Transcript Slide 1

The Swain Meter Co.
A brief history of Swain
and
Operational Procedures
By
Scott Miret 10/7/08
William H. Swain founded the
company in 1965
• Bill Swain founded the
William H. Swain Co. in
Sarasota Florida back in
1965. Previous to this Bill
was employed in various
roles with the US military
and NASA – working on
guidance systems for
Bill Pictured second from left
rocket and advanced
marine navigation tech
for that time period.
Development of the
SWAIN METER
In 1965 Bill Swain developed the first
DC Clamp-on Ammeters. These
durable and accurate instruments
were created to help pipe line
operators monitor cathodic protection
(CP) current flow on their lines.
Used in a wide variety of industries all
over the world, Swain meters measure
the magnitude and direction of current
on conductors.
From the beginning Swain meters
were used not only as portable DC and
AC current measuring devices, but as
permanently installed instruments on
buried pipelines both on-shore and in
sub-sea applications.
The uniqueness of the Swain Meter is
the same today as it was 43 years ago
when Bill built his first meter. This DC
Clamp –on ammeter is Still the only
one of its kind in the world today.
Pictured below are some of Swain’s first
analog ammeters.
The next 40 years
• In the mid 1980’s Swain
meters were fitted with
digital LCDs. The
technology remains
basically the same while
the meter face becomes
more streamlined and
user-friendly.
Swain Meter evolves
Later models of Swain
meters in the 90’s and
2000’s still use the
bullet-proof and
patented technology.
These later models
have digital LCD’s and
further simplified
controls.
Swain meters are
manufactured in 2
models – The MER
Meter (pictured left) has
a “manual” Zeroing knob
and Range select switch.
Swain Meter evolves
The second meter we
call the “AUTO MER”.
This features AutoZeroing and Automatic
Ranging from 0 – 2.0
Amps, 0 – 20 Amps &
0 – 200 Amp ranges.
Both MER and AUTO MER
Meters have data output
Jacks.
The technology that drives the Swain Meter has changed little in over 40
years. Yet the switch from Analog to Digital technology has greatly increased
the efficiency of the manufacturing and calibration processes.
Old School
New School
Swain Clips & Clamps
• Swain Clips & Clamps are precise and sensitive
instruments that form a 360` closed loop
around a conductor.
• Swain Clips and Clamps are also referred to in
literature as “Sensors” connect to the MER
meter.
• Swain Sensors are rugged, hand crafted
instruments that work in harsh environments
Clips & Clamps come in many sizes
Clips are hand held, spring
loaded sensors for quick
readings on conductors.
Clips are built from 3/4” in
diameter through 6” in
diameter.
Clips shown to the right are
sizes: Mini-Clip (no longer
built), 3/4”, 1.5”, 2.5”, 4” &
6”.
Swain Clips & Clamps
Clamps are sensors made in
2-half circles that go around
Conductors then held
together with Nuts to form a
circle.
Clamps are built in diameters
beginning at 6” through 82”.
Clamp diameters from 60”on
up are built in 4 sections.
Larger Clamps
Clamp Construction
42” Clamp
Larger diameter clamps must be manufactured in 4 pieces.
This clamp is being assembled for a field test prior to
shipping.
82” MER 2 Clamp
Clamp is constructed in 4 Sections
Our largest to date – 82”
This 82” Clamp was sold
to Water Care Services in
Auckland New Zealand
in Summer 07’
Clamps of this size
usually require their own
AUTO MER meter
80” Clamp sold to San Diego County Water Authority
Long time Swain enthusiast Brendan Sheehan
80” clamp in use in San Diego to test
flanges
Brian Horanoff, President of The Swain Meter Co. & wife Deb
showing off trophy Salmon taken in Lake Michigan.
What IS a Swain Meter?
• Precision built and calibrated instrument,
coupled with clips or clamps, used to measure
magnitude and direction of current flow.
• Swain meters are used today in most all
countries on the planet.
MER Meter with 4” clip
The MER meter allows the operator to manually
adjust the zero and range switch. The AUTO MER
does this for the operator
USES
Corrosion Control
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CP system circuit diagnostics
Locate shorts
Find foreign line interference
Rectifier output
Anode cables
Telluric Current Studies
USES
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POWER GENERATION
Battery float charge and load current
Grounding system current drain
Tower leg interference
Guy wire current drain
Data-logger studies
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MARINE
Dock/Platform anode current
Current leakage from propeller
Undersea pipelines/anode cables
ROV capable
Oil rig platform testing
Ship anchor current leakage
USES
AUTOMOTIVE
• Current leakage in electrical systems
• Alternator and battery diagnostics
• Production plant assembly
USES
Energy Transmission
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Flange leakage
Direct burial for long-term monitoring
Interference testing
Used during direct assessment of pipe
Other Uses
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Copper Electro-winding
Nitric Acid drilling
INS troubleshooting
Dairy farm stray current
DC transit stray current
“Well Head” current measurements
Defense industry
Defense Contractors
Refineries use Swain meters to precisely measure current distribution and to
see if insulating flanges are working. Individual cables in rectifiers are
measured with accuracy as are banks of pipes and cables in close proximity
Standard Operation of the Swain
Meter
Using the MER Meter
The Swain meter is a precise
instrument that measures DC
current from 5-milliamps to 200
Amps with a + /- 1% accuracy.
The meter measures with a
1-milliAmp resolution in the 0 – 2
Amp Range
10-milliAmp resolution in the 020Amp Range
100-milliAmp resolution in the 0 –
200 Amp Range
The meter will cancel out up to a
10-Amp AC interference - this
designed to maintain accuracy with
DC measurements
Using the MER Meter
•Connect the Clip or Clamp to the Swain
Meter
•Turn the On/Off Switch to the “ON”
position
•Turn Range Select to 2A
•Hold the Clip or Clamp 6 inches away
from the conductor, oriented so the plane
of the clip/clamp intersects the conductor
at a right angle
•Hold the Clip/Clamp still
•Adjust Zero knob until LCD reads Zero
•*(You have successfully canceled the
earth field reading)
•Place clip/clamp on conductor and
observe reading
•If current exceeds 2-Amps and “Over
Range” message appears on LCD – Turn
Range knob to 20A or the 200A position
Using the MER Meter
Current direction is indicated by
either the presence or the absence
of a “Negative”
Sign the left of the numbers on the
LCD
The current direction Arrow is
etched onto the sides of all clips and
clamps.
Take a reading with the clip/clamp in
one direction then flip-it 180` and
notice the appearance of the
Negative sign.
*Current direction is always flowing
in the positive clip/clamp orientation
Clip on conductor and take reading
Using the AUTO MER
The Swain meter is a precise
instrument that measures DC
current from 5-milliamps to 200
Amps with a + /- 1% accuracy.
The meter measures with a
1-milliAmp resolution in the 0 –
2 Amp Range
10-milliAmp resolution in the 020Amp Range
100-milliAmp resolution in the 0
– 200 Amp Range
The meter will cancel out up to a
10-Amp AC interference - this
designed to maintain accuracy
with DC measurements
Using the AutoMER
•Connect the Clip or Clamp to the Swain
AutoMER meter
•Hold the Clip or Clamp 6 inches away
from the conductor, oriented so the plane
of the clip/clamp intersects the conductor
at a right angle
•Hold the Clip/Clamp still
•Turn the On/Off Switch to the “AUTO”
position. Wait several seconds until the
“Ready” light comes on
*(You have successfully canceled the
earth field reading)
•Place clip/clamp on conductor and
observe reading
•If current exceeds 2-Amps the AutoMer
meter automatically changes ranges to
the 20A range or 200A range
Using the AutoMER
in Manual Mode
Turn On/Off Switch to “Manual” Mode
Hold clip/clamp steady near conductor
Zero meter using the “Zero” knob
Place clip/clamp onto conductor and take
reading
*To manually change ranges, turn On/Off
Switch from “Manual” to “Off” for a split
second. Note the LCD decimal point shifts
one position to the right . Repeat to change
ranges again.
Example of LCD positions:
.000 = 2A Range
0.00 = 20A Range
00.0 = 200A Range