This document discusses different types of leak detectors that can be used to find refrigerant leaks, including electronic leak detectors, fluorescent dye, ultrasonic testers, and halide gas torches. Electronic leak detectors are very sensitive and can detect leaks as small as 0.5 oz per year. Fluorescent dye is injected into the refrigeration system and will indicate leaks under UV light. Ultrasonic testers can detect ultrasonic sounds from leaks that the human ear cannot hear. Halide gas torches use a propane cylinder and detector unit to identify leaks.

1. Leak Detector Types

2. Types of Leak
Detectors
Many different leak detectors are available
to find the refrigerant leaks:
Electronic leak detectors
Fluorescent dye
Ultrasonic Testers
Halide Gas Torch

3. Electronic leak
detectors
• Electronic leak detectors are
extremely sensitive. These
units are capable of
detecting leaks as small as
0.5 oz (14 ml) per year.
Electronic leak detectors are
called halogen leak
detectors and may be used
to test for refrigerant leaks
with HFC-134a.

4. Fluorescent dye
• Another style of leak detector
uses fluorescent dye. The dye is
injected into the system, mixes
with the refrigerant and oil, and
is circulated throughout the
system by the compressor. When
refrigerant leaks, it pushes out
some compressor oil and some
of the dye. An ultraviolet lamp is
used to cause the dye to
fluoresce and indicate the source
of the leak

5. Ultrasonic Testers
• One other way of finding
refrigerant leaks is to listen for
them with an ultrasonic tester.
Ultrasonic testers can detect
sounds in the ultrasonic
frequency that can’t be heard by
the human ear. The detector
then converts and amplifies the
sound so that the technician can
hear it using a headset. Some
detectors will also display the
sound/leak rate

6. Halide Gas Torch
• This leak detector consists of two
major parts: the detector unit
and the gas cylinder. The gas
cylinder is a nonrefillable tank
containing a gas such as propane.
The detector unit consists of a
valve, a device for controlling the
flow of a gas; the burner, a
camber where gas and air are
mixed: and the search hose, a
rubber tube through which air
passes to the chamber.