GX-K1 refrigerant warning device

HFC Alarm GX-K1 – Early warning system for escaping refrigerants

Many refrigerants are not only highly harmful to the climate, but also toxic or flammable. Even if a leak in the cooling system quickly leads to a cooling failure, the invisible danger of evaporating gases remains – because these should never be inhaled. This is precisely where the GX-K1 warning device with its integrated sensor comes in: it detects leaking refrigerant early and provides a clear warning long before a health-threatening concentration is reached.

The device is specially designed for health protection and is configured for exceptional sensitivity. The sensor detects a wide range of common refrigerants, including R-32 as the target gas, as well as R-290 (propane), R-22, R-404a, R-410a, R-1234yf, and many other fluorinated hydrocarbons (HFCs). Thanks to their high cross-sensitivity, the sensors also react to related gases such as methane, butane, ethanol, or hydrogen. A simple functional test is possible at any time using reduced-pressure gas from a lighter—a practical advantage, since R-290, for example, is identical to commercially available propane.

After plugging it into the power outlet and a short preheating period of approximately three minutes, the device is ready for use. If the system detects leaking refrigerant, it warns with a clearly audible signal and a flashing red LED – timely, reliable, and unmistakable.

The HFC alarm is ideal for residential or commercial applications where an explosion-proof environment isn't required. Whether heat pumps, air conditioners, or refrigeration units – with the GX-K1, you not only protect your technology, but above all, the health of the people around you.

What are HFC refrigerants?
A refrigerant is a fluid used in refrigeration systems for heat transfer. It absorbs heat at low pressure and temperature and releases it again at higher pressure and temperature. The refrigerant's physical state changes from liquid to gas and vice versa. Fluorinated greenhouse gases have fluorine in common. Typical examples are fluorinated hydrocarbons such as tetrafluoromethane (CF4), partially fluorinated hydrocarbons such as trifluoromethane (CHF3), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6).
Fluorocarbons (PFCs, HFCs) are considered climate-damaging substances. They are divided into fully halogenated (PFCs) and partially halogenated fluorocarbons (HFCs). PFCS are hydrocarbons whose hydrogen atoms are fully replaced by fluorine atoms. HFCs are hydrocarbons whose hydrogen atoms are partially replaced by fluorine atoms. They have very different GWP values/CO2 equivalents and contribute to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere, i.e., to the so-called greenhouse effect.

Heat pumps need a coolant
The terms "refrigerant" and "coolant" are often used synonymously. However, this is technically incorrect. The difference between a refrigerant and a coolant is that a refrigerant can remove heat even when the ambient temperature is higher than the temperature of the object being cooled. A coolant, on the other hand, can only remove heat from an object when the ambient temperature is colder. For example, the coolant heated by a car's engine releases heat into the cooler environment.
To achieve temperatures below ambient temperature, a refrigerant is required in industrial applications, refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning systems. This is also true for the increasingly popular heat pumps. The temperature inside should always be lower than outside.
A heat pump therefore works in reverse. It extracts heat from the environment and transfers it to the building or heating system. Depending on the type of heat pump, the refrigerant circuit can be installed separately or integrated into the unit.

WEEE NO.: DE91394868