Operating

Manual

Faraday Road, South Dorcan Industrial Estate, Swindon, SN3 5HE, UK

Telephone: + 44 (0)1793 524566 Fax: +44 (0)1793 490459
Email: sales.eu@magnaflux.com Web: eu.magnaflux.com
Bahnhofstr 94-98, 73457 Essingen, Deutschland
Telephone: +49 (0) 7365 81-0 Fax: +49 (0) 7365 81-449
QB1 Quick Break Tester
Email: sales.de@magnaflux.com Web: eu.magnaflux.com/de Part number 148335
1. AN EXPLANATION OF QUICK BREAK 5. TROUBLESHOOTING
When current passes through a coil, it creates a magnetic field. If the current is PROBLEM: INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE.
stopped, the magnetic field collapses and induces a current in the opposite direction
in the coil. This, in turn, creates a magnetic field in the opposite direction. The cycle Possible cause Solution
continues back and forth until the current is dissipated through resistance. This Amperage set too Equipment must be set to produce over 15,000 amp
effect is commonly called ring down. low to activate. turns, 3,000 amps through a 5 turn coil or 2,000 amps
when connected in series with a 5 turn coil wrap.
Quick Break is a term associated with the circuitry employed to rapidly terminate
high amperage direct current (DC) flowing through a magnetizing coil. The resulting Damaged or Contact Authorised Magnaflux Service Centre to repair or
rapid collapse of the coils magnetic field imparts a desirable residual field within defective bulb. replace (QB1 Replacement Bulb part number: 106793).
the part under test. The nature of this field is advantageous for disclosing certain
Damaged coil due Contact Authorised Magnaflux Service Centre to repair or
transverse discontinuities on the surface of the part, even when the continuous
to misuse. replace.
method is being employed.

When the ring down dissipation is too slow, the resulting effect could give incon-
sistent results. At the very least, it will cause undesirable leakage fields on the 6. CLEANING
outer edges of the part under test. Quick Break can give you sharper resolution of
transverse indications. Use only mild soap and damp cloth to clean the tool. Never let any liquid get inside
the housing. Never immerse any part of the tool into a liquid. Store protected in a
The ring down rate, frequency, and peaks are all functions of the coils size, voltage clean, dry environment.
and resistance. It is much like ringing a bell. Different sized bells will give you differ-
ent tones (Frequency & Coil Size). Different hammer hits will change how long the
bell resonates (Voltage Drop). Putting your hand on the bell will also change how 7. CUSTOMER SUPPORT
long it will resonate (Resistance).
The QB1 is a certified tester. If you have a question about the purchase, operation,
With Quick Break, the concern is the dissipation of the energy. If the energy is re-certification or servicing of the QB1, please contact Magnaflux (details overleaf.
dissipated too slowly the resulting residual field is not properly developed. The You may also contact your local distributor or Magnaflux Authorised Service Centre
frequency is tied to the coil size, which is not usually something that can be directly; contact information can be found on our website: eu.magnaflux.com
manipulated. Resistance can be manipulated in the design of the unit. The voltage
drop is determined by the machine design and the amperage desired.

By designing the QB1 tuned for a certain amperage, we can determine if the Quick
Break of the unit is functioning properly. The testers are designed to verify the
voltage induced by the coil. The voltage induced is a function of the inductance of
the coil and the rate of change of the current. Although it is a function of time, Quick
Break is like velocity and it is a product of the inductance multiplied by the rate of
fall (amps per second). The QB1 gives us an easy functioning gauge that allows us
to verify the units operation.

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 Indicating Lamp 2. PRECAUTIONS
• The QB1 is designed for 3 Phase, Full Wave and DC output machines only. Do
NOT use with 1 Phase DC, Half wave or AC output machines.
Copper Bus • The tester should always be used as shown for the appropriate component.
• Occasionally, the bulb might flash at the beginning of the magnetic cycle. This
indication should be ignored, as it is the break (current turning off) that is being
tested.
• Always avoid dropping the tester as internal circuits could be damaged.
• The Quick Break Tester is tuned for 2000 amps no matter the coil size. All tests
should be done as close as possible to 2000 amps.

Note: Often the Bus Bar and White Metal Cover will not be used with the Quick
Break Tester. If necessary, these components can be removed.
Figure D-3: Quick Break Tester with Bus Bar and Brackets

3. OPERATION
3.1 CHECKING A COIL ON A WET HORIZONTAL UNIT
Cables to Coil or Induced Current Fixture 1. Center the Coil in a convenient spot for easy access to the bottom of the coil
and the current (mag) activation button.
Tester
2. Remove all ferrous materials from inside the coil.
3. Place the Magnaflux QB1 on the bottom of the coil with the studs facing to the
centre of the coil. Note: Never clamp the QB1 between the Head and Tail Stocks.
This test will not confirm quick break and may damage tester.
4. Set mag current as close as possible to 2000 amps.
5. Set the mag shot time for 0.5 to 1 second.
6. Initiate the mag current shot and observe the tester’s indicating lamp at the end
Tailstock of the mag cycle. Flash of the lamp indicates a good Quick Break; absence of
Headstock flash is indicative of “Quick Break” malfunction or the unit does not have the Quick
Break feature.
Contact Block 7. Repeat this test firing at least 20 mag shots. The bulb should flash a minimum of
16 times (80%). Be aware of the unit’s duty cycle when performing this test.
Exceeding the duty cycle can affect the quick break function as well as the unit.
Note: At times the lamp may flash at the beginning of the mag cycle. This should
Figure D-4: Testing Contact Circuit be ignored as the end (break) of the cycle is the concern.
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3.2 CHECKING A REMOTE COIL OR CABLE WRAP WITH 4. IDENTIFYING PARTS
EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE
1. Install the bus bar and cover on the Quick Break Tester.
2. Place the coil/cable wrap in a convenient spot for easy access to the bottom of
the coil and the current (mag) activation button. Cable wraps should be five (5)
turns to match the tuning of the quick break tester.
3. Remove all ferrous materials from the coil or cable wrap.
4. Place the Magnaflux QB1 in series with the cable going to the coil. Note: Never
clamp the QB1 between Head and Tail Stocks. This test will not confirm quick b
reak and may damage tester.
5. Set mag current as close as possible to 2000 amps.
6. Set the mag shot time for 0.5 to 1 second.
7. Initiate the mag current shot and observe the tester’s indicating lamp at the end
of the mag cycle. Flash of the lamp indicates a good Quick Break; absence of
flash is indicative of “Quick Break” malfunction or the unit does not have the
Quick Break feature.
8. Repeat this test firing at least 20 mag shots. The bulb should flash a minimum of
16 times (80%). Note: At times the lamp may flash at the beginning of the mag Figure D-1: Quick Break Tester without Bus Bar and Brackets
cycle. This should be ignored as the end (break) of the cycle is the concern.
Coil

Tester

Figure D-2: Testing Coil Circuit

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