The AMPTEC 630ES Explosive Safety Igniter Tester

The 630ES Explosive Safety Igntier Tester is a ruggedized, water-resistant, portable digital fail-safe ohmmeter which have been specifically designed for ultra-safe resistance testing on explosive devices (i.e. squibs, igniters, flares, detonators).  The AMPTEC 630ES case is water proof when closed to a depth of 3 feet.  The AMPTEC 630ES also floats in water. It can be operated outside in direct rain, as it has silicon boot seals over all switches. The AMPTEC 630ES has had it's circuitry reviewed and operation approved by many U.S. Gov. Safety Boards (U.S. Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratories, NASA Range Safety Approved) as well as most branches of the Armed Forces for specific military programs (i.e. U.S. Navy Cruise Missile version, J-2X Igniter Tester and U.S.A.F Non-nuclear munitions).

The Ultimate in Safety and Measurement Integrity

The AMPTEC 630ES's 2.0 Ohm range is ten fold better than most all other models, with most competing models only having a 20 Ohm range.  Keep in mind, 95% of the Squibs and EED's (ElectroExplosive Device) used in the Aerospace Industry have a resistance of approx 1.0 Ohm.  Only AMPTEC RESEARCH with the AMPTEC 630ES ( AMPTEC 620ES, 620BH etc.) Explosive Safety Igniter Tester offers a true 2.0 Ohm fullscale range with 0.1 milliohm resolution.  The unit's low level 2.0 Ohm range provides the unique capability to resolve multiple squibs in parallel with the highest margin of accuracy and safety. In addition since it is a 4 Terminal or 4 Wire Kelvin Failsafe ohmmeter with 0.1 milliohm resolution it can also be used to measure low resistance connnections. It is the ideal J-2X Igniter Tester replacement as specified by the USAF and NASA.

The resistance circuit uses a very low level (5 mA) failsafe constant DC current source and measures the DC Voltage drop across "Rx" (unknown reistance). AMPTEC's 630ES has a 5 mA output test current level with an 8 mA failsafe (worst case component failure mode that been independently verified by the numerous Safety Boards including ( US D.O.E.) Los Alamos National Laboratories Explosive Safety Committee. Contact the Sales Dept. at AMPTEC RESARCH for copies of the Safety Board Approvals for the AMPTEC 630ES Explosive Safety Igniter Tester.  There is also an On-Board Analog Simpson milliammeter ( 0 to 10 mA fullscale) that allows you to see with your eyes the units actaul test current level (i.e. 5 mA) just prior to connecting to any squib or electrically ignitiated device. There is also an AMPTEC 630ES Critical Circuit via electrical schematic study available that provides the "worst single component failure mode" Analysis to show 8 mA Fail Safe level as the worst case.  

What good is using an analog Milliammeter prior to testing an explosive device using an Igniter Tester? 

In the case of the AMPTEC 630ES having it built-in, it allows you to see the unit's (connecting its resistance test leads) actual low level current source output (5 mA nominal, 8 mA failsafe) level with an independent meter prior to connecting to any explosive device. It's excessive current that detonates EEDs and squibs. There are even built-in patch panel test resistors ( 0.1 ohm, 1.0 ohm, 10 ohms, 100 ohms, 100 Kohm etc.) to allow the AMPTEC 630ES user to cross check any resistance reading against a known decade resistance value and also troubleshoot any test lead wiring harness etc. connection integrity.

The High Explosive Meter for Los Alamos National Laboratories

The battery powered AMPTEC 630ES is Explosive Safety Commitee Board Approved and used on high explosives with confidence by customers such as Los Alamos National Labs ( Nuclear Explosive Safety Committee approved ), and also used widely by NASA, Boeing Company, and Lockheed Missiles and Space to name a few.

The unit's 2.0 Ohm fullscale range with 0.1 milliohm resolution provides the needed  precision to safely determine the status of multiple squibs wired in parallel. Regular igniter testers with just a 20 Ohm range just "don't have the precision, resolution or safety features" needed when measuring high explosive device(s) with a resistance that is often considerably less than 1.0 ohm. There are a variety of critical military, aerospace and industrial applications which utilize squibs, explosive bridge wire, and other blasting devices.  In each case, it is extremely important that these devices detonate when properly triggered (i.e. rocket motor squibs, parachute canapies etc).  It is critically important that these explosive devices do not accidentally detonate while being tested for continuity or wiring integrity.

Electrical Circuit Schematics and the Fail-Safe Current limiting protection of the AMPTEC 630ES Explosive Safety Meter has been reviewed and N.E.S. (Nuclear Explosive Safety) approved for use by Specific US Dept. of Energy National Laboratories (contact the Sales Dept. at AMPTEC RESEARCH for specific details on customer references and Safety Board Approvals).

A common question asked is “What does AMPTEC offer to improve the measurement accuracy and resolution with a low resistance value squib/detonator measurement/application?".  Hence the development of the AMPTEC 620ES and 630ES Explosive Safety Igniter Tester.  Having the same ranges as the 630ES, the 620ES offers the following fullscale ranges - 2.0 Ohms, 20 Ohms, 200 Ohms and 200 Kohms. The 2.0 Ohm fullscale range provides a four-wire Kelvin resistance measurement from 0.0000 ohms to 1.9999 ohms. The 2.0 Ohm range also offers a low (1/10) 0.1 milliohm or 100 microhm resolution.  AMPTEC RESEARCH offers an optional Four Wire Kelvin (OP300) Lead set that eliminate the effects of test lead length resistance and contact resistance errors. The 200 Kohm range provides a relatively high resistance range for determining an “open circuit” (>200 Kohms) status on ordnance wiring.

Keylocked Safety Switch when Connecting or Measuring Squibs and/or Explosive Devices

The Key Locked Safety/Measure Switch has two modes, the shorted safe mode shorts the inputs together and disconnects them from the AMPTEC 630ES.  If the user removes the key, the AMPTEC 630ES is locked in "Safe Mode" ( it can’t be accidentally switched to measure mode).  When the 630ES user removes the key , the 630ES cannot be made to measure or provide any electrical stimulus to the squib under test, whatsoever.  While the key is removed, the 630ES user can connect the test wiring to the explosive device without fear of any stimulus current or voltage actively coming from the 630ES. Only when the key is inserted into the unit's keyswitch can the 630ES be enabled to measure resistance (and only then is it measuring with it's Nuclear Explosive Safety Board Approved measurement circuitry).

Physically Impossible to Simultaneoulsy Connect the Charger while Measuring

In addition, the limited access (one use at a time) external connection port on the 630ES also makes it physically impossible to simultaneously connect the AC/DC Charger while measuring with the test leads.  Whether charging the NI-CAD batteries or measuring a squib’s resistance, there is only one connection port, it's a case of "either/or" but never both.  The 630ES operator can connect the AC/DC Battery Charger to the 630ES limited access connection port for recharging the NI-CAD Batteries thus mechanically blocking access for the measuring sense leads. When measuring, using the sense leads, the same limited access connection port then blocks any battery charger connection. Here is a copy of the AMPTEC 630ES Main Connector (J1) gold contact pin out detail/definition. 

The unit is CE marked, and includes a US N.I.S.T Calibration Certificate and Certificate of Compliance and Universal Input (100 VAC to 240 VAC input) Battery Charger for Universal International Use - No Extra Charge.

630ES Checkout Routine (Powerpoint Presentation)

There is a two part powerpoint presentation available that walks the AMPTEC 630ES user how to perform a functional check of the meter. The first part of the (PART 1) 630ES Checkout Routine is primarily power up, battery level and test current level verification. The second (PART 2) half of the 630ES checkout routine explains how to test the functionality of every range on the meter.  There is also an overview of how "4 Wire Kelvin Resistance Method " operates. 

Integrity of Measurement and an instrument's accuracy is important to us and should be important to you. To provide proof, in writing, that an instrument is truly accurate, many instrument companies charge extra for an instrument's calibration certificate. Not at AMPTEC RESEARCH. The AMPTEC 630ES Explosive Safety Igniter Tester comes with a U.S. N.I.S.T. traceable calibration Certificate, good for 1 year, at "No Extra Charge".