August 2018 – Prosino Group

Frequently Asked Questions about Water Leakage Detector effects to HVAC units

1.Why do the installation instructions recommend routing leak sensing cable eight feet away from floor standing HVAC units?

Water Leakage Detector

Most users want to place the water leak sensing cable as close as possible to a potential water leak hazard, often placing the cable directly under the HVAC systems,this exposes the leak sensing cable to an increased potential for false alarms, the HVAC downdraft often contains particles of moisture that been.
Condensed from the cool surfaces inside the HVAC unit,also,these HVAC units often have humidifiers which can add to the problem.
Finally, over time,the high velocity air can embed fine particles of dust,and dirt into the sensing cable,degrading its performance,worse, if the sensing cable is not tightly fastened to the subfloor,the internal conductors may break from the constant movement.

2.The recently installed system seems to”false” alarm frequently.Why?

The primary reason for false alarms is that the cable has been installed too close to an HVAC downdraft. Cable has been installed under a pipe that is sweating (condensation),or is heavy and is pinching (shorting) the conductors.

3.Our water leakage detector has been working well for years, but is now indicating “false” leak detected alarms.Why?

The cable has become contaminated from dust and dirt over time. Another possibility is contamination from mineral salts absorbed from an unsealed concrete subfloor. Cable is contaminated from a previous leak.

Water Leakage Detector

4.Our system has been working well and detected a water leak.

After the leak was cleaned up,the water leakage detector stays in alarm.Why?

When a water leak sensing cable becomes wet from a system water leak,
Often there will be mineral salts,and other contaminates from the sub-floor that remain in the cable after the water has evaporated.
The more times the cable has been wet and dry,the more likely it is there will be contamination,sometimes the cable can be cleaned,Sometimes replacement is required.

5.The leak locating system is indicating a leak near the end of the cable,

but there is no water present anywhere.What is going on?

Almost all “footage measuring” leak detection systems calculate the electrical resistance of the sensing conductors
To determine the location where water has contacted the water sensing cable.
When a water leak contacts the cable, an area of low resistance forms at the point of contact,on occasion, conditions will cause a small decrease in resistance over a large section of cable.
Electrically, this is like a short circuit over a single spot,when the total decrease is resistance is enough to cause a false alarm,
It will logically be indicated as being at the end of the cable because that is the normal point of highest resistance.
This condition is usually caused by an HVAC unit blowing a fine “mist”of water particles from the condensate pan or humidifier.

Water Leakage Detector

What is Water Leak Detection System (WLDS)?

Water leak detection system is a device when installed in facility, then it detects water leak at initial stage and inform user by indicating audible alarm,message etc. Leak detection system consist of leak detection controller Panel and sensor alarms.

Depending on requirement Leak detection panel can be single way system of Multi-zone system,single way system can protect one area or zone since single way water leak detection controller alarm consists on only one sensor terminal.

While multi-way system can protect multi areas or zones since it consists of more than one sensor terminals.

Sensor are actual Leak Detectors,the multi detector model can be have as many as 4-way housing.

Water Leak Detection Controller Panel(Position and Non-Position):

There are different type of leak detection controller alarms depending on number of zone,it can protect and nature of leakage detection. Depending on water leak alarm system divided in two types,for Example,Single way and Multi-way water leak detection equipment.

Depending on nature of leak detection it divided in positioning indicate water leak detector and Non-Locating indicate water leak detector system.

For the Position system model can detect with exact leakage position,and indicates exact distance on controller panel,

While Non-Position system can simply detect leakages only without indicating with actual leakage position.

Leak detection control panel Mainly of following type:

Position System: Along with position read type of system only cable type sensor can be use as leak detector,this system can be single way type of multi-way type.

Position indicate system shows exact location of leak across length of sensor cable,when water drops comes in contact with sensor cable twisted pair of cable get shorted through leaked water.

Depending on value of current (which depend on length of cable due to resistance of cable) which flows through shorted pair of sensing cable,leak detection controller alarm calculate length of cable at which water came in contact with water.

This leakage position is leak location.

Singe Way Leak Detection Control Panel:

As name suggest this type of system can perform leak detection over one area or zone.

This system provided with only one terminal to connect sensor.

Single way Control Panel can be of distance read type also.

Multi-way Leak Detection Control Panel:

As name suggest this panel can perform leak detection over various zone of areas.

Traditional Multi-way system has one terminal per zone to connect sensor.

But in some other system there is only one terminal to connect sensor cable and zone created depending on length of sensor cable

By programming through software(We call this MODBUS) from LCD panel of Leak Control Alarm.