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Chapter 1 – General Information
Instrument Description
The Valhalla Scientific Model Alpha 4314 Digital Igniter Tester is designed to provide extremely safe and
reliable resistance testing of explosive or volatile devices. Some of the proven uses include: fuses, squibs,
igniters, explosive bolts, automobile airbag initiators and many others.
Essentially, a Model Alpha 4314 is a 4-wire ohmmeter which has been designed to use very low test
currents for its measurement. Additional circuitry proprietary to Valhalla Scientific is used to ensure that
test current levels do not exceed the specified "failsafe current" even in a worst-case component failure
situation. The failsafe feature is tested in every instrument before shipment and the results provided to
the customer on a Certificate of Calibration that accompanies the unit.
The Alpha 4314 series consists of more than 35 different versions spanning the measurement range from
0.1m resolution to 200M full scale. The Alpha 4314 may have a maximum of four (4) of nine (9) ranges
installed at any one time. Unless otherwise specified when placing the order, the Model Alpha 4314 with
the 20, 200, 2k and 20k Ranges is the standard configuration. Instruments with special feature are also
available. Please check any addendums that may apply to special Alpha 4314 versions.
Standard feature of the Alpha 4314 is a battery monitoring circuit that alerts the user if the batteries have
become or will soon become unusable. Please refer to Chapter 5 for more details.
Front panel LED indicators provide a visual indication of which range are installed and which range is
selected. Also refer to Chapter 5 for details.
Safety Considerations
The Alpha 4314 Digital Igniter Tester is a battery operated equipment, for an optimal function of the
Failsafe circuitry DO NOT connect the battery charger while the instrument is in an ON position. Always
disconnect the battery charger before operating the instrument.
Instrument Identification
Valhalla Scientific instruments are identified by a two part serial number. The Serial Tag is located on the
rear or bottom of the instrument. The number is in a form of 00-0000. The first two digits, called the serial
number prefix, indicate the model. It changes only when a change is made to the instrument. The last 4
digits, called the serial number suffix, are unique for each individual unit.
Be sure to include the entire serial number, both prefix and suffix, in any correspondence about your
instrument.
The serial number can also be found on the Main Board, Calibration Tag and Certificate of Calibration.
