EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR MACHINE DISMANTLERS AND REPAIR PEOPLE > Dolton IL
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> Tif instruments combustable gas detector TIF8800
Tif instruments combustable gas detector TIF8800
According to the case, this is a "Combustible Gas Detector", made by TIF Instruments of Miami Florida. On the back of the detector, it lists it as model number TIF8800/TIF8800A, and identifies it as a "Permissible Gas Detector". It also has an MSHA approval number, and says it's "Tested for intrinsic safety in methane-air mixtures only".
The unit measures about 3-1/2" x 8-1/2" x 2", not counting the "arm". The arm is about 14" long. The large knob at the bottom left allows one to loosen the end of the arm, and then lock it at the desired angle.
The front of the unit has an on/off switch, a battery indicator light, and a sensitivity adjustment knob.
The back of the unit has a tripod mount socket, the battery compartment cover, and a 1/8" earphone-type jack.
The unit uses two Ni-Cd [nickel cadmium] batteries. Inside the battery compartment, they're identified as 8806A batteries. The outside lists them as TIF's catalog number 405421-000, 2.4volt, 0.75 amp hours. The batteries are in the unit, but I don't have the charger for them.
The batteries are the same size as a normal C-cell battery, but C-cells are only 1.5 volts. I tried using a couple of C-cells [using a lower voltage won't hurt the unit, any more than using it when the proper batteries are run down would]. The C-cells didn't have enough power to light the battery indicator light [the unit says to recharge the batteries when the light goes out], but they did have enough power to produce a signal. The unit is supposed to make a rapid ticking noise when functioning, and it did do that. I can't guarantee from my test that this actually works, but it does appear to.
The plastic case is included. The case measures about 8" x 12" x 3", and is the original case. The case holds the unit, and there are also spots for two spare batteries.
As far as condition, if one wanted them to look pretty, both the case and the unit could use a bit of cleaning, but they're in good shape, no chips or cracks that I can see.
As far as functioning, as I said above, I tested it with "weak" batteries, and it does appear to work.
