Manual - RadAl
Contents
1. Assignments J1 J2 J3 Neutral Earth Hot J4 12Vdc J11 5Vdc J12 _RS 485 B J13 RS 485 A J14 GND J15 RS 232 OUT J16 RS 232IN J7 GD ss J18 Relay COM J19 Relay N O J20 Relay N C Notes o Page 4 Earth is internally connected to GND Do not draw more than 100 mA from J4 12 Vdc or J11 5Vdc Connectors accept wire of minimum 0 08 mm AWG 28 maximum 2 5 mm AWG 12 section Strip wire 5 6 mm 0 22 To insert wire insert flat screwdriver in top opening then insert wire in bottom opening and then remove screwdriver See the explanatory picture on the back of the cover panel Connectors 4 to 10 are reserved for use with the RCB R1 Remote Control Box Mount You have the option of resting the instrument on the four rubber feet mounted in the back or to mount it against a wall or other surface If mounting on feet proceed now to close the instrument If hanging on a wall or other surface optionally remove first the feet using a flat screwdriver or similar tool and expose the two mounting holes by lifting their round plastic covers glued on Drill two holes on the mounting wall or surface separated 36 cm 14 3 16 vertically or horizontally Use a 6 mm 1 4 drill bit to at least 4 cm 1 1 2 depth Insert in the two holes the two white polyethylene expansion screw supports provided Mount the instrument on the wall using the two screws provided Be careful not to drop any sc2. If an alarm is declared do not panic the RadAI 1 is extremely sensitive even radiation levels millions of times higher than is sufficient to trigger an alarm can be harmless if taken for only short periods of time Follow these directions unless otherwise instructed by safety or security personnel O Close all doors and windows restrict access and if possible recall and limit movement of all persons and goods that recently passed by the area O Reset the alarm manually press either button Wait up to ten minutes If during ten minutes no new alarm is triggered then the alarm was due to a random event probably a cosmic ray shower Ignore the event O If an alarm is declared spontaneously again you probably really have a radiation source in the vicinity Observe the yellow COUNT LED and try to identify the radioactive source by moving objects towards the RadAI 1 Radioactive sources will increase the frequency of the yellow flashes If you succeed in identifying the radioactive source move it away from people and if possible cover it with a plastic cover to prevent dispersion of radioactive dust then notify the proper authorities NOTES O If false alarms recur frequently more than once a week and you are not in TRACK mode your ambient background has probably increased press CALIBRATE once to adjust to the new background O If in TRACK mode the threshold may be rising during the time a radioactive source is present
3. 2 cps Automatic from lt 1 seconds to 10 minutes Latching and non latching field selectable Automatic uses ambient background X Ray and Gamma gt 25 keV Peak sensitivity at 60 keV 1 Key ON OFF 2 Key CALIBRATE Status LEDs 1 GREEN ON 2 YELLOW COUNT 3 RED ALARM Buzzer can be disabled 80 dBA 30 cm 70 dBA 1 m Relay SPDT 10 A 380 Vac 2500 W non inductive load RS 232 C or RS 485 1 4 load field selectable Protocol 9600 baud 8 bits No parity 1 stop bit 230 Vac nominal 50 60 Hz fused 100 mA 115 Vac nominal 50 60 Hz fused 100 mA 12 3 Vdc field selectable 1 5 W average 3 W peak Operation 25 85 C 13 185 F Storage 40 125 C 40 257 F 0 95 RH non condensing Black anodised aluminium 110 x 400 x 60 mm 4 35 x 15 75 x 2 37 Instrument 1400 g 3 0 pounds Shipping 2000 g 4 2 pounds IP54 FCC Part 15 Class B EN 50081 1 50082 1 One year parts and labour No radioactive and no toxic materials are used in this instrument Models with 2 4 and 8 GM tubes have proportionally higher sensitivity Extended temperature range and flat energy response 20 in the range 40 2000 keV available on special order Page 7 http radal com REV 2 06 Options and Accessories 12 V Car Adapter Kit Connector jack on RadAP 1 2 m 6 ft cable an jack to cigarette lighter Your RadAl 1 is delivered in three different options of increasing sen
4. In data stream mode the RadAI 1 sends every 6 seconds a message containing information on status and measured count rate over both the RS 232 and the RS 485 ports see COMMUNICATIONS In answer on command mode the RadAI 1 waits for a command before outputting data See COMMUNICATIONS section for a description of the data format Jumper 5 3 TRACK ON tracking background OFF fixed background default Fixed background operation means that the value of the ambient radiation background is measured and stored in permanent memory only when you press the CALIBRATE key If you choose the tracking background option the RadAI 1 will continuously adjust the alarm threshold level as a function of the average radiation level measured at ten minutes or 100 seconds intervals In the tracking background mode you lose somewhat in sensitivity about three times and risk missing slow events such as for example slowly leaking containers or the presence of neutron sources which cause slow growth in gamma activity You should only use the background tracking option J If you receive too many false alarms When only interested in short term events for example when items to be checked are moving at constants speed at highway tollbooths airport transports systems Jumper 5 4 JP4 ON low sensitivity OFF high sensitivity default Inserting a jumper in this position decreases somewhat the sensitivity of the RadAI 1 by addin
5. appropriate for your application z Installation explains how to mount on a wall or other support Communications documents the protocols used in talking with external devices and computers z Troubleshooting will help you get out of trouble in the unlikely event that something goes wrong Specifications Accessories Guarantee including a form you should fill detach and return for ensuring prompt support RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Operation Principles of operation The RadAI 1 is a wall mount mains or battery operated instrument that detects the x rays and gamma radiation emitted by radioactive materials and declares an alarm if the radiation field is significantly higher than the background or a preset threshold Additionally the RadAI 1 can communicate the measured radioactivity level through its RS 232 and RS 485 communication ports Gamma radiation is the most penetrating form of radioactivity and is considered dangerous to health in any amount Most radioactive materials emit x rays or gamma radiation of some kind usually at fixed energies measured in keV Kiloelectron Volt You should be aware that there are other forms of radioactivity alpha and beta that have very little penetration through matter Most alpha and beta emitters are also x ray and or gamma emitters and can be detected by the RadAI 1 very few materials such as Tritium emit only beta radiation The detectors used
6. for parts or labour NOTE While the product will be remedied under this warranty without charge this warranty does not cover or provide for reimbursement or payment of incidental or consequential damages arising from the use or the inability to use of this product The liability of the company arising out of the supplying of the instrument or its use whether on warranties or otherwise shall not in any case exceed the cost of correcting defects in the instrument and after the said one year period all such liability shall terminate Any implied warranty is limited to the duration of this written warranty PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING PERFORMANCE OF WARRANTY In the event that the product does not conform to this warranty please contact your distributor NOTE Before using this instrument the user must determine the suitability of the product for his or her intended use The user assumes all risk and liability connected with such use RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Registration Please fill and return the following form this will help us serve you better Product RadAl 1 Serial Number Purchased by NaMe cenger ei ee a iE Company Name cscs ae cndastenaitcedancenecivtarveaibchacadatteacabeineststan Address Street ccactcccicsatehceachcaceaietsaathcuiadecnsrchcicuiaded Zip TOWN cS 2h cine aceasta elena Country State a crs alse secect coc edapaecesacenenahescedead PON eae Met cate a cette tee cacesea
7. in the RadAI 1 are Geiger Miller detectors known as GM tubes The GM tubes chosen have very large volumes for maximum sensitivity GM tubes are extremely robust and reliable The GM tubes used in the RadAI 1 are optimised to provide maximum sensitivity to x rays and gamma rays in the energy range typical of reactor and bomb material while partly rejecting high energy gamma rays caused by cosmic radiation Specifically the GM tubes used in the RadAI 1 measure x rays and gamma rays of energy as low as 25 keV with peak sensitivity at 60 keV and no theoretical upper energy limit When an x ray or a gamma ray hits a GM tube it causes a brief electrical discharge The RadAI 1 measures the frequency of these discharges Ambient natural radioactivity and cosmic rays also produce gamma tays that create a background count rate Since radioactive decay is a statistical process both background and source count rate exhibit random variation in time The microprocessor in the RadAI 1 uses a sophisticated proprietary algorithm to decide if the count rate being measured is significantly higher in a strict mathematical sense that the natural background This makes it possible to declare an alarm in six optionally one seconds or less in the presence of a relatively strong source while at the lowest activity levels up to 10 minutes may be required to reach a valid alarm decision Under optimal conditions good shielding the RadAI 1 is so sen
8. ON hhRAL nng Resets all forcing of Alarms hhBGSYYYYY amp nng Sets Background value hhBGV nn YYYYY X Reads Background value hhTOV lt nn YYYYY X Reads latest 6 sec reading hhT1V nn_YYYYY2 Reads latest 1 minute reading hhT2V lt nn YYYYY X Reads latest 10 minutes reading hhKL1 4 nng Sets KeybLock ON disables keys hhKLO4 nng Sets KeybLock OFF enables keys Notes nn is the hexadecimal two character instrument address 01 to FF hh is either nn or 00 double zero reading refers to number of pulses measures by the GM tubes during the specified interval background is the number of counts accumulated during 10 minutes time and stored in EPROM Forcing or resetting alarm condition remotely overrides internal status Character Z status character returned by command hhSTA can assume the following values Z 0 OFF Z 1 OFF and ALARM Z 2 ON no alarm Z 3 ON and ALARM Z 4 CALIBRATING Z 5 FAIL To convert counts to dose rate nG h mR h etc refer to SPECIFICATIONS SENSITIVITY The maximum value of YYYYY used in setting background and number of counts returned by commands TOV T1V and T2V is 65535 This is the value output in case of overflow on any register Testing Communication A template for bi directional communications over RS 232 lines for the Windows 95 HyperTerminal application is available at the URL http radal com support radal ht A simple Windows 95 program for raw count data acquisi
9. RadAl 1 User Manual Congratulations You ate now safe from the dangers of hidden smuggled or lost radioactive materials Your RadAI 1 wall mount radiation monitor and alarm was specifically designed to protect you the public your employees and the environment from radioactive substances either lost or misappropriated with criminal intent All you have to do is to install your RadAI 1 and you can forget all worries about radioactive materials on your premises Now please STOP and M Verify that the RadAI 1 was delivered undamaged and complete The shipment should include besides this manual a complete RadAI 1 assembly including power cord and two wall mount screws and two wall inserts for the screws 7 two spare cable strain relieves g one spare fuse and four spare jumpers If anything is broken or missing inform immediately your dealer Make sure the option you received RadAI 1 1 2 or 4 with one two and four detectors respectively is the one you ordered M Read carefully this manual before beginning installation M Do not forget to mail or fax your guarantee For your convenience this manual is divided into eight sections Operation explains how the RadAI 1 operates and describes the function of the keys and LEDs what to do in case of alarm and how to test the instrument z Configuration describes the function of the internal jumpers that allow choosing the mode of operation most
10. ation will flash during calibrations and turn off in case of instrument failure 2 YELLOW LED COUNT Will flash every 20 counts measured by the GM radiation detectors Use it to visually verify operation of the instrument and as an aide in identifying any radioactive material brought in the vicinity If perfectly shielded the RadAI 1 1 will flash every 20 seconds minimum on average RadAI 1 2 every 10 and RadAI 1 4 every 5 seconds Higher count rates up to one per second on average ate acceptable as due to ambient background RED LED ALARM A pattern long dash short pause 0 8 seconds ON 0 2 seconds OFF indicates a radiation alarm A fast blinking pattern 0 2 seconds ON 0 8 seconds OFF indicates an electronic failure The RadAI 1 also has an internal buzzer that will beep with the same pattern of the ALARM LED and a relay that will be actuated when an alarm condition is asserted pi All the LED s the buzzer and the relay can be individually disabled using jumpers as explained below Setting the alatm threshold The RadAI 1 sets its alarm threshold automatically based on ambient background An internal jumper allows to start the auto calibration manually default or to have the instrument TRACK the ambient background continuously In some cases you may want to set a higher alarm threshold for example when small amounts of radioactivity may be acceptable and false alarms are to be strongly avoided In order t
11. do not want the green ON LED to be visible O Jumper 4 2 ON COUNT yellow LED active OFF yellow LED non active Remove this jumper if you do not want the yellow COUNT LED to be visible O Jumper 4 3 ON ALARM red LED active OFF red LED non active Remove this jumper if you do not want the red LED to be active on alarm condition the relay and buzzer may still operate O Jumper 4 4 ON buzzer active OFF buzzer non active Remove this jumper if you do not want the buzzer to be active on alarm condition the relay and LED may still operate O Jumper 4 5 ON relay active OFF relay non active Remove this jumper if you do not want the relay to be active on alarm condition the buzzer and LED may still operate Jumper 3 JP3 located top right O This jumper selects the RS 232 default or the RS 485 communications protocol The instrument is delivered internally wired for RS 232 communication Locate the three pin two position JP3 jumper pad on the PCB and move the jumper to the RS 485 position in order to select RS 485 communications instead The data protocol 9600 baud 8 bits no parity one stop bit is the same in either protocol Both ports produce output every six seconds if STREAM mode is selected every one second if J5 5 is set Jumper set 3 selects the RadAI 1 active input port Jumper set 1 JP1 located bottom right This set of jumpers selects operation on 230 Vac or 115 Vac Locate jumper on t
12. ectromagnetic interference and immunity quality assurance and system reliability Page 1 http radal com REV 2 06 Mode of operation The RadAI 1 has two keys pushbuttons on the bottom and three LEDs Light Emitting Diodes on the top The two keys have the following functions 1 ON OFF KEY red In normal operation turns on and off the instrument If an alarm has been declared or if in calibration mode pressing this key once will reset the alarm and return the RadAI 1 to normal operation 2 CALIBRATE KEY black Enters self calibration mode in which the instrument measures the ambient background and stores this data in permanent memory If an alarm has been declared pressing this key once will reset the alarm and return the RadAI 1 to normal operation Pressing this key again during calibration mode also will return the instrument to normal operation interrupting the self calibration process Press the CALIBRATE button once at installation and then at periodic intervals recommended once a month in order to adjust to long term changes in ambient background Note that the calibration process takes ten minutes time You can interrupt the calibration process any time by pressing either key Note that both keys can be disabled by a command through the communication ports in order to prevent unauthorised interference with the instrument The three LED s have the following functions 1 GREEN LED ON Always ON in normal oper
13. ed to the instrument In such circumstances the alarm condition may cleat with a radioactive source still present In these circumstances observe the yellow COUNT LED to identify the presence of radioactive material O Use of a hand held radiation detector is recommended for easy detection of a radiation source Consider purchasing one from your distributor Testing It is not necessary to use radioactive sources to calibrate or test the RadAI 1 Natural background is used for calibration and built in diagnostics will inform you in the event of a failure If you observe the yellow COUNT LED you will notice that it pulses at random intervals typically two to twenty seconds apart in the RadAI 1 1 and one half to five seconds apart in the RadAI 1 4 Each pulse indicates that 20 counts were produced by the GM tubes this gives you an indication of correct operation and of the level of the natural background You may still want to purchase weak radiation sources for verifying the correct operation of the instrument It is legal to own and use sources of very low intensity You can purchase such sources from many suppliers call your distributor if you need help in purchasing radioactive test sources Under normal background conditions the RadAI 1 1 will signal alarm in the presence of a 1 wCi Cs 37 source at 25 cm distance and the RadAI 1 4 at 50 cm distance NOTE You can set and reset an alarm condition using communication
14. es eet eel Fae cece eee eee small eea een rece ae ee ee Aone mere mney e Purchased from Date of purchase Photocopy for your files and return this form by mail or fax to LQC s l Vilabertran 15 17130 L Escala Girona SPAIN TEL 34 902 884 887 607 071196 FAX 34 972 7773239 e mail info radal com Page 9 http radal com REV 2 06 Appendix 1 Digital Communications Cabling RS232 Connection DB 25 Male V J17 GND BK Pin 3 TxD Mechanics A RX Pin 2 RxD J15 TxD P Orv Pin 7 GND Pins 8 20 6 5 joined RS232 Connection DB 9 Female Pin 2 TxD Pin 3 RxD Pin 5 GND Pins 1 4 6 8 joined RS485 Connection For additional instruments on the bus wire in parallel J12 J13 and J14 ONLY Beware of ground loops consider disconnecting all but one instrument s J2 EARTH power supply wire on long drops J14 GND B Settings on RA 485U adapter for operation with our software SW1 RS485 W2 ECHO ON SW3 4 WIRE SW4 4 WIRE Join A to A and B to B RadAl201 1 12 2012 11 04 00 AM LQC 1998 2006 Page 10 http radal com Appendix 2 Jumper Settings Group Label Default Function JP5 LATCH ON ON Alarm stays on until cleared by key CAL or by comms OFF Alarm clears itself when count rate drops STREAM OFF ON Data string sent periodically 6 or 1 seconds _ Ignores RS 232 and RS 485 commands OFF Respond
15. g 10 of the background to the alarm threshold It may be necessary to use this jumper with RadAI 1 4 instruments when operating in high and variable background situations Jumper 5 5 JP5 ON SHORT measuring cycle OFF NORMAL measuring cycle default RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Installing this jumper will reduce the basic measurement cycle from six to one second Note that sensibility 5 jump y J is proportionally reduced by a factor of about 2 5 times Use this option when detecting fast moving object or when operating in situations where prompt response is required O Jumper 5 6 TEST ON FAST operation OFF NORMAL operation default Inserting this jumper deactivates the intelligent algorithm that allows detecting low level sources by counting during up to 10 minutes time Consequently the response time is fixed at a maximum six seconds one second if JP5 is set Also the recovery time from an alarm when LATCH is set is also reduced to a guaranteed maximum of six seconds one second if JP5 is set Use this jumper to ensure fast recovery from alarm conditions The instrument is delivered with jumper 5 1 set Spare jumpers are provided to be used as needed Jumper Set 4 JP4 located top centre Default all ON The LEDs the relay and the buzzer can be individually disabled using the set of jumpers labelled JP4 O Jumper 4 1 ON ON green LED active OFF green LED non active Remove this jumper if you
16. he bottom right side right side of the fuse and use the figure below as a guide for setting the jumpers Note that you can always operate on 12 Vdc external power irrespective of whether the RadAI 1 is configured for 230 or 115 Vac operation Page 3 http radal com REV 2 06 Installation CAUTION Always physically disconnect power supply before opening the instrument WARNING The instrument contains lethal voltages even when in OFF mode if it is still connected to a power supply Follow this checklist for installation O Decide jumper settings Your RadAI 1 is delivered ready for optimal operation as a stand alone instrument on 230 nominal Vac power in typical applications Read now the CONFIGURATION section and decide now what changes you want to make to the default RadAI 1 configuration Decide position The RadAI 1 operates in all positions For personnel control it is recommended to mount vertically LEDs above cables below with the bottom at 1 meter 3 ft distance from the floor Best positions are those where people or goods have to stop in close proximity of the instrument doors punch clocks tollbooths Remember that radiation intensity decreases with the square of the distance from the source For maximum sensitivity you may want to provide shielding to absorb background radiation from all sides except the front of the instrument One or one half inch a centimetre or two of iron steel o
17. it to verify an alarm and to locate apply position and strength of hidden sources So ftw ate digital display high sensitivity Adapter for PC USB to RS 485 RA 485U Simple dongle to be added to the Demo test software can be provided at no charge with no support and no warranty computer USB port creates RS 485 port RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Page 8 http radal com REV 2 06 Limited Warranty ELEMENTS OF WARRANTY This warranty covers all materials and craftsmanship in this product to be free from defects for a period of one year with only the limitations or exclusions set forth below DURATION OF WARRANTY This warranty shall terminate and be of no further effect one year after the original date of purchase of the product or at the time the product is a damaged or not maintained as is reasonable or necessary b modified c repaired by someone other than the warrantor for the defect or malfunction covered by this Warranty d used in a manner or purpose for which the instrument was not intended or contrary to the written instructions or e is contaminated with radioactive material This warranty does not apply to any product subject to corrosive elements misuse abuse or neglect STATEMENT OF REMEDY In the event this product does not conform to this warranty at any time while the warranty is effective the Warrantor will repair the defective and return the instrument to you prepaid without charges
18. lel using the built in RS 485 serial communication port In order to implement an RS 485 network follow this checklist see appendix for figure Set for RS 485 answer on command mode move jumper 3 and make sure STREAM jumper 5 2 is removed Assign a unique address to each instrument use command 0ONXX on one instrument at a time Wire cable do not exceed 1200 m 4000 ft total cable length preferably use 110 Ohm shielded twisted two conductor cable see figure Install an RS 485 card or an RS 232 to RS 485 adapter on the controlling PC for example our model TMI8001 consult your PC vendor or your RadAI 1 distributor if you need help Add a 110 Ohms terminator resistor on both extremes of the network this is sometimes already installed on the RS 232 to RS 485 adapter do not remove Bias the RS 485 network adding 560 Ohms resistors as indicated in figure below Write a data acquisition program or call your distributor to purchase standard or custom programs Note that if necessary you can draw up to 100 mA 5 Vdc regulated power from connector J11 to provide power for example to the RS 232 to RS 485 converter You can test communications using the program radal ht for Windows 95 available on the internet at the URL http radal com support radal ht O 000 0 0 0800 RS 485 RS 232 adapter Wiring multiple RadAl 1 s to a PC using RS 485 ports in parallel Communications You should not at
19. n any instrument will close the circuit Again small currents can be drawn from one instrument only for example to power an LED HOT NEUTRAL HOT EARTH RETURN of 9 25 A 1322 Abckaickdediee ARERRRRE RIE hlnan flolalala ola gelaai lalalalalala 3 2 m colle blelelololale 7 i Lo ALARM CT CT L a2v 2l m F 1 Wiring multiple RadAl 1 s with relays in parallel on alarm the circuit closes In the figure above the 12 Vdc supply from one instrument is used to power an LED or a sounder alarm Note the following Grounds are connected through J14 J17 links Power earth from all but one instrument is disconnected to prevent ground loops Power in this example 12 V from connector J4 from only one instrument is brought to the NO Relay connector J19 of all instruments e The relay commons J18 are wired together and brought to the alarm Note that you can draw up to 10 A and up to 380 Vdc to a total not to exceed 2500 W power through the instrument relay This should be sufficient power to operate lights motors sirens etc RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Page 5 http radal com You can also connect up to 128 RadAI 1 s in paral
20. o set a higher alarm threshold you may place a known radioactive source at a chosen distance then press the CALIBRATION key Subsequently and after the source is removed the RadAI 1 alarm will trigger only for radiation levels significantly higher than produced by the calibration source used This feature only works when NOT in background TRACK mode default see CONFIGURATION section Consult your distributor for purchasing calibration sources You can also set the alarm level using computer communications refer to COMMUNICATION COMMANDS for programming information and to SPECIFICATIONS for the count rate to dose rate proportionality factor You can also use install Jumper 5 4 to reduce sensitivity see CONFIGURATION section RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 What to do in case of alarm False alarms happen due to the statistical nature of radioactive decay and of cosmic ray events The RadAI 1 has been designed with the optimal compromise between sensitivity and accuracy but for your peace of mind you should first always presume that any alarm could be a false alarm True false alarms can be caused for example by the passage of persons undergoing therapy with radioactive substances by sudden weather changes rain for example brings rapidly to the ground nuclides collected in the upper atmosphere by the discontinuous operation of heating and air conditioning systems they can redistribute Radon collected on air filters
21. ode jumper 3 on RS 232 position default Selects RS 232 communication mode Protocol is 9600 baud rate 8 data bits No patity 1 stop bit No handshake is used REV 2 06 RS 485 mode jumper 3 on RS 485 position Selects RS 485 communication mode protocol is 9600 baud rate 8 data bits No parity 1 stop bit The RS 485 bus is configured as simplex two wire bus topology The instrument is always in high impedance state except when transmitting data in which case it takes control of the bus Data STREAM Mode jumper 5 2 ON In data stream mode the instrument outputs every 6 seconds or every one second if JP5 is set a string with information on status and count rate This information is sent over both the RS 232 and the RS 485 lines This message sent has the following format hhZYYYYY CR Where hh is the instrument given address see below Z is a status character and YYYYY is the number of counts accumulated during the past 6 seconds or every second if JP5 is set padded with spaces on the left Character Z can assume the following values Z 0 OFF Z 1 OFF and ALARM Z 2 ON no alarm Z 3 ON and ALARM Z 4 CALIBRATING Z 5 FAIL When in Data Stream Mode the instrument ignores external commands received through either port Data Stream Mode is simple to use and is recommended when connecting to a data logger or to a PC by means of an RS 232 line It is relatively easy to write PC programs that monito
22. r incoming data check for an alarm condition if required and store count rates as necessary make sure you do not overflow the PC hard drive Answer on Command Mode jumper 5 2 OFF When in Answer on Command mode the RadAI 1 does not send autonomously any data but waits for orders arriving along the RS 232 or RS 485 bus depending on setting on jumper 3 Incoming strings are processed on reception of a CR carriage return character If other instruments are present on the bus consider prefixing any command with a CR to flush the input buffer When in Answer on Command mode a 10 milliseconds minimum delay is inserted between the reception of a valid command and the production of the reply string in order to allow time for some slow RS 485 interfaces to switch from talk mode bus control to listen mode high impedance This configuration is recommended when installing configurations of multiple instruments in order to avoid collisions in data transmission and bus crowding In such an implementation a PC typically would periodically poll sequentially all the devices installed on a single two wire RS 485 bus This stream mode off mode is also recommended when the external computer is required to perform other concurrent tasks or when access to remote control features such as the relay actuate or the keyblock command is required Instrument address In order to allow multiple RadAI s to operate simultaneously on a
23. r preferably lead is usually adequate Proper shielding can improve the alarm threshold by a factor of four When choosing a position allow for a couple inches clearance on the bottom side for cables and consider the possible need to remove the top cover and slide the front cover out in order to access the inside of the instrument for configuration changes Prepare cables oO This is delivered with the instrument you may want to cut it or use a longer one Power cord You may also want to install oO oO Recommended cables relay Multicomp 16 2 2C 2 conductor RS 232 485 Belden 8132 2 twisted pairs Cable to relay Cable to RS 232 or to RS 485 port on remote computer O Set jumpers In order to change jumper configuration and to install cables you will need to open the instrument To access the inside disassemble the top LED cover use a small Philips screwdriver then slide the front cover out To facilitate this operation loosen bottom screws without removing the bottom cover Refer to CONFIGURATION section for jumper configuration and remove or add jumpers as needed O Wire cables Pass the power and if required the relay and communication cables through the bottom panel pass through plastic glands install spare glands in place of taps if needed then connect the single wires to the connector strip use the following figure as reference RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Connector
24. rew inside the instrument Close the instrument Slide the front cover in and then close the bottom and top covers using Philips screwdriver and screws Use caution to assure that the LEDS pass through their holes before tightening the screws Turn power on Connect to power supply by inserting plug in wall socket The instrument will always turn on automatically on applying power this is a safety feature to guarantee operation in case of temporary network power failure On power on all LED s and the buzzer will pulse for a second unless disabled during self test diagnostics It is recommended after installation to press the CALIBRATION key once in order to acquire and store local background data http radal com REV 2 06 Hints on witing multiple instruments You can easily connect multiple RadAI 1 s by wiring in series each N C Normally Closed relay terminal to the next instrument s Common see figure below An alarm on any instrument will open the circuit If necessary you can draw up to 100 mA of 12 Vdc power from only one RadAI 1 for example to power an OK LED indicator or an alarm relay This topology requires only one wite between each instrument N C Common N C Common Wiring multiple RadAl 1 s with relays in series on alarm the circuit opens Alternatively you can connect multiple RadAI 1 s by wiring in parallel each N O Normally Open relay terminal see figure below An alarm o
25. s ftom an external computer You may want to use this feature if the instrument is integrated in an alarm system that requires periodic testing NOTE as a safety precaution the maximum natural background level accepted in calibration or in TRACK mode with the SHORT option Jumper 5 5 not set by the RadAI 1 1 is about 1 mR h 10 pGy h by the RadAI 1 4 it is about 0 25 mR h 2 5 pGy h Higher background levels will always trigger an alarm or an error condition if attempting calibration With the SHORT option set values are 6 and 1 5 mR h respectively Page 2 http radal com REV 2 06 Configuration CAUTION Always physically disconnect power supply before opening the instrument WARNING The instrument contains lethal voltages even when in OFF mode if still connected to a power supply The RadAI 1 allows to pre set a number of options by means of four sets of internal jumpers see figures Jumper Set 5 JP5 located top leftmost oO oO Jumper 5 1 LATCH ON latching alarm default OFF non latching alarm In latching alarm mode once an alarm is declared the red LED flashes the beeper beeps and the relay stays on if enabled until a key is pressed even if the alarm condition goes away In non latching mode the alarm indicators will be automatically reset when the conditions that caused the alarm clear Jumper 5 2 STREAM ON data stream mode OFF answet on command mode default
26. s to commands does not initiate communications TRACK OFF ON Alarm Threshold tracks moving background OFF Alarm threshold is set by pressing CAL key JP4 OFF ON Lower alarm sensitivity OFF Standard alarm sensitivity JP5 OFF ON Short 1 second cycle lower sensitivity OFF Standard 6 seconds measurement cycle TEST OFF ON Fast recovery from alarm lower sensitivity OFF Standard recovery up to 100 sec or 10 min see JP5 JP4 ON ON ON LED active COUNT ON COUNT LED active ALARM ON ALARM LED active BUZZER ON Buzzer active RELAY ON Relay active JP3 RS232 RS232 Selects RS 232 or RS 485 input port RS485 JP1 230 2 Selects 230 115 Vac supply see figure on page 3 RadAl201 1 12 2012 11 04 00 AM LQC 1998 2006 Page 11 http radal com
27. single bus the following mechanism is implemented allowing each single instrument to be assigned a unique address Each instrument answers to orders sent with address 00 An address change command command N see below allows assigning to the RadAI 1 any address in the range 01 to FF hexadecimal When daisy chaining multiple instruments it is necessary to assign a unique address to each one by sending the appropriate command in the format OONXX where XX is the new hexadecimal address Of course this must be done with only one instrument connected to the PC or powered at a time This address is stored in permanent EPROM memory RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Commands This is the list of commands accepted by the RadAI 1 when in Answer on Command mode Note that input data commands MUST BE in uppercase and terminated with a CR ASCII 13 character represented here by the symbol Editing characters such as backspace are not recognised Command Reply Note 00Nang nng sets the RS 485 address number Hexadecimal hhIN amp nn_RADALY Returns instrument name hhVE 4 nn 2 03 Returns firmware version bhT01 nng Simulates pressing Key ON OFF hhT02 4 nng Simulates pressing Key CAL hhSTA 4 n Zg Returns Status character see below hhON nng Forces to Status ON hhOFF amp nng Forces to Status OFF hhCAL lt nng Forces to Status CALIBRATE hhSA0 lt nng Forces Alarm OFF hhSA1 lt nng Forces Alarm
28. sitive as to declare an alarm at radiation levels 1000 times lower than the maximum occupational exposure levels set by law Sensitivity is partly determined by ambient background and the presence of natural weakly radioactive materials such as granite may decrease sensitivity somewhat The RadAI 1 adjusts automatically and if required continuously its alarm threshold as close as possible to the natural background In order to take full advantage of the sensitivity provided by this feature it is advantageous to shield the instrument from excess natural background and cosmic rays which constitute noise that can degrade somewhat its performance The RadAI 1 has been designed using state of the art technology around an advanced microprocessor with permanent EPROM memory this microprocessor handles the sophisticated alarm decision algorithm as well as all other functions keys LEDs and versatile communication protocols The RadAI 1 incorporates two control keys three visible indicators including alarm a buzzer a relay an RS 232 port and a quarter load RS 485 port which allows to daisy chain up to 128 instrument communicating to a single computer It was designed to be simple to operate and reliable while at the same time providing a maximum of versatility for all foreseeable applications No radioactive and no toxic materials are used in this instrument and the most stringent international standards are respected in regards to el
29. sitivity TM_1 Program and Display Unit RadAIT PAD Wal mountable removable hand held RadAl gt pay instrument powered by the RadAI 1 to Remote Control Box RCB R1 Provides pushbuttons buzzer and Leds on remote box RadAl 1 1 which it is connected which allows to L program it and to display the actual Rad AI 1 4 4 radiation level in the environment Transparent radio modem operating in GM tubes cannot be added on the field ask your dealer for a factory upgrade 802 15 4 2 4 GHz Radio Modem the 24 GHz ISP license free band RS 485 gt RA RC1 802 15 4 standard Allows to connect up to 60 local networks to a central computer over distances of over a mile For outdoors or heavy industrial use you should consider the following watertight options RadAl 1 WP 1 IP67 NEMA 4X water tight one GM tube Internal battery sealed lead maintenance e free and its charge management RadAI 1 WP 4 IP67 NEMA 4X water tight four GM tubes electronics installed on RadAI 1 WP x models Uninterruptible Power Supply RA UP1 The RadAI 1 WP X models have the same specifications as given on previous page Assures 24 hours operation in the event except for of failure of primary power supply including consumption of eventual RA e Size 17 53 x 15 46 x 6 23 445 x 393 x 158 mm RC1Radio Modem e Housing compression molded fibreglass reinforced polyes
30. tempt to implement digital communications unless you are thoroughly familiar with the RS 232 C or RS 485 standards and with your computer and or modem operations and programming The RadAI 1 can be connected as a DTE Data Terminal Equipment to one or more DCE s Data Communication Equipment typically computers or modems using either the RS 232 or the RS 485 port The RS 232 C standard interface is usually employed to establish point to point communications Most computers have an RS 232 port for this purpose Note that the maximum distance for an RS 232 link is 10 meters 30 feet Installing longer links can result in erratic behaviour noise or system failure and is strongly discouraged The RS 485 standard interface allows establishing communications between multiple devices with an electrical limit of 32 standard loads Since each RadAI 1 RS 485 port is equivalent to only 1 4 standard load up to 128 RadAI 1 s can communicate on a single RS 485 line Note that the maximum length of an RS 485 line is 1200 meters 4000 ft Exceeding this length is strongly discouraged In order to implement an RS 485 link to a typical IBM compatible PC you will need either to install in the PC an RS 485 card both bus and PCMCIA types are available or to connect an RS 232 to RS 485 bi directional adapter box or dongle to the PC s RS 232 port As delivered the RadAI 1 has jumper 3 on RS 232 position and jumper 5 2 STREAM OFF RS 232 C m
31. ter light grey colour Panel of 20 W nominal power includes e Protection level NEMA 3 4X 12 6P IP67 Solar Panel 20 W RA SP1 to Soa e p or zi n electronics tor charging battery include e Weight 15 pounds 7 kg providing 24 hours aittotiomy For environmental monitoring weather stations etc all models can be fitted with energy Software for visual monitoring of StarRad For PC requires a free RS 232 port compensated Geiger Miller tubes append C to product code trends data logging internet Windows and an RS 232 to RS 485 F i ill of adapter such as our Model TMI 8001 Option C Energy compensated GM tube s pe ore eres ema One PC can handle up to 6 units o alarms The energy response of C option models is flat 20 in the energy range 40 to 2000 keV Statements of compliance Accessories Reference Formal statements of compliance with norms CE FCC etc when applicable can be Hand Held GM detector Monitor 4 Use it to verify an alarm and to locate provided on request at no cost osition and strength of hidden sources analog display P Calibration Hand Held GM detector Digilert100 Use it to vng te to locate Individual calibration and certification of RadAI 1 units background and sensitivity digital display ioe casa Mic cg E can be provided at the factory or by independent certification agencies Extra charges Hand Held GM detector Inspector Use
32. tion over any RS 232 port display and storage is available at the URL http radal com support radal exe http radal com REV 2 06 Troubleshooting Most problems are caused by 1 loose or incorrectly wired cables 2 fallen or incorrectly placed jumpers and if computers are involved 3 by problems in the hatdware software configuration Call us by e mail fax or telephone if you feel you need help But first if you can consider these hints Typical problems checklist LEDs keep flashing on turning power on o Checksum or self test failed instrument is blocked contact distributor for repair Nothing turns on o Power is not coming check with tester presence of power oO Fuse is blown check with tester resistance of fuse substitute if necessary 100 mA fast fuse o Jumpers have fallen off in Jumper 1 230 115 Vac selection One or more LED s never turn on o Jumper 4 x was removed or has fallen off Communications fail oO If in RS 232 mode check cabling set in stream mode place JP5 observe RS 232 12 V pulses with scope then fix problem on the PC side until reception Oo If in RS 485 mode check cabling polarity set in stream mode place JP5 and observe 0 5 V pulses with scope then fix problem on the PC side until reception Computer receives but cannot send Oo Verify jumper 3 is set in correct position Oo Some laptops computers have been found to have non standard RS 232 ports unable to deliver the specification outp
33. ut voltages on their RS 232 output pins Use standard computer or add compliant port RadAl 1 sends string every 6 or 1 seconds but does not respond oO Remove jumper 5 2 STREAM Too many alarms Oo See discussion undet OPERATION Recovery from alarms is too slow o If exposed to a high radiation pulse and jumper LATCH is not installed the RadAI 1 can take up to 10 minutes to recover and reset the alarm condition You can obtain a guaranteed maximum six seconds recovery time by installing jumper 5 6 TEST FAST RECOVERY and of one second if also installing jumper J5 5 SHORT CYCLE If all else fails contact your distributor who will help diagnose the problem and if necessary organise the return of the instrument for prompt repair or substitution Do not return any material without a RAN Return Authorisation Number A RAN will be given to you by LQC or your authorised distributor RadAl201 12 Jan 12 LQC 1998 2012 Specifications Model RadAl 1 1 Detectors Alarm Level Sensitivity Instrument Background Response Time Alarm Modes Calibration Radiation Detected Inputs Outputs Communications Power Supply Power Consumption Temperature Range Humidity Range Housing Dimensions HWD Weight Protection Applicable Standards Warranty G M tube s L 230 mm D 20 mm 9 x 0 8 Automatic as low as 20 nGy h 2 uR h Typical sensitivity per each GM tube is 12 cps yG h Maximum 1 2 cps Typical 0
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