A&D Weighing AD-1690 Pipette Leak & Seal Integrity Tester

Description

The A&D Weighing AD-1690 is a dedicated leak and seal integrity tester for pipettes and small pumps, built to catch a failing seal before it causes a bad result. Rather than measuring dispensed volume, it uses a depressurization method: the instrument pulls a fixed vacuum against the pipette tip and watches how that vacuum holds over time, so a worn O-ring, a hairline crack, or a loose seal shows up as a measurable pressure drop instead of an inconsistent reading discovered downstream.

A full test completes in under 5 seconds, with an internal pressure tolerance check (+2.0 kPa over 10s) and an external tolerance check (+1.0 to +20 kPa over 0.5-1s) run automatically. A built-in depressurization air filter system keeps dust and particulates from skewing the result, which matters most in the same particle-sensitive environments where pipette integrity is being audited in the first place. At 570g (1.5 lbs), it’s light enough to keep at the bench as a routine pre-use check rather than a once-a-year calibration event.

Pairing the AD-1690 with a gravimetric accuracy tester (such as the AD-4212A-PT, AD-4212B-PT, or FX-300i-PT) gives a lab both halves of a complete pipette QC program: leak/seal integrity and dispensed-volume accuracy.

**Frequently asked questions**

**What does the AD-1690 actually measure?** It doesn’t measure liquid volume. It applies a fixed depressurization value and tracks whether that vacuum holds within tolerance over a set time window, which is how it identifies a leaking seal, a cracked shaft, or a pipette that needs maintenance.

**How is this different from a gravimetric accuracy test?** A gravimetric tester (like the AD-4212 or FX-300i-PT series) confirms the pipette dispenses the correct volume. The AD-1690 checks whether the pipette itself is airtight — a leak can cause inaccurate dispensing even when an isolated accuracy test looks acceptable that day, so the two tests address different failure modes.

**How often should a pipette be leak-tested?** Many labs run a quick leak check before each use or each shift for critical work, since seal wear can develop between scheduled calibration intervals. Confirm the interval that fits your own SOP or accreditation requirements.