Does AMPTEC RESEARCH accept VISA/MASTERCARD credit card orders?

Yes, We accept VISA , Mastercard and American Express credit card purchases including the U.S. Government IMPAC/VISA credit card for any AMPTEC instrument including the AMPTEC 620A-4 Failsafe Digital Ohmmeter (USA Customers only). You may call in (512) 858-4045 or FAX (512) 858-4340 us your order  referencing your card number, expiration date and return phone number. ( also see FAX -IN Order form link below) -  For Credit Card Orders - We will also mail you, your credit card receipt ( No Card # for your security) with the appropriate invoice paperwork for your record keeping purposes separate from the instrument that you ordered. 

How is AMPTEC instrumentation ( i.e. AMPTEC 620A-4 Failsafe Ohmmeter ) shipped and how much is the freight charge?

For Domestic USAF and USA Air National Guard (non-rush ) orders, we typically ship FedEx 3 day saver and freight is included in the AMPTEC 620A-4 NSN package purchase price. For non-military Domestic USA customers the freight charge is typically ~$25.00 for FedEx surface to most areas of the U.S.A. On average it takes 3 to 5 days shipping time to reach anywhere in the U.S. via UPS. For any expedited (ie Fed EX Next Day Air) or International orders please call us (8:30 AM to 7 PM Standard Time) or FAX us your requirement. We will provide you with an exact freight charge (prepay and add) quotation. The freight charge will be added to your order , you may also send us e-mail to sales@amptec.com, or phone us at (512) 858-4045, call toll free at 800-350-5105 in the USA, or FAX your request to (512) 858-4340. For Credit Card Orders - We will also mail you, your credit card receipt ( No Card # for your security) with the appropriate invoice paperwork for your record keeping purposes separate from the instrument that you ordered. 

Can I fax you my credit Card Order ? or print out my own AMPTEC Order Form, fill it in and FAX it to AMPTEC?

Yes, Here is a "Print your own Order Form" just print it , fill it out and FAX it back

What are other ways we can order AMPTEC RESEARCH instrumentation?

We also accept purchase orders for our products and accessories.  We offer open account, upon approved credit,  - Net 30 day payment terms for established customers, or prepay (i.e. C.O.D. or wire transfer of funds) for international customers under certain circumstances.  For customers placing a purchase order, we need a confirming copy of the purchase order (FAX is OK) with a "Bill to" and "Ship to" address, along with a contact name and phone/ FAX number.

What is AMPTEC's policy for Non-Warranty repairs and annual calibrations?

For customer service related repairs and calibrations of existing AMPTEC RESEARCH instruments a RMA ( Return Material Authorization - form attached) # is required. It is important for us to have the customer contact information ( RMA form has - customer name, telephone #, e-mail, return shipping address- nature of the problem, symptoms etc.)  We do not ever charge to perform an evaluation of the instrument's problem. If the instrument is in need of repair, we simply evaluate the product you supply us with ( @ No Charge) and then advise. We will then contact you and recommend a course of action based upon what we have found. In many cases, we often do not charge for simple non-warranty repairs, just the U.S. N.I.S.T Calibration Certification charge.

Can I download or view a close up of the AMPTEC 620A-4 Ohmmeter?

Yes, a high resolution, 490KByte color JPG photograph of the AMPTEC 620A-4 Digital Failsafe Ohmmeter is available for browsing and printing.  Click here

Can I view the U.S.A.F. Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Approval for the AMPTEC 620A-4 Failsafe Ohmmeter?

Yes, the United States Department of the Air Force - Nonnuclear Munitions Safety Board has approved the AMPTEC 620A-4 for use by Air Force technicians to measure squib resistance on a number of explosive components including rocket motors, fuses, and flares. Our password protected Tech Library (see button on left side) contains a host of Ordnance Safety Board Approvals.

What is the safety record and background for AMPTEC RESEARCH's Igniter Testers and the AMPTEC 620A Failsafe Ohmmeter?

The AMPTEC 620A engineering/product development team have 39 years of experience in defining, designing, manufacturing, and supplying ultra-safe igniter circuit testers.  Our 36 year Igniter Tester background includes supplying earlier versions similar to the 620A design to the U.S. NAVY for use on the "CRUISE MISSILE" igniter circuits, also the U.S. Army for testing squibs on the "STANDARD MISSILE", and RAYTHEON for use on the "PATRIOT MISSILE". Our most recent approval allows the AMPTEC 620A-4 Igniter Testers ( Failsafe Ohmmeter ) to be used on rocket motors, and related ignition devices on the AIM-7 (SPARROW), and AIM-9 (SIDEWINDER) missiles used by the U.S.A.F. Tactical Missile Groups.  In 39 years, we have never had a customer related accidental detonation with any of our earlier designs and have never had one with the even safer AMPTEC 620A-4 Failsafe Digital Ohmmeter. The AMPTEC 620A-4 Igniter Tester has a 5 mA test current with an 8 mA worst case component failure limit. It is also USAF Munition Safety Board Approved for every type of Explosive Ordnance used by the USAF except for Nuclear devices. It is also Mil Std 810 Method 511 Explosive and Volatile Atmospheres Certified to + 50°C.  The AMPTEC 630BN, 630ES and 640N series of Igniter Testers ( with their own Safety Baord Approvals) are internally a 620A-4 Main PCB based product. 

Why is the AMPTEC 620A-4 fail safe Ohmmeter/Igniter Tester safer than a DMM? 

The AMPTEC 620A-4 is not a commercial DMM (most DMMs measure AC Voltage - 5 ranges, DC Voltage -6 ranges, AC Current -5 ranges, DC Current - 5 ranges, frequency , multiple 5 ½ or 6 ½ digit resolution modes, front and rear input switches etc.)  Some DMMs are even AC line powered (i.e. 120 VAC 60 Hz). An AC powered DMM can be very hazardous/dangerous to use when checking explosive squib resistances for many reasons. Most DMMs also do not have a insulating polyurethane PCB conformal coating (see below) or USAF Munition Safety Board Approval for use on explosive ordnance.

All commercial DMMs lack a host of safety features offered by all AMPTEC RESEARCH's Explosive Safety Test Instrumentation - The AMPTEC 620A description below is just the tip of the iceberg.

The AMPTEC 620A's one measurement function is resistance, which makes for less operator error than a typical 14 button multi-function digital multimeter. The 620A is completely battery powered (total power line isolation), when charging the batteries the 620A can't measure (display is even off), when switched to measuring mode the charging jack is electrically disconnected, current limiting resistor networks passively prevent current from exceeding a maximum fail safe current limit of 8 mA (i.e. for the 620A-4, other versions may vary), and for accuracy integrity purposes a low battery circuit informs the user when the unit is low on battery power.

The unit also has an insulating polyurethane layer coating the circuit board to discourage an accidental conductive pathway from a loose screw, washer or wire. Most importantly unlike a DMM, if the 620A had an electrical fault it offers the life saving advantage of failing safe.

What do the 4-wire Kelvin Clip leads look like and do we need them?

The 4-wire Kelvin Clip Lead set are a gold plated lead set and are optionally available.  The opening of the clip jaws can easily connect or attach to anything a 1/2" (13mm) or smaller (i.e igniter wiring harnesses).  The upper and lower jaws (Voltage Sense-High  and Current-High) of each Kelvin clip along with two clips (Voltage Sense-Low and Current Low) comprise the "4-wires" of the Kelvin resistance measurement.  The Kelvin 4-wire Error Compensation principle is used to eliminate lead length and connection contact resistances as potential resistance measurement error sources.

Gold plating of the 4-wire Kelvin leads minimizes the microvolt offset (i.e. thermocouple effect) associated with connecting dissimilar metals together, as when the Kelvin leads touch the igniter circuit wiring. For a data sheet of all the accessories, test leads, probes and options that are compatible with the AMPTEC 601ES DMM, 620A-4, 620BH, 620ES, 620GD, 620RK etc select here.

In many applications the contact resistance can also exceed the resistance value of the igniter coil by several orders of magnitude. The internal constant current source inherently overcomes all series resistance (within compliance voltage limits) and delivers stable constant current. There is no contact and lead resistance error created by the voltage measurement because there is essentially no current flow in the high impedance voltage sense leads. Figure 1 is available as a diagram of the 4-wire Kelvin resistance measurement principle.

What is the calibration interval for most AMPTEC Instrumentation ?- (i.e. AMPTEC 620A-4 Failsafe Ohmmeter)

We recommend a 1 year Calibration interval for the AMPTEC 620A. We ship the unit the first time fully calibrated traceable to the United States N.I.S.T.  The 620A operator/maintenance manual details the 620A calibration procedure. Almost any calibration laboratory (i.e. PMEL) which can calibrate DMMs can perform the annual 620A calibration procedure in about 30 minutes.  We will also gladly re-calibrate any AMPTEC 620A which needs it for $195.00.  Contact AMPTEC RESEARCH's customer service department ahead of time for a Return Material Authorization (RMA #) number.  We will also provide shipping and turnaround information at that time.  

Sometimes the Kelvin Clip Leads don't have the proper form factor for measuring igniter resistance of certain items.Do you offer any handheld probes which make it easier to measure igniter resistance on larger items like "flares"?

Option "401" Single Point Probe Set - are 4 terminal up to the base of the probe tips. The probe tips have a 0.08" diameter (nail style) shaft for easy probing of socket contacts and miscellaneous recessed parts.

Option "291" Dual Banana to Single Banana Test Lead set - are 4 terminal up to the base of the single banana jack. The single banana jack ends of Option "291" are also open on the back to facilitate "Piggy-backable" banana jack test connections. The Option "291" single banana jack end is a standard diameter banana jack found with most digital multimeter test leads making it simple to plug into a variety of panel mount jack test panels and related receptacles.

It appears the 20 Ohm range is too high? I need to measure 1/2 an ohm (500 milliohms). What is the AMPTEC 620A-4 accuracy and resolution for low resistance (i.e. 500 milliohms) items?   

Compared to older (2-wire resistance) Analog Meter - Igniter Circuit Testers like the Alinco (4000-ITS, 101-5BF, 101-5FG) series, the AMPTEC 620A is 10 to 100 times better resolution and accuracy.  The 620A offers 1 milliohm resolution on it's 20 ohm range (0.0000 to 19.999 Ohms). For a 500 milliohm measurement, the 620A accuracy specification ( ±0.02 % range) is 500 milliohms ±2 milliohms. The Kelvin 4-wire Error Compensation principle is used by the 620A to eliminate lead length and connection contact resistances as potential resistance measurement error sources. Is the igniter coil in an open (disconnected) state or do you have an acceptable level of continuity? Keep in mind the purpose of the most 620A measurements is to safely determine igniter coil integrity. A 500 milliohm coil with a ± 2 milliohm uncertainty is usually more than accurate enough to determine the state of igniter circuit integrity.  

Do you have a version/model with a 2 Ohm range? It appears the 20 Ohm range is too high in my low ohm application? I need to measure around 100 milliohms. What does AMPTEC offer with at least a 2 ohm range fullscale?

AMPTEC offers both the AMPTEC 620ES Low Ohm Explosive Safety Meter and the ruggedized 630ES Explosive Safety Meter. Both the 620ES and the 630ES offer a 2.0 Ohm range with 1/10 (one tenth) a milliohm resolution.  Adobe Acrobat Reader versions of the data sheets are available below.

We have been using an older Ohmmeter (i.e 4000ITS ) that has twin socket circular connector with our AIM-7 mating harness.  What does AMPTEC RESEARCH offer that is compatible with the 4000 ITS connector?

AMPTEC has developed an adapter connector that provides a mating terminal equivalent to the connections found on the SIMPSON 4000 ITS Circuit Igniter Tester, or the ALINCO 101-5BF, Or the 101-5FG Circuit Igniter Testers. The photo below shows the connector adapter with an acrylic tube filled with an insulating casting resin. The hardened tube provides additional mechanical support while handling and connecting the mating connector. The optional "4000 ITS Connector Adapter" has the 620A Ohmmeter act just as the 4000 ITS, 101-5BF, 101- 5FG Ohmmeters would perform. The photo and diagram below shows the AMPTEC 4000 ITS Connector Adapter is a 4-wire connector adapter from the connector to the 620A Ohmmeter (No lead resistance errors).

The AMPTEC 4000 ITS Connector Adapter is also approved by the U.S.A.F.  NonNuclear Munitions Safety Board for use with the 620A-4 Failsafe Ohmmeter Igniter Tester.  Contact the AMPTEC's customer service or sales department for the most recent information regarding this "optional" adapter.

Does AMPTEC offer an "AUTORANGE" feature with any of it's Explosive Safety Igniter Testers?

Yes, most versions of the AMPTEC 630 or 640 Series Igniter Testers are optionally available with "AUTORANGE".  By selecting the "AUTORANGE" button, the instrument automatically selects the optimal resistance range with minimal opportunity for operator error .

Contact the Sales Department of AMPTEC RESEARCH (phone 1-800-350-5105) or send us e-mail to sales@amptec.com, to discuss your exact requirement for an Explosive Safety Igniter Tester.