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2.3 Installing the Reservoir, Connecting the Sensor Tubes and Vent Tube
The reservoir should be installed on stable ground or at a location that can be level surveyed. The
terminal housing should be affixed to stakes grouted firmly into the ground or preferably into a
concrete pad poured at a location. The elevation of the reservoir pad should be surveyed and
recorded at the time of installation. The reservoir should never be located where it is exposed to
direct sunlight.
To fill the reservoir first make sure that the valve at the bottom is closed, then completely
remove the vent line Swagelok fitting from the top and half-fill the reservoir with antifreeze
solution (supplied) using the syringe supplied. To avoid foaming, poke the tube from the syringe
to the bottom of the reservoir and keep it below the surface of the liquid while filling.
The sensor tubes are shipped full of de-aired antifreeze solution. One tube is capped and to the
other tube is attached a long small diameter breather tube which is also full of antifreeze
solution. The purpose of the breather tube is to prevent air from entering into the sensor tube
during shipment while at the same time allowing the barometric pressure to equalize inside and
outside the sensor. It ensures that when the cap and the breather tube are removed from the ends
of the sensor tubing air is not sucked into the tubing by a built-up negative pressure. When
connecting the tubes from the sensor to the reservoir do not allow air to be trapped inside the
tubing.
Installation is as follows:
1)
With the reservoir valve closed, remove one of the caps from the fitting at the base of the
reservoir, as well as the cap that does not have the breather tube from the end of the sensor
tube.
2)
Make sure that water is oozing out of the tube. (Elevate the breather tube if necessary.)
3)
Open the reservoir valve slightly so that water dribbles out.
4)
Connect the tube fitting to the mating reservoir fitting and tighten one turn only.
5)
Remove the breather tube from the end of the other sensor tube. (Make sure that water is
oozing out of the tube.)
6)
Remove the second cap from the other fitting on the base of the reservoir.
7)
Slightly open the reservoir valve.
8)
While the water is dribbling out connect the second sensor tube fitting and tighten.
9)
Remove the cap from the end of the vent line.
10)
Make sure that the vent line to the sensor is not blocked. This can be checked using an
aspirator bulb, (or simply by sucking), to draw a vacuum on the vent line while observing the
sensor reading change on the GK-403, GK-404 or GK-405 readout box.
11)
Attach the vent line to the vent line manifold using the Swagelok fittings.
Follow the
instructions in Appendix D to ensure the Swagelok fittings are tightened properly!
