Appendix 02.03.06.

EMCEE Conductivity Meter

At smaller airports, a conductivity meter is not required.

The Emcee Conductivity Meter is a hand-held battery operated instrument for

An extension cable kit is available which enables the meter to be used by lowering the
probe into the fuel. This method is not approved by IP 274 as it can introduce significant
error in the result and the instrument should therefore not be used in this manner where
the conductivity of the fuel is less than 100 pS/m.

Models ll52 (with a digital read-out display) and the earlier ll51A (with a sweep scale
read-out display), both approved for Shell use, are discussed below. The latest models
are certified intrinsically safe.

1. Meter Calibration
Before each series of measurements the calibration of the meter shall be checked as
follows, and adjusted as necessary. These checks are all performed with the probe in air,
not in fuel.
a) Attach the probe to the bottom connector on the conductivity meter.
b) Hold the meter with the probe vertical and depress the MEASURE switch M. A
direct reading of 000 ±00, or in the case of a pointer the deflection should return
to zero ± 1 division, in approximately three seconds. If the meter reading is not
within these limits, remove the probe and recheck zero by pressing M again. If the
zero reading is within limits without the probe but not when the probe is attached,
the probe should be thoroughly rinsed with isopropyl alcohol and allowed to air
dry before retesting. If the meter still does not read 000 ± 001 or zero ± 1
division with the probe attached, insert a small screwdriver into the hole marked
ZERO and adjust whilst the M switch is depressed.
c) For digital model 1152, depress the CALIBRATE switch C. After three seconds the
meter reading should be 10 times the cell constant value stamped on the probe ±
005 (e.g. if cell constant is 40, meter reading should be in the range 395 to 405).
If the meter reading is outside these limits, insert a small screwdriver into the
hole marked CALIBRATE and adjust the meter reading to 10 times the cell
constant ± 002 whilst keeping switch M depressed.
d) For model 1151A, set CU RANGE to CAL on latest version or to x.l on earlier
version. Depress both the MEASURE and the CALIBRATE switches together and
allow the pointer to stabilise. The meter reading should be equal to the cell
constant value stamped on the probe, ± 1 division. If calibration is necessary,
insert a small screwdriver in the side panel hole marked CAL and adjust the meter
reading to the value stamped on the probe whilst keeping the MEASURE and
CALIBRATE switches depressed.

2. Procedure for Measuring Conductivity

The conductivity of fuel may be determined by sampling bulk stocks with a clean dip can
in the prescribed
manner and measuring the conductivity of the freshly drawn sample in the can using the
Emcee meter with the probe directly attached as follows:
a) Prior to taking samples, clean and dry containers shall be rinsed with the fuel to
be checked.
b) Using a clean dip can or sampling cage, obtain a middle sample of at least 1 litre
and wait for a period of at least two minutes to allow any static electricity to
dissipate before using the meter.
 c) Insert the probe vertically into the fuel sample until the fuel level is aligned with
the large holes near the top of the probe.
d) For digital model 1152, depress the MEASURE switch M and record the reading
after a stabilisation interval of approximately three seconds. If using model
1151A, set CU RANGE switch to x10, depress the MEASURE switch, allow the
reading to stabilise and proceed as follows:
i. If the meter reading is between 5 and 50, multiply the reading by 10 and
record the result.
ii. If the meter reading is between 0 and 5, set CU RANGE switch to x1,
depress the MEASURE switch, allow the reading to stabilise and record the
result.
iii. If the meter reading is greater than full scale on the x10 range, raise the
probe until the fuel is aligned with the small holes (half probe length),
depress the MEASURE switch and allow the reading to stabilise. Multiply
the meter reading by 20 and record the result.
e) Measure the temperature of the bulk fuel or that of the sample at the time of the
conductivity test.
f) Dispose of fuel samples safely. Where the sample is being measured on a tank
roof, never pour it back into the tank through an opening and allowed to fall on to
the surface of the bulk fuel below. Always remove it to an appropriate sample
recovery tank for disposal. If extension cables are being used then the following
additional points shall be noted:
g) Bond the meter to a suitable bonding point on the tank or vessel using the
bonding wire attached to the extension cable.
h) Avoid either partial immersion of the probe or contact with the tank bottom,
which may be wet and dirty and ensure previous fuel residues are removed
before taking readings.

3. Precision

Precision data is only obtained from accurately calibrated meters in good working
condition. It is therefore
essential that instruments are checked prior to taking any readings. If when calibrating
an instrument, readings vary widely from one occasion to another, it should be checked
by the manufacturer.

Model 1152 meters are considered accurate to ± 2% i.e. ± 1 pS/m over the range of 0-
2000 pS/m.

Model 1151A meters are considered accurate to ± 4% of full-scale deflection, i.e. ± 2

For the purposes of conductivity checks in aviation operations, Shell companies should
question results if they fall outside the following criteria:

a) Repeatability – where duplicate tests are conducted by the same operator using
one meter on the same fuel at the same temperature, results are suspect if
results differ by more than ± 10% (± 5 pS/m) at the 50 pS/m level, or by more
than ± 4% (± 18 pS/m) at the 450 pS/m level.
b) Reproducibility – where duplicate tests are conducted by different operators with
different meters of the same type on the same fuel at the same temperature,
results are suspect if results differ by more than ± 20% (± 10 pS/m) at the 50
pS/m level, or by more than ± 10% (± 60 pS/m) at the 600 pS/m level.

4. Storage of meters

Experience has shown that meters perform more reliably and with less need for frequent
adjustment when the atmospheric conditions of storage are not greatly different from
those that will prevail when in use. Extreme changes in temperature and humidity, e.g.
going from a cool air-conditioned environment to a hot and humid one, can result in the
formation of condensation and cause the calibration to change as the components adjust
to ambient conditions. It is therefore recommended that Emcee meters are stored in
conditions that remain at or reasonably close to those that will be experienced in use.

It is also recommended that care is taken to ensure that meters are cleaned and dried
after use and that their protective carrying case is not saturated in fuel. Malfunction can
occur over time due to fuel vapour entering the meter and accumulating as a condensate
or film on circuitry and connections.

5. Servicing
Meters that require servicing or repair that cannot be done locally by following the
appropriate service manuals should be returned direct to the supplier or his agent.