SKF Machine Condition Indicator
How to Interpret and Acknowledge MCI Alarms
10
SKF Machine Condition Indicator
User Manual
Once the MCI has verified the alarm, its red LEDs blink in a specific blink pattern
depending on which measurement is in alarm (see table below)
for a one week
duration
.
Important - to preserve battery life, red alarm LEDs only display for the first
week after the alarm is verified, therefore, it is imperative that you routinely visually
check each MCI within a seven day timeframe.
Alarm Type
Blink Pattern
LED Duration
Enveloped Acceleration Alarm
1
RED
blink every 5 seconds
1 week
Velocity Alarm
2
RED
blinks every 5 seconds
1 week
Temperature Alarm
3
RED
blinks every 5 seconds
1 week
Note - A “blink” is observed as a single, quick rotation of the three
LEDs. First one, then the next, then the third.
Note – Below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F), only one LED blinks
during alarm indication, to preserve battery life.
The MCI will only validate and then signal one alarm at a time. The three measurement
parameters are evaluated for alarm in the following order: (1) Enveloped Acceleration, (2)
Velocity, (3) Temperature. For example, if both the enveloped acceleration and
temperature measurements go into alarm, the MCI will signal only the enveloped
acceleration measurement’s alarm (1 red blink every five seconds) as it has the higher
priority.
After a week passes, the red LEDs no longer display and the MCI enters a deep sleep
mode. In deep sleep mode, the MCI is no longer waking up every three hours to perform
its measurements. When this happens, you must acknowledge the alarm to return the
MCI back to its normal monitoring state. How to acknowledge alarms is discussed later in
this section.
Even after a week passes and the MCI is in deep sleep mode (no longer
monitoring the machine), you may apply the read key to determine the
type of alarm (above chart). The appropriate alarm code will blink for
about twenty seconds. Reference the following
Checking the MCI
alarm status
section for details.
Checking MCI Alarm Status
At least once a week, visually check the MCI’s alarm status
You should perform a visual check once a week (minimum) by looking at the MCI and
confirming the LEDs are not blinking red (indicating an alarm condition). However, if the
machine is more critical, you should perform visual checks daily. As stated above, if you
fail to check the MCI at least once a week, it is possible to miss an alarm indication.
At least once a month, use the read key to check all your MCIs’ alarm status
If you do miss an alarm indication and one or more MCIs enter deep sleep mode (i.e., no
longer waking up to perform measurements), the only way to note an alarm condition is
by using the read key. Therefore, you should use the read key to check all of your MCIs’
alarm status at least once a month.
