KEE tester troubleshooting

FIRST STEP

If you have never seen the instruction manual or have lost it or simply haven't read it for a long time, read it now.  It's quite short, it's very easy to read, do not use a KEE tester until you have read (or reminded yourself of) the instructions. 

MOST COMMON PROBLEM

PROBLEM: can’t adjust calibration, the knob won’t turn far enough to turn the needle down. If you don't have an 18ct (and, ideally, 22ct too) item with a full British hallmark you can buy a calibration sample.  

Solution: new pen-probe required.

INACCURATE READINGS

PROBLEM: the readings don’t match the markings on a hallmarked item (must be a full British hallmark). 

Solutions:

  • Check the reading against your calibration samples and/or check that the hallmarked item has a full British hallmark. If the reading is wrong, calibrate the tester. This must be done regularly (see instructions).
  • If you have more than one calibration sample, make sure you haven't mixed them up.
  • The calibration sample / hallmarked item must be clean, testing a layer of dirt or tarnish will give a false reading. The easiest way to clean a layer of dirt is to file the item. File it lightly, see if the reading is now correct. If not, file it more firmly, even hallmarked items can be plated (to improve the colour). 

If it reads correctly on the calibration sample / hallmarked item then the tester is working correctly!

PROBLEM: the readings don’t match the markings on a known (but not hallmarked) item. 

Solution:

  • What makes you think you 'know' what carat it is?  Please test the item to see what it really is. 
  • Don't forget to read the instructions to check that you are using the tester correctly.

PROBLEM: the needle slowly drifts upwards as you hold the pen-probe on the item.

Solution:

  • yes, it will. Take the reading as soon as the needle settles, usually 2 or 3 seconds. If you just wait and wait, the needle will very slowly drift upwards.

SPORADIC OR INCONSISTENT READINGS

PROBLEM: the same item doesn't give the same reading every time or the needle jumps about. 

Solutions:

  • the tip of the pen-probe is black from dirt or squished out of shape, you need a new pen-probe .
  • check that the pen-probe is plugged in firmly
  • the pen-probe is not making good contact with the item. Make sure item is making contact with the plate and pen-probe is making contact with the item. 
  • lumpy items such as coins and medallions are difficult to test because they don’t make good contact with the plate. Test them resting on their edge rather than flat on the plate.

NO POWER

PROBLEM: no power / needle doesn’t move.

It might be the battery but check everything else first since changing the battery is fiddly, and the problem is usually not the battery.  Note, the battery will go flat if you forget to turn the tester off.

Solutions:

  • check that the needle flips to right when you turn the power on, that means it’s a good battery so don’t waste time changing it.
  • press the power button down firmly and check that there’s a slight ‘click’
  • as a last resort, change the battery (one of size AA), 

NEEDLE FLIPS TO THE LEFT INSTEAD OF THE RIGHT

  • You have plugged the leads in the wrong way round. The red plug goes to the red socket, the black plug goes to the black socket.