Control to
remove extraneous continuous
noises from motors, wind,
and highways.
Release
the Mute Switch when moving the Ground Microphone. Press
the Mute Switch to listen.
Listen
at each spot over the pipe for 30 – 60 sec. or longer. Are
there leak sounds or not?
At the spot
no. 1, do you hear the leak? If “Yes,”
than the LD-18 hears the leak too. Hold the Mute Switch closed
and let the LD-18 listen for 30 – 60 seconds or longer
until the Minimum Noise Level becomes constant. Press the SAVE
button while still holding the Mute Switch.
Repeat this
exact same process for 5 – 10 spots directly over the
pipe. Spots can be spaced 6 inches apart or 3 feet apart, but
the LD-18 has to be able to hear the leak.
Each
time the SAVE button is pressed (while the Mute Switch is
closed), the Minimum Noise Level is recorded in the LD-18’s
memory and a file number is assigned. Press FILE to see the
File List, and press FILE again to see the GRAPH:
With the Minimum Noise Levels saved at
5 – 10 spots directly over the pipe, examine
the GRAPH by pressing FILE twice:
The Minimum
Noise Level at each spot is the actual leak sound, and where
it reaches a peak is where the leak is pinpointed.
The
Band Pass Filters (HI and LO Filters) and Notch Filters (Off,
50 Hz, 60 Hz) are used for removing extraneous continuous noises
like AC hum (60 Hz in USA), motors, air conditioners, wind,
and traffic. Extraneous noises can interfere with the LD-18’s
ability to hear the leak sounds.
The
Noise Reduction function removes intermittent noises like footsteps,
passing cars, and dogs barking. Choose Lv.3 (3.0 sec.) to remove
the longest lasting intermittent noises, up to 3.0 seconds
long. Intermittent noises longer than 3.0 seconds cannot be
removed.
