R Measures Radioactivity Easily and Reliably. Information about GAMMA-SCOUT©, instruction 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 Content Summary Introduction to GAMMA-SCOUT®: Radiation Detector, Features, Offered Models 2 Side Data Operating Conditions, Technical Notes, Working with Radioactivity, Legal Limits, Information About 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. The display also temporarily shows the average H of the last day (24h, 12 am to 12 am). • Large Scale: GAMMA-SCOUT® is calibrated across a wide scale (0.01 up to1000.00 µSv/h). • Tested Calibration: Each GAMMA-SCOUT® radiation meter is subjected to a final test.
R Side Data Operating Conditions, Technical Notes, CD, and User’s Guide This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference. • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. • In order to measure all gamma radiation, the sensor is not shielded.
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 (currently Centronic ZP 1401, technical charts at www.centronic.uk). With the Radiation Selection Switch, You Can Limit the Radiation Types You Want to Measure: • Set the selection to center position (y symbol) if you want to detect gamma radiation only.
R Radiation Measurement Indicating 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.
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 the sievert unit. Since the conversion is dependent upon the isotope of the radiation source, and since we based our conversion on Cs-137, this option is important for users who work with other isotopes and want to convert using personal charts. GAMMA-SCOUT® stores the received pulses in its internal memory.
Pulse Rate Measuring 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). Information: The rate of ionization per second, which is logged in the counter tube, will be calculated. This is not identical with the activity of the isotope which is defined in Becquerel. The notation will be changed into cps (counts per second).
Time and Date R GAMMA-SCOUT® has an integrated quartz clock whose display can be activated by a pushbutton. Time and date are used to register the measured radiation. With a function in the data reading program of the TOOLBOX software, the GAMMA-SCOUT® date and time can be synchronized to the PC. Choose the menu “Set any time” to set your choice of date and time (i.e. different time zones) on the GAMMA-SCOUT®. Indicating Time and Date • Press the button to view the time.
Battery and Power Supply R GAMMA-SCOUT® is powered by a Lithium Thionyl Chloride cell of 2.7 - 3.7 voltage. 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 at total breakdown of voltage.
R w/ALERT - Alarm Threshold Exceeding Alert Level Threshold of the Dose Rate (w/ALERT version) Gamma-Scout also provides information about which dose, accumulated over the time axis, has arrived at the device. 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 dose accumulation can not be used as an officially certified “personal dosemeter.
Counting of the (cumulative) Dose Display and Reset of the Dose (cumulative dose) When the (cumulative) dose meter is running, the symbol is displayed in the window. The dose is displayed X.XX mSv. Values of less than 0.01 mSv display 0.00 mSv. To start, stop, restart, and delete the dose display, follow the chart below. See chart for setting the threshold for the dose. At the end of the branches, automatic return to standard operating mode.
Log Setting, Clearing the Memory Content R GAMMA-SCOUT® automatically logs the number of pulses measured, and stores this data in its internal memory. With the TOOLBOX software, this data can be read and processed fast and comfortably by a personal computer (for exact instructions, go to www.gamma-scout.com/toolbox.pdf. The logging process is factory-set in a way that GAMMA-SCOUT® will accumulate the pulses each week, storing them as weekly values.
Data Reading (TOOLBOX Software) Using the GAMMA-SCOUT® TOOLBOX software, you can read-out and transfer the data, which GAMMA-SCOUT® has logged in itʻs memory, to a personal computer and convert them into a list for further processing. Connect your GAMMA-SCOUT® with the USB port of your personal computer. Data will automatically be read-out and displayed. We do not want to overload this manual, so this is only a brief description of the procedure.
R Data Reading (TOOLBOX Software) Reading the Data First, the software must be installed from your CD to your hard disk (see “installation”). 1. Connect your GAMMA-SCOUT® with your PC - Connect GAMMA-SCOUT© with PC using the USB cable that is part of delivery 2. Download the data - Start the reading program via “toolbox.exe.” Follow the menu: The data transfer starts automatically. For Details and Troubleshooting, see www.gamma-scout.com/toolbox.
Technical Data, Calibration R Display Liquid-crystal display (LCD), 4-digit, numeric with dimension, quasi-analogue logarithmic bar chart Radiation Detector End-window counting tube according 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 and 50mm Pb Operating temperature -20 bis +60°C, operating voltage approx.
Technical Data, Calibration R Physical Term New 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 = 0,01 Sv 1 Sv = 100 rem Effective Dose HE Calculated value / radiation protection Sievert (Sv) 1 Sv = 1 J / k
GAMMA-SCOUT® (ONLINE Model / REAL TIME) R ONLINE Model / REAL TIME The ONLINE Model has been designed to transmit data cyclically (synchronized with the measuring). The interface of the GAMMA-SCOUT© receives its power supply from the USB interface of the PC. The GAMMA-SCOUT© interface is needed for a constant connection with a PC (online). The cycles in which the data will be transmitted to the computer screen can be chosen by the user (within limits). Shortest cycle is a transmission every two seconds.
Keywords R A Alert level B Bar chart Battery change Becquerel C Calibration Current radiation 5, 11 5, 6, 15, 16 10 8, 17 17 5 D Data download cable Data reading Data storage GAMMA-SCOUT® Data transfer Date Delete data Dose (cumulative) Dose equivalent 14 14 2 14 9 15 2, 6, 12 5, 17 F FCC-15 standard 2, 3, 16 G Geiger-Müller counting tube L Log setting Logging intervals 4, 16 13 13 M Measuring time setting Memory capacity Memory clearing Microsievert O ONLINE Model 7 13 13 2, 5 2, 18 P Power con
R Measures Radioactivity Easily and Reliably. Dr. Mirow GAMMA-SCOUT GmbH & Co. KG Postfach / P.O. Box 1346 Abtsweg 15 D-69198 Schriesheim Fax ++49 (0) 62 20 / 66 40 drmirow@gamma-scout.com www.gamma-scout.
