R Measures Radioactivity Easily and Reliably. Information on GAMMA-SCOUT®, instructions for TOOLBOX software (processes GAMMA-SCOUT® data) and technical support available at gamma-scout.com Radiation Detector with USB port A product of GAMMA-SCOUT GmbH & Co.
Control Panel R GAMMA-SCOUT© is a user-friendly device. The following design is an introduction to GAMMA-SCOUT’s different features.
R Contents Summary 2 Introduction to GAMMA-SCOUT®: Radiation Detector, Features, Offered Models Summary 3-4 Operating Conditions, Technical Notes, Working with Radioactivity, Legal Limits, Information on CD and Manual - www.gamma-scout.
Summary R Functions and Features (all models) Easy Reading: In measuring mode ( button), the display shows the current radiation measurement reading every 2 sec. The display also temporarily shows the average H of the last day (24h, 12 am to 12 am). Large Scale: GAMMA-SCOUT® is calibrated to measure across a wide scale (0.01 up to 5,000.00 µSv/h). Tested Calibration: Each GAMMA-SCOUT® radiation meter is subjected to a final test.
R Summary Operating Conditions, Technical Notes, Working with Radioactivity, Legal Limits This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules (US authorities) and carries the CE seal (TÜV tested). Operation is subject to the following conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference. • This device must withstand any incoming interference, including signals that may cause unintended malfunction. • In order to measure all gamma radiation, the sensor is not shielded.
R Summary Information on CD and Manual This manual is regularly updated, but there may be a time lag between website and print form. The latest version can also be downloaded as a pdf file from our website (Download User Manual): www.gamma-scout.com Enclosed is a CD-ROM which also contains data-conversion software: GAMMA-SCOUT© TOOLBOX Version 4 For © Windows operated Personal Computers (VISTA, WIN 7 and 8/8.
Alpha, Beta, Gamma Radiation R Your GAMMA-SCOUT® is equipped with a Geiger-Müller counter tube enabling you to detect not only gamma radiation, but alpha and beta radiation as well. Choose to Exclude Alpha and Beta Radiation You can use the radiation selection switch to limit the types of radiation you want to measure: • Set the selection to center position (y symbol) if you want to detect gamma radiation only.
R Radiation Measurement Display Current Radiation • Pressing the button puts GAMMA-SCOUT® into standard mode, and its display shows you the present radiation in microsievert per hour - not only as a value, but also in the form of a bar chart. Note that for a small radiation value, this bar chart appears only as a single line. In order to visualize the volume of detected radiation, there are symbols beneath the bar chart such as >1a (more than 1 year), <1m (less than 1 month), etc.
Limits, Rechargeable Battery Operation R Normal Values of Exposure to Radiation, Limit Values For individuals with professional exposure to radioactive sources in the EU, there are two legal upper limits: Dose rate limit is 6 mSv p.a. = 3 µSv/h (assuming 2,000 working hours per year), Category B Dose rate limit is 20 mSv p.a.
Pulse Counting R When and Why? GAMMA-SCOUT® can also be used as a normal Geiger counter. In this case, it simply counts the number of pulses received without converting them into sieverts. The type of isotope is not relevant for converting the pulses per time into dose rate. It is relevant for conversion into activity (Becquerel) (see p. 44-45). GAMMA-SCOUT® stores the received pulses in its internal memory.
Pulse Rate Measurement R In the “pulse rate” measuring mode, the pulses registered by the counting tube are continuously measured and converted into a pulse rate. The unit of this pulse rate is cps (counts per second). Note: What is being calculated is the rate of ionization per second recorded in the counter tube. This is not identical to the activity of the isotope, which is defined in Becquerel. Displaying the Pulse Rate Press the button to switch to the pulse rate measuring mode.
Time and Date R GAMMA-SCOUT® has an integrated quartz clock (pushbutton display). Time and date are required to ensure that the measured radiation is accurately logged. Using a function in the data read-out program of the TOOLBOX software, the GAMMA-SCOUT® date and time can be synchronized to a PC. Choose the menu “Set any time” to set your choice of date and time (e.g. different time zones) on the GAMMA-SCOUT®. Displaying Time and Date • Press the button to view the time.
Battery and Power Supply R GAMMA-SCOUT® is powered by a 2.7 - 3.7 V lithium thionyl chloride cell. The device will continue functioning until the cell voltage is down to 2.8. When the voltage drops below this value, the battery symbol will appear in the display. The data will be retained, even following a total loss of voltage. The RECHARGEABLE model has a rechargeable battery, which can be recharged via USB (or the power supply unit included with delivery).
R w/ALERT - Alarm Threshold Exceeding Dose Rate Alert Threshold (w/ALERT version) Gamma-Scout also provides information on the cumulative dose received by the device, measured on the time axis. As described below, users can stop summation, restart from an old level or delete and restart from zero. Because of this and other reasons, the accumulated dose cannot be used as a certified “personal dose meter.
Dose Measurement R Displaying and Resetting the Dose Meter (cumulative dose) When the dose meter is running, the symbol shows in the display. The dose is displayed in X.XX mSv format. Values of less than 0.01 mSv show as 0.00 mSv. To start, stop, restart, and reset the dose display and to mark the alarm threshold, follow the chart below (automatic return to standard mode at the end of each branch).
Setting the Log, Clearing the Memory R GAMMA-SCOUT® automatically logs the number of pulses measured, and stores this data in its internal memory. This data can be read and processed quickly and conveniently on a PC using the TOOLBOX software (for exact instructions, go to www.gamma-scout.com ). The factory settings for the logging process mean that GAMMA-SCOUT® will accumulate the pulses for each week and store them as weekly values.
Data Reading (TOOLBOX Software) R The GAMMA-SCOUT® TOOLBOX software enables you to read out the data gathered and stored 1 by GAMMA-SCOUT®. The data is provided in list format. Connect your GAMMA-SCOUT® to a computer USB port. The data is then automatically read out and displayed. To avoid overloading this manual, we are providing only a brief description of the procedure. You will find full details under the “TOOLBOX Handling” link on our website www.gamma-scout.com (under DOWNLOAD).
R Data Reading (TOOLBOX Software) Reading the Data Requirement: The device software (TOOLBOX) must be installed on your hard drive. 1. Connect your GAMMA-SCOUT® with your PC Connect GAMMA-SCOUT© with PC using the USB cable supplied. 2. Download the data Start the program from your PC using “GAMMA-SCOUT® TOOLBOX” (Start/All Programs/GAMMA-SCOUT®TOOLBOX). For new devices, manual program start is no longer necessary. The data transfer starts automatically (ca. 30 seconds delay).
GAMMA-SCOUT® (ONLINE / REAL TIME Model) R ONLINE / REAL TIME Model The ONLINE model is designed to transfer data at regular intervals between the GAMMA-SCOUT® and a connected PC (in real time). The power supply when connected directly to the PC (online) is via the PC’s USB interface. Requirements: REAL TIME data transfer is possible only with the GAMMA-SCOUT® ONLINE model.
Technical Data, Calibration R Display Liquid-crystal display (LCD), 4-digit, numeric with description, quasi-analogue logarithmic bar chart Radiation Detector End-window counting tube to the Geiger-Müller principle Stainless steel housing Measuring length 38.1 mm, measuring diameter 9.1 mm Mica window 1.5 to 2 mg/cm2 Zero rate <10 pulses per minute with screening by 3mm AI and 50 mm Pb operating temperature -20 to +60°C, operating voltage approx.
Technical Data, Calibration R Physical Parameter Si unit Old unit Relation Activity Becquerel (Bq) Curie (Ci) 1 Bq = 1/s 1 Ci = 3.7 * 10 10 Bq 1 Bq = 2.7 * 10 -11 Ci = 27 pCi Ion dose I Coulomb / kg Röntgen (R) 1 R = 2.58 * 10 -4 C/kg 1 C/kg = 3876 R Energy dose D Gray (Gy) Rad (rd) 1 rd = 0.01 Gy 1 Gy = 100 rd Equivalent dose H sievert (Sv) Rem (rem) 1 rem = 0.
Becquerel < > µSv/h R Conversion of Becquerel (activity) into µSv/h (dose rate) The relationship between Becquerel (activity, i.e. the measure of the decay in the atom) and microsievert per hour (dose rate, i.e. the measure of the radiation at the device): The values apply to a point source at a distance of 1m from the device Cs-137 at a distance of 1m with shield open 1 GBq 86 µSv/h 100 µSv/h 1.17 GBq 100 MBq 8.6 µSv/h 10 µSv/h 117 MBq 10 MBq 0.86 µSv/h 1 µSv/h 11.
Becquerel < > µSv/h R f-18 at a distance of 1m with the shield open 1 GBq 154 µSv/h 100 µSv/h 0.65 GBq 100 MBq 15.4 µSv/h 10 µSv/h 65 MBq 10 MBq 1.54 µSv/h 1 µSv/h 6.5 MBq 0.68 GBq f-18 at a distance of 1m with the shield closed 1 GBq 147 µSv/h 100 µSv/h 100 MBq 14.7 µSv/h 10 µSv/h 68 MBq 10 MBq 1.47 µSv/h 1 µSv/h 6.
Keywords R A Alert level B Bar chart Battery change Becquerel C Calibration Current radiation D Data download cable Data reading Data storage GAMMA-SCOUT® Data transfer Date Delete data Dose (cumulative) Dose equivalent Driver F FCC-15 standard G Geiger-Müller counting tube L Log setting Logging intervals 22 6, 12 6, 7, 16, 18 11 9, 19, 20, 21 19 6 15 15 2 15 10 16 2, 7, 13 4, 19 15 2, 3, 4, 18 5, 18 14 14 M Measuring time setting Memory capacity Memory clearing Microsievert O ONLINE Model 8 14 14 2,
R Notes 23
R Measures Radioactivity Easily and Reliably. Dr. Mirow GAMMA-SCOUT GmbH & Co. KG P.O. Box 1346 Abtsweg 15 D-69198 Schriesheim, Germany Fax ++49 (0) 62 20 / 66 40 drmirow@gamma-scout.com www.gamma-scout.
