Bacharach PCA3 - 1.4. General Description; 1.5. Operation Overview; 1.6. Features and Benefits

PCA

3 Manual
0024-9473 Rev 3 9
1.4. General Description
The PCA
®
3 is a commercial-grade hand-held combustion and emissions
analyzer designed for on-
demand sampling of light industrial, institutional,
commercial and residential furnaces, appliances, and boilers.
The basic instrument is supplied with
a probe and hose assembly,
instruction manual, factory calibrated
smart sensors, 4 ‘AA’ alkaline
batteries, boot, Fyrite
®
User
Software, USB cable, and carrying
case. Refer to Figure 1-2.
The PCA
®
3 can measure up to four
gases simultaneously, so it is the
perfect tool for service technicians,
inspectors, and boiler contractors
who need to determine combustion
efficiency, excess air, stack gas O
2
and CO levels, stack temperature,
draft, and differential pressure.
Figure 1-2. A Typical PCA
®
3 Kit
The analyzer can also directly measure and display NO, NO
2
and SO
2
with the
installation of the appropriate sensors. Combustion efficiency calculations can be
conducted for a variety of fuels (see Specifications later in this chapter).
Combustion analysis is performed in accordance with EN50379.
B-Smart
®
sensor technology allows a new sensor to be installed in the field
without having to calibrate the analyzer with gas before use.
Advanced data storage and communication features allow the operator to store
up to 500 individual combustion test records, which can later be recalled for
viewing, printing, or downloading to a personal computer. In its data logging
mode, the analyzer can store an additional 500 data logged records.
The optional AC power adapter allows the analyzer to run for extended periods of
time while data logging.
The optional sample conditioning probe is recommended when measuring NO
2
and SO
2
to ensure the highest degree of measurement accuracy.
A probe and hose assembly with an integral thermocouple and filter/water trap
connect to the bottom of the analyzer, providing the means of drawing in gas
samples and for measuring stack temperature and draft.
1.5. Operation Overview
1.5.1. Turning On the PCA
®
3
The PCA
®
3 is turned ON by pressing its red I/O button. A warm-up period of 60
seconds then begins, during which time the analyzer performs self diagnostics.
At the end of the warm-up period, if no errors were detected the instrument will
display the Combustion Test HOLD screen. If errors were detected, the message