MSA ALTAIR 5X Quick Start Guide

DELRAY BEACH FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT
QUICK USER GUIDE
MSA ALTAIR 5X
Revised: 7/8/2019
Page: 1 of 2
GENERAL INFORMATION
NOTES
 Portable, multi-gas monitor. Detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
and combustible, oxygen, and toxic gases.
 Technology: Photo-ionization detector (10.6 eV), Catalytic bead LEL
sensor, Electrochemical sensors (CO, H2S, O2, HCN).
 Power Source: Rechargeable Li-ion (~14-hr. runtime). Intrinsically safe.
LED Charge Indicator: Red = Charging / Green = Charged / Yellow = Fault
 LCD Color Display Screen with backlight (press any button to activate).
 3 operation keys (▲, ON/OFF, ▼). Function as “soft keys”, defined
directly above the button.
 LEDs Visual Indicators:
o Red (Alarm) = indicates alarm condition or errors
o Green (Safe) = flashes, indicates instrument normal function and
no alarms are present
o Yellow (Fault) = indicates fault conditions
 Sensor Life Indicator: warns when sensor’s end-of-life has been reached.
Indicated with a “heart” icon next to sensor/gas-type on main page.
SENSORS
Oxygen (O2)
Combustible (LEL)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
PID (VOC - 10.6 eV)
CALIBRATION
Mixed Gas: Pentane (58%
LEL), CO (60 ppm), O2 (15%),
H2S (20 ppm)
Single Gas – HCN: Hydrogen
Cyanide (10.0 ppm)
Single Gas - VOC: Isobutylene
(100.0 ppm)
GENERAL ALARM MESSAGES
MONITOR DISPLAY PAGES
“ADC ERROR”
Analogue measurement error; Contact MSA
Press [▼] button to scroll through display pages.
Press [ON/OFF] button to return to Main Measure Page
Main Measure Page
↳ Bump Test Page
↳ Peak Reading Page (Press [▲] button to reset value)
↳ Minimum Reading Page (Press [▲] button to reset value)
↳ STEL Page (Press [▲] button to reset value)
↳ TWA Page (Press [▲] button to reset value)
↳ Date Page (Displays current date)
↳ Last Cal (Displays last calibration date)
↳ Change VOC Gas Page
↳ Motion Alert Page (Press [▲] or [▼] to turn on/off)
“MEM ERROR”
Memory error; Contact MSA
“PROG ERROR”
Program error; Contact MSA
“RAM ERROR”
RAM error; Contact MSA
“BT ERROR”
Bluetooth error; Contact MSA
“LOW BATTERY
Battery low; recharge battery as soon as possible
“BATTERY ALARM”
Battery completely discharged; recharge battery
“SENSOR MISSING”
Sensor damaged or missing; replace sensor
“NO SENSOR”
No sensors are enabled
Orange, “heart”-icon
Sensor end-of-life warning; replace sensor soon
Red, “heart”- icon
Sensor end-of-life alarm; replace sensor immediately
“PUMP ERROR”
Pump malfunction or flow path blockage
“INVALID CONFIG.”
Sensor installed in incorrect location
BASIC INSTRUMENT OPERATIONS
TURNING UNIT ON
1. Press [ON/OFF] button.
2. Display = “PUMP TEST”, place finger
over pump inlet to block intake
 PASS: “PUMP TEST PASS”
 FAIL: “PUMP TEST FAIL”
(inspect pump, repeat test)
3. Display = “FRESH AIR SETUP”, press
[▼] button/”YES” begin process.
 PASS: “FRESH AIR SETUP PASS”
 FAIL: “FRESH AIR SETUP FAIL”
(perform a zero calibration)
4. Once instrument completes start up
process & Main Measure Page appears
in display, instrument is ready for use.
TURNING UNIT OFF
1. Press and hold [ON/OFF] button until
instrument shuts off.
BUMP (FUNCTIONAL) TEST
1. From Main Measure Page, press [▼] button to access Bump Test Page.
2. Attach regulator/tubing to mixed calibration gas cylinder & tubing to instrument’s pump inlet.
3. Display = “BUMP TEST” (O2/LEL/CO/H2S). Press [ON/OFF] button to start the bump test:
 PASS: “BUMP TEST PASS”
 FAIL: “BUMP TEST FAIL” & failed sensor indicated (Recalibrate instrument)
4. Repeat steps 3 & 4 to bump test individual HCN & VOC sensors, as indicated by the instrument.
 Use appropriate calibration gas cylinders: HCN – Hydrogen Cyanide / VOC – Isobutylene
5. Once completed, instrument returns to Main Measurement Page.
ZERO & SPAN CALIBRATION
1. From Main Measurement Page, press and hold [▲] to access the Calibration Page.
2. Display = “ZERO CALIBRATION?”. Press [▼] button to begin zero calibration process:
 PASS: “ZERO CALIBRATION PASS” (Display progresses to “SPAN CALIBRATION?”)
 FAIL: “ZERO CALIBRATION FAIL” (Repeat zero calibration process)
3. Attach regulator/tubing to mixed calibration gas cylinder & tubing to instrument’s pump inlet.
4. Display = “SPAN CALIBRATION?” (O2/LEL/CO/H2S). Press [▼] button to start calibrate process:
 PASS: “SPAN CALIBRATION PASS”
 FAIL: “SPAN CALIBRATION FAIL” (Repeat calibration process)
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 to calibration individual HCN & VOC sensors, as indicated by the instrument.
 Use appropriate calibration gas cylinders: HCN – Hydrogen Cyanide / VOC – Isobutylene
6. Once completed, instrument returns to Main Measurement Page.

MSA ALTAIR 5X Specifications

General

Ingress Protection	IP65
Sensor Type	Electrochemical, Catalytic Bead, Infrared
Gases Detected	Oxygen (O2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ammonia (NH3), combustible gases
Display	LCD
Operating Temperature	-20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F)
Data Logging	Yes
Wireless Capability	Optional
Pump	Optional integrated pump
Certifications	ATEX, IECEx, UL, CSA
Alarms	Audible, visual, vibrating
Connectivity	Bluetooth (optional), USB