Training for Radiation Pagers

Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation 2955 Kerner Blvd.

San Rafael, CA 94901 www.berkeleynucleonics.com

[email protected]

User Training for NukeAlert II 1703M

 The PM1703M Gamma and Gamma Neutron personal radiation detectors

1703M

        New pager-type design Meets the ITRAP/ANSI requirements Easy to use Configuration via PC Dose rate indication Shock-resistant plastic case Reference to the background Light weight

Training Overview

This training will cover the use of the operational features and some advanced features of the PM-1703M units.

         Components of the 1703M Battery installation Turning the unit on/off Alarm settings Display Obtaining a background Calibration of the unit Setting parameters Troubleshooting

Components of the 1703M

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

MODE Button LIGHT Button Window of IR-Transceiver Gamma Radiation Indicator Analog Scale Battery Discharge Warning Symbol 7. RADIATION Symbol 8. Neutron Radiation Indicator 9. Unit of measurement “s -¹” (counts per second, cps) in search mode, “ųSv/h or ųR/h”, in the dose rate mode 10. Lid of Battery compartment 11. Battery 12. Audio alarm Outlet

Battery Installation

Battery

The 1703 uses one AA alkaline battery. Insert the positive (+) end first. You can use a dime/screwdriver or your fingers to remove the cover. When the battery is installed, the word test {tESt} will appear on the display. If the battery voltage drops below 1.1 V, the LCD will indicate the battery discharge warning sign. The battery needs to be replaced.

Turning the unit on

 Press and release “MODE” Key to turn the unit on  {tESt} will appear on the display  A numerical value indicates the unit is ready to use. The value is set to ųR/h (micro r per hour)

MODE BUTTON

Turning the unit off

LIGHT BUTTON

 Press and hold the light button until unit says OFF  If the word CAL appears, release the buttons and repeat the process

The button

“

MODE

”

is used:

 to turn the unit ON;  toggle between detect mode and search mode;  to enter/change the threshold setting  to turn ON/OFF the audio and/or vibration alarm devices.

The button

“

LIGHT

”

is used:

     to turn the LCD (liquid crystal display) backlight ON; to initiate IR communication with PC; to activate changing the low threshold alarm setting; to decrease the low threshold alarm setting; to change the status of audio and vibration alarm devices ON or OFF.

Modes of operation



self-test

mode; 

background updating

mode; 

search

mode; 

detect/dose rate

mode; 

PC communication

mode.

Alarms & Setup of the Unit

 vibrate if enabled.   If radiation is detected over the threshold, the alarm will sound and unit will In some areas, you may have to increase the alarm threshold due to higher natural background radiation.

To change the threshold and/or to enable or disable the alarms, Press and Hold the MODE button. CAL will appear, continue to hold and you will see numerical value and THR. Then press the LIGHT button to trigger the edit capability, you will know by the numerical value blinking. Use the MODE or LIGHT buttons to increase or decrease the number you want.

Alarms & Setup Continued…

THRESHOLD VALUE

 Threshold levels from 15-360 can be used, where 15 is for the lowest possible threshold level and 360 in higher background areas.

 Press the MODE button again, and you will see Aud. This is for the audible alarm setting. Pressing the LIGHT button will switch it on/off. Press the MODE button again and it will display Vibr. Pressing the LIGHT button will switch it on/off.

Exit the Set-up Mode

 To exit the setup mode, do not press any buttons for 5-10 seconds.

PM1703M Searching for gamma sources.

 The 1703M is intended firstly for efficient searching, detection and location of gamma radiation sources. It is not energy compensated and so it has a high sensitivity at low energies (33-300 keV), which allows efficient detection of nuclear materials.

 When the 1703M operates at temperatures below -22  F, the LCD normal operation can not be guaranteed. In this case the audio and/or vibration alarm devices only should be used to detect radiation sources. When the normal conditions with temperatures higher than -22  F are restored, the LCD will resume its normal operation.

Searching with the 1703M

   If the device gives an indication of radiation presence, hold the unit with the belt clip towards you and the opposite large flat side directed towards the target area. Scan slowly.

The Value on the Display (cps or ųR/h) will increase as you get closer to the target.

Searching with the 1703M Continued…

 The Alarm and Vibration will increase as you get closer to the source.

 When it reaches the maximum rate, a continuous alarm will sound but the rate of vibration will not change.

1703M Overload Alarm

 If the count rate is higher than the factory preset high limit, the Unit will give an “OL” or overload alarm  The Overload alarm is triggered if the dose rate exceeds approximately 7000  R/h

Communication with PC

 1703M with the installation of the software, in conjunction with the IR adapter, this unit is able to communicate with a PC.



Minimum requirements to a computer and its software:

• P100; • • • • • 32 Mb RAM; Windows 98, 2000, XP (small font in Windows settings); 2 Mb free on the hard disk and an adequate space available to install the database; 800X600 resolution of a monitor; IrDA.

Calibration Check

 Background level is automatically established upon start-up.

 It is recommended that a functional test be performed periodically to verify the response of the unit. This can be done by using a 1  Ci 241 Am (smoke detector source) or 1  Ci 137 Cs Test Source • Hold source to front of PM-1703 (large side opposite side of the belt clip) • Observe increase in counts and actuation of alarm  No other calibration is required

TROUBLESHOOTING

Problem

In any mode the LCD displays 00

Possible Cause 1.

2.

Detector block failure.

Processing block failure In any mode the LCD displays "-OL-"

1.

2.

Detector block failure.

Processing block failure.

3.

A gamma radiation source close to the unit

Solution

Send the instrument to the manufacturer 1, 2 - Send the instrument to the manufacturer.

3 - Remove the source The audio and/or vibration alarm devices are not operating

1.

OFF.

2.

Alarming devices are turned The device (devices ) are not operative 1 Turn the devices ON. 2 Send the instrument to the manufacturer The LCD displays the battery discharge warning sign Exhausted battery Replace the battery