711-202-G1 Whisper Ultrasonic Leak Detector by Inficon

Q: would I need the transmitter device to leak check air conditioning coils etc?

This is a simple tool to hear the whistling of high pressure air going through a small opening. The high frequency pitch is picked up by the microphone. You won't need anything else to operate this. I prefer to use my own headphones instead of the ones in the kit, but that is a personal preference. It also has a sound bar so you can see it, too. You don't need to listen, although I find it helpful.

Q: if I pressurize my underground pool skimmer line with air, would this be practical for locating a leak?

I don't believe it will help in this application. To detect the leak, you must be able to see the line and place the unit relatively close to the hose. So for your application, you would need to expose your lines. If your pool skimmer lines are visible, it is easier to inject a dye, such as a UV dye, and shine a UV lamp to find it. If your lines are not visible then you would need to dig up the line to look for the leak. When I had an underground leak, I hired a person to find it for me. It was worth the money for the one time repair.

Q: Is good for bearing friction detection?

Hello and thank you for your question. Yes, with the optional metal contact probe (711-703-G1) Whisper can detect malfunctions in certain mechanical components, bearings included! The contact probe is included with the version that comes with the accessory kit (711-203-G1). Simply screw the metal contact probe to the tip of Whisper and touch it to the suspected mechanical component. For the best experience, use a pair of headphones to utilize Whisper's heterodyne feature. Properly functioning machinery sounds smooth and clear, whereas malfunctioning machinery may produce grinding, scratching, or other irregular noises.