Frequently Asked Questions
Spectronics Corporation invented fluorescent leak detection in 1955. Today, we are the world’s leading manufacturer of ultraviolet equipment and fluorescent leak detection dye. Spectroline products are OEM-grade, co-solvent free, NSF certified, and can safely remain within AC&R systems.
Simply add our patented fluorescent dye to the suspect system. Let the dye circulate. Once the dye has permeated the system, scan for leaks with one of our high-intensity leak detection flashlights. All leak sites will glow brightly with escaping fluorescent dye, even pinhole leaks and intermittent ones.
In small-to-medium sized systems, you can find leaks within minutes. In commercial systems, it may take a few hours for the dye to circulate completely. For preventative maintenance, add Spectroline dye long before you have a problem. A technician can perform an inspection within a matter of seconds if the dye has already had time to fully circulate.
Spectroline® fluorescent leak detection dye is engineered to be fully-miscible. It is, by definition, a non-particulate and is filtered down to 2 microns. This ensures the fluorescent dye doesn’t change the precise characteristics of the host fluid. Lubricity, viscosity, and other properties of the original host fluid are completely unaffected when dye is added to the system. Spectroline® fluorescent dyes are also NSF-certified, meaning they are not harmful to the environment and went through rigorous testing.
Dye fluorescence is dependent on the ratio of fluorescent material to carrier oil. Poor performing dyes typically have low levels of fluorescent material. Simply put, poor dyes lack the concentration necessary to provide an effective fluorescent response. Spectroline dyes are concentrated and able to fluoresce all leak areas brightly. This means Spectroline dyes are more economical because less dye is used per application.
Co-solvents are chemical substances added to increase the solubility of specific compounds. This means co-solvents harmfully change the original lubricant properties of refrigerant oil. Co-solvents can lead to premature wear and outright damage. Poorly manufactured fluorescent dyes typically contain high levels of co-solvents. In addition to changing system properties, co-solvents have the potential to deteriorate system metals.nance protocol.
Our core dye products are Universal/POE formula. For AC&R systems using PVE lubricant we have specific dyes for those: SPE-GS1PVE-P6, SPE-GS2PVE-P6, SPE-GS3PVE-P6.
For HVAC/R Systems- EZ-Ject™ is our patented multi-dose injection method and GLO-STICK® is our direct inject, single-dose method that has varing concentration strengths. Both are suited for small-to-medium sized AC&R systems – such as residential units, ice machines, window units, and refrigerators.
BigEZ™ is our injection method for medium-to-large sized AC&R systems – e.g., commercial units, supermarket units, refrigerated warehouses, food and dairy plants, and industrial facilities. Review our product dosage information for the correct application.
Spectroline® offers a variety of dye colors that are engineered to best suit specific host fluids and fluid power applications. Use different colors to detect leaks across multiple systems. Color-code each system to ensure fluid power leaks are found quickly and with immediate certainty.
We care about your health as well as the health of our planet. The materials used in the dyes consist of completely organic-free fibers. It makes our leak detection dyes different from conventional dyes that have co-solvents. Due to its materials, after half a year in the ground our dyes will fully degrade without any harm to nature. The second important thing is that we do not use any chemically aggressive liquids, which can damage one’s health. And finally, UV lamps consume only 10W, which equals to the power of a simple light bulb. In this day and age, energy saving not only has economic benefits, but also enables us to reduce consumption of natural resources as well as emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere.
Spectroline leak detection lamps are specifically designed for leak detection application only. Competitor lamps consist of various numbers of LEDS and the manufacturer designed it with many different applications in mind, leak detection not being the main focus.
We reccomend using a Spectroline leak detection lamp for best results when searching for leaks and in low-light conditions.
(-80C to 250C)
(-40C TO 200C)
There are many factors that determine how much you can save, also it can serve as a preventative maintenance protocol.
Our fluorescent and UV products can be found here.