Inficon D-tek Select Infrared

[aintitfun]

anyone have experience with this or any other infrared detector? Need opinions, should I stay with my 110v H10, or go for the inficon. I have a lot of problems with the h10 going of even before I have opened the coil door, it seems to go off a lot and then not confirm leak in the exact same area. I was hoping the inficon was a solution and all around better detector, but do not know anyone currently using it. If it is junk it would be an expensive mistake, Opinions please.

[kiwireeferman]

I don't think the infrared is quite as sensitive as the earlier heated diode instrument.
The theory is that the Select will react only to refrigerant.
They will not detect R11. The cost of ownership should be less as the sensor is supposed to last the life of the instrument.

[raidersfan7]

i would stick with h-10 more reliable..ok:D

[jtrouse]

If you have too much sensitivity, it could be possible to learn a work-around or maybe learn to get the high sensitivity to work for you. If you have the weak sensor only type, there's not much you can do with it except see the more obvious. I have one that used to irritate me until I learned how to manage that sensitivity. Now I can find many leaks that 20 minutes of staring at one small spot with soap water would not show the smallest trace. I now consider it the best dectector I've had for the last 40 years.

;)

[leonmiller]

We tried the TekMate and found it lacking for the smaller leaks, tried the Select and was sold! It is sensitive!!! Had a leak in a grocery store freezer that we couldn't find with the Mate and walked to the door of the case and the Select was going off with the door closed. By far, it's the best detector I've used in the 39 years I've been chasing leaks. My oldest one is 3-1/2 yrs. old and works as well as the one I bought 2 months ago. It gets 5 stars with me!

[kwhit]

I just bought the inficon infared and it works awesome. I could pinpoint the exact location of a leak in seconds. What I also like is that you cannot "poison" the infared for to much exposer like the H10's do.

[AccurateHT]

I have recently installed the upgrade tip and new sensor on my select. my warm up times went from 30 sec. to almost a minute. Has any one else experienced this? What are some of your warm up times?

[leonmiller]

Just checked my new one, it's 45 seconds.

[bustawrench1]

I have recently installed the upgrade tip and new sensor on my select. my warm up times went from 30 sec. to almost a minute. Has any one else experienced this? What are some of your warm up times?

30 to 60 seconds, depends on ambiant temp.

[jsherhvac]

A d-tek can pick up a gnat farting at 40 yards even on a windy day:D
Thats means go buy you a d-tek

[I_bend_metal]

It comes down to finding something you like and something you are comfortable with and have confidence in. I will put my H10 up against any leak detector on the market....as long as I am the one using it. For my money there is no equal.

[beachtech]

A d-tek can pick up a gnat farting at 40 yards even on a windy day:D
Thats means go buy you a d-tek

ROTFLMAO

[leonmiller]

A d-tek can pick up a gnat farting at 40 yards even on a windy day:D
Thats means go buy you a d-tek

I guess that about sums that up! What's next?:D

[lbf]

I have a Detek select setting on the shelf covered in dust after putting it up against a ZX-1. It has never worked as well as the older detec units we had. I called their tech line and first they sent me a new tip that is so heavy that the wand will not stay straight, then they sent me a new sensor which made no noticable change. We tried this several times one on one against the ZX-1 and the TIF won everytime. I never liked TIF detectors after buying several of their units during the 80's and 90's, but the ZX-1 has surprised me.

[cy]

got an old D-tek and Tek-Mate here... both have been reliable units.

interesting to hear feedback on the new technologies

[kwhit]

Has anyone else noticed that if you blow on the end of the D-TEK it sets it off? Aswell as if you are leak checking a running unit the air comming of the blower will also set it off?

[dngtig]

I am extremely happy with my Dtek select. I have the older D-tek and liked that one but was unable to pick up R404 but the new select works great on all refrigerants in my experience.

[itsiceman]

Has anyone else noticed that if you blow on the end of the D-TEK it sets it off? Yes, then I stopped inhaling while purging my gauges :p

[raidersfan7]

yea i second on the choice of the dtek detector

[The Doctor]

Loved the H-10 and still do. Been using the DTek Select for a couple years now and it is quite good. Had one for about two years, got the fancy upgraded tip, and now work for someone who buys all tools for me to use.
The new Select I am using is infrared, not sure about the old one that I own. The new seems more squirrelly, or cagey. They both are bump detectors, the new one a bit more so. It works well enough and is substantially more portable than an H-10, as long as one remembers to look after the charge on the battery. ;)

[jid1877]

I have had my DTek Select for 3 years now. It was sent to me by Inficon to replace the older version DTek under warranty. First couple of years it was all right exept for having to replace the sensor. It seems to go out every August. Just had to replace it last week. This year, it really hasn't worked all that well. Doesn't seem to pick up small leaks any more. The other tech has to come out with his older DTek to find the small ones. I have been looking at the Tif ZX-1, which is scary since I swore I would never by anything made by Tif after my first experience with there leak detectors. But it has a 25yr warranty.

[bdivell]

the zx-1 is awesome other than the fact it looks like a purple dick i have had no problems with the d-tek so far so cannot comment on how it stands up

[leonmiller]

the zx-1 is awesome other than the fact it looks like a purple dick i have had no problems with the d-tek so far so cannot comment on how it stands up

Oh, I just hate it when it turns purple! :eek: