DeFelsko PosiTest Pinhole and Holiday Detectors

A.  A pinhole detector is a non-destructive instrument for detecting discontinuities in a coating system including pinholes, cracks and thin spots. Other names include porosity detector, continuity tester, sponge tester and holiday detector.

There are two types of pinhole detectors, low voltage (wet sponge) and high voltage (spark tester). Low voltage detectors, like the PosiTest LPD, are typically used on coating systems less than 500 µm (20 mils) thick. High voltage spark testers operate at voltages up to 35,000V which can seriously harm the operator and damage the coating if the test is not correctly conducted. They tend to be more expensive and more complex than low-voltage pinhole detectors.

A. After a protective coating has been applied, it is important to ensure there are no defects or discontinuities present that expose the substrate beneath. Small areas of thin or missing coating, called pinholes or holidays, can become foci for corrosion and drastically reduce the life of a protective coating system. They can be invisible to the naked eye.

Porosity detectors are often used in applications where corrosion is difficult to monitor, or in aggressive service environments where performance of the protective coating is critical.

A. When measuring coating thickness, concrete is not considered a conductive’substrate, as it is much less conductive than metal. However, concrete is still slightly conductive, and can carry enough current to allow low-voltage pinhole detectors to function. Therefore, for the purposes of low-voltage pinhole detection, concrete is considered a ‘conductive’ substrate.

The challenge when conducting low-voltage pinhole testing on concrete is to ensure the instrument is properly grounded. If there is exposed rebar or metal protruding from the concrete, this is the easiest solution. An alternative is to drive a metal rod (or piece of rebar) into the ground nearby the concrete to at least the depth of the slab, relying on the earth to conduct the electric current between the rod and the slab.

A. DeFelsko offers a Basic Kit, a Complete Kit and an Accessory Pack.

• Basic Kit – Includes everything required to conduct a porosity test, in a hard-shell inspection case.
• Complete Kit –Includes the contents of the Basic Kit, in addition to accessories to extend the reach and versatility of the PosiTest LPD.
• Accessory Pack – Includes everything required to upgrade a Basic Kit to a Complete Kit.

Q. How is the PosiTest LPD different than other pinhole detectors?

A. The PosiTest LPD has been designed as a fully customizable unit and offers a number of features not typically found in other competitive instruments.

• Lightweight  weighs less than most competitive products, reducing muscle strain and fatigue
• Ergonomic design - while most other devices are box-shaped, the PosiTest LPD was specifically designed to fit comfortably in the hand with a balanced weight distribution
• Easy-to-use  bright LEDs and simple 3-button operation with graphic icons
• Calibrated (well-regulated) voltage outputs that will not drop under load. The PosiTest LPD is more likely to find small pinholes than other devices.
• GroundSense visibly reassures the user that the instrument is properly grounded. Most competitive devices would not alert if the connection to ground is lost, resulting in undetected pinholes.
• Common threads and connectors allow for unprecedented compatibility and customization. Customers can extend the reach of the PosiTest LPD with their own poles and extension rods.
• All models include a hard shell case to conveniently carry the instrument and all accessories.
• Includes Long Form Certificate of Calibration traceable to NIST
• Two year warranty
• IP65 ingress protection- dust and splash resistant. No other device is rated this highly.

Q. What is the purpose of the wetting agent?

A. Sometimes pinholes are so miniscule that water has difficulty reaching the conductive substrate underneath, especially on thicker coatings when the water must penetrate further into a pinhole to reach the substrate. In these instances, inspectors will use a surfactant (wetting agent) to lower the surface tension of the water, allowing the solution to better penetrate the pinhole.

A. No. The PosiTest LPD does not record any data.

Q. How is the PosiTest LPD calibrated at DeFelsko?

A. Each PosiTest LPD is calibrated at all test voltages with a load of known electrical resistance and a voltmeter, each traceable to a National Metrology Lab.

A Long Form Certificate of Calibration containing actual measured values is included with every instrument.

No other device provides this level of Certification.

Q. What is the recertification cost for the PosiTest LPD?

A. The cost to recertify is $ 95 and includes a Long Form Certificate of Calibration. Recertification usually takes one day.

When measuring coating thickness, concrete is not considered a 'conductive' substrate, as it is much less conductive than metal. However, concrete is still slightly conductive, and can carry enough current to allow holiday detectors to function. Therefore, for the purposes of holiday detection, concrete is considered a 'conductive' substrate.

Q. Are custom size electrodes available?

Yes. DeFelsko manufactures a wide variety of rolling spring and flat wire brush electrodes. Custom sizes are available upon request.

Q. Are internal pipe, half-circle, and other types of electrodes available?

Flat brush and spring electrodes will be available in pre-stocked and custom lengths, in addition to the handheld rubber paddle and fan brush. DeFelsko plans to add additional types of electrodes in the future, based on demand. If you have a request for an electrode configuration not currently offered by DeFelsko, please let us know.