Got my Inficon Leak Detector Today!!

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

Came home and my mom told me I had a package! The package was smaller than I expected but it’s only cause Inficon packaged it so well. Most other packages are 10 percent product 90 percent air and packing material.

The bigger surprise was how well this thing worked though. Within 5 minutes I was able to find a leak that I couldn’t find for 2 hours by ear. This leak detector is gonna help me infuse harder parts and it’s really going to help with the nose cone I have to lay up later this year. With only one chance at a successful layup I’m really glad I have this tool to help me.

The leak detector itself came with everything and it was really easy to use. I’ve attached some pics below for those curious. I’ll get some videos of it in action when it’s daytime and I have more available light.

#2

Sometimes I want to marry my leak detector.

#3

amazing haha

#4

did it cost alot?

#5

The best thing about the Inficon was the price. I found it online for 185 dollars. Amprobe’s cost nearly 300, The Robinair 350 and some others were upwards of 400.
I pretty much was set on the Whisper because I don’t have a lot of money to spend.

#6

Is it well made? As in does it feel robust and likely to servive in a shop that has staff using the equipment that arnt always carefull with hand held equipment?

#7

It’s made of a sturdy plastic (feels like ABS) and I’m pretty sure it could survive drops in the shop without breaking. The battery cover snaps in so even if you drop it, it wont fly off. I think one of the best decisions Inificon made was putting the batteries in the handle. Putting most of the weight there makes it feel very solid, it makes it easy told and when I dropped it it fell bottom first, sparing the detector side. They also put a screen over the microphone which should stop foreign objects from damaging it.

I’m very confident that the bottom heavy design combined with the study plastic should help protect it from drops. That being said it I doubt you would be able to throw it around and expect it to work. All precision devices require a certain level of care.

I also should add that the model I got is actually better than the ones you see online. When I was shopping around for this I thought I was going to get one with a physical knob and no leds. The one they shipped actually has LEDs like the Amprobe model and a slick touchpad “slider” section. I just run my thumb up or down to increase the sensitivity.

#8

Here’s a video of the unit in action. Sorry for the low quality but for some reason youtube is forcing me to use 240px. I’ll reupload and figure out how to get it in 720.

Anyhow here it is
[ame=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n00Qkc69hk&feature=player_embedded”]YouTube - Inficon Whisper Leak Detector[/ame]

#9

Where did you get it? My pump supplier happens to be an Inficon dealer, and I want to put some pressure on him for getting a decent price.

#10

I got it from Inficon directly reason being I wanted a B grade unit, one that they couldn’t/didn’t want to sell retail. They worked with me when I explained that I make no money off of any of my composites work but stated they usually would tell me to go through a distributor.

I found multiple companies selling the Inficon 200 dollars. Show your distributor one of these many sites and I’m sure he’ll lower the price to match. :smile:

#11

Sounds like a fair price for what it does :slight_smile:

We generally turn off the radio, turn off the heater, turn off everything that makes sound so we can locate leaks by ear. Do you think with this i would still need to turn off noise making devices?

#12

From what I’ve seen so far kinda and kinda not. With the LED mode sometimes the Inficon gets confused but when you plug in headphones you can hear the difference. I usually work by myself though so I doubt my “shop” environment is as noisy as yours.

I’ll post more videos though as I do more layups.

#13

I only have experience with another unit, sold by Airtech and many others.

In general, it is not needed to turn of loud machinery, although if your mold is alongside the air compressor, I still recommend to shut the compressor down. There is a limit on everything…

The earphone works best, better than the led indicators. You are able to find leaks that you will NOT find by using your ears. I am always amazed on how much extra leaks I find when using such a unit. (usually at least 3 or 4 on a small mould.)

I trust this unit works just as good.

#14

those units pick up a high frequency band, I think it is 35k-45k. So usually there is no need to turn off anything, you will find out quickly if there is.

#15

I’ve been looking to buy an Inficon Leak Detector for quite some time now. I have contacted quite a few companies trying to get a price for one of these here in the UK, alot of them did’nt even bother to reply so I went directly to Javac the UK distributor, they have quoted me a price of £213.13 plus VAT and £10 delivery. A rip off! There is a person on ebay selling these for $189.00(£116.00) plus £11.00 delivery, OK I may have to pay VAT on this but it will still be considerably cheaper than anywhere else in the UK. So, if any of you Brits on the forum want one of these… try ebay :slight_smile:

#16

I will be testing a new leak detector end of this week. (as soon as one of my clients, who happens to be in my village, puts up the bag for a 9 meter boat infusion).

This new unit should not cost an arm and a leg. Hope it works.

#17

It seems like all the guys online includng the inficon site only have the dial type. Is the led one discontinued?

#18

I’m not sure but I would think that the LED model is the newer model since it has both the visual indicator as well as the auditory beeps/heterodyne mode. Maybe contact the retailers and ask which model they’re selling?

#19

Great forum guys. Glad I found it.

Does anyone have experience with the Amprobe ULD-300? I bought one several years ago and never had luck finding small leaks. I am considering buying an Accutrak VPE, but wonder if I should send mine in for service first. I know the Amprobe is used in the refrigeration field with mixed reviews but have not found a single user in the composites field. Thanks.

#20

I have seen some ultasonic leak detectors on ebay that are intended for use on cars to find leaks in bodywork, around doors, trunk seals, etc. Are they of any use in finding leaks in bags? Some sell for as little as 35€ used.

Just so it’s clear, I’m not referring to those used to find leaks in aircon systems, which react on the presence of coolant.