Personal Radiation Detectors

personal radiation detectors

РМ 1703М-О / РМ 1703GNО
РМ 1703МА / РМ 1703GNА
РМ 1703МВ / РМ 1703GNВ
РМ 1703М-О1 v.10 / РМ 1703М-О1 v.12

Operation manual

CONTENTS

1 General information 3

2 Delivery options 5

3 Specifications 6

4 Clip installation/removal 9

5 Battery installation 9

6 Display and control buttons 10

7 Detector operation 12

7.1 Turning the detector on/off 12

7.2 Operation modes 12

7.2.1 Test mode 13

7.2.2 Calibration mode by background level 13

7.2.3 Search mode. Detection and localization of gamma and/or neutron radiations sources . 14

7.2.4 DER measurement mode 16

7.2.5 DER measurement mode with Search function 16

7.2.6 “0-9” Search mode. 16

7.2.7 Gamma registration mode. 17

7.2.8 Mode displaying the average count rate of gamma registration for the accumulation time 17

7.2.9 Neutrons registration mode. 18

7.2.10 Mode displaying the average count rate of neutron registration for the accumulation time 18

7.2.11 Set mode 18

7.2.12 Setting the alarms 20

7.2.12.1 Setting sound and/or vibration alarms 20

7.2.12.1 Quick selection of alarm type 21

7.2.12.3 Setting the sound alarm volume 21

7.2.13 Pocket PC communication mode through Radio channel 22

7.2.14 PC communication mode. Detector parameters 23

7.2.14.1 PC communication mode through IR communication channel 23

7. 2.14.2 Detector parameters 24

8 Maintenance 25

9 Troubleshooting 25

10 Storage and shipping 26

11 Limited warranty 27

Attachment A Detector operation modes and functions chart 29

Thank you for purchasing a Polimaster Personal Radiation Detector.

Before operating this unit, please review this guide thoroughly and retain it for future reference.

After the localizing of a radiation source observe the rules and regulations of working with radiation sources, and take all the necessary radiation precaution measures.

1 GENERAL INFORMATION[1])

The Personal Radiation Detector

· РМ1703М-О
· РМ1703МА
· РМ1703МВ
· РМ1703GNО
· РМ1703GNА
· РМ1703GNВ
· РМ1703М-О1 v.10
· РМ1703М-О1 v.12

Further referred to as “detector” is designed for the search (detection and localization) of radioactive and nuclear materials[2]) using the method of impulse count analysis when registering gamma (and neutron)2) radiation with the visualization on the built-in LCD of the following information:

- the average gamma radiation count rate;

- the average neutron radiation count rate (in the instrument with neutron radiation detector2);

- gamma radiation ambient dose equivalent rate *(10) for 137Cs in the collimated radiation or gamma radiation ambient dose equivalent rate *(10) for PM1703М-О1 v.10, PM1703М-О1 v.12 (further referred to as “DER”).

The detectors can be used both indoors and outdoors by a wide range of users who in their everyday work deal with the search and localization of radiation sources.

All operations history is stored in the detector’s permanent memory, protecting the data even when the battery is removed. The stored data can also be transferred from the detector to a personal computer (PC) via its infrared interface.

Attention! When PM1703МВ, PM1703GNB operate with the power battery close to critical discharge with turned on Bluetooth, automatic instrument restart may occur.

The reason is that the Bluetooth connection increases significantly the instrument energy consumption. In this case, it is recommended to change the battery.

It is highly recommended to change the battery in advance, if the instrument is planned to be operated with the turned on Bluetooth and/or turned on audio and vibration alarms.

1.2 Consult the Table 1 to find out which features are enabled in your particular Gamma or Gamma-Neutron Personal Radiation Detector.

Table 1

Detector type / РМ1703М-О / РМ1703М-О1 v.10 / РМ1703М-О1 v.12 / РМ1703МА / РМ1703МВ / РМ1703GNО / РМ1703GNА / РМ1703GNВ
· g- CsI (Tl) scintillator 3 сm3 / / / /
· g- G-M counter / /
· n- LiI (Eu) scintillator1 сm3 /
CsI (Tl) scintillator 4 сm3
Increased g-detector sensitivity / / / /
LiI (Eu) scintillator 2 сm3
Increased n-detector sensitivity / /
Bluetooth radio channel interface adapter enabling the instrument to connect to a PC both via Infrared and Bluetooth interfaces
Possibility of identification PC / /

ATTENTION!

The detectors of PM1703 series have a number of operation modes described further. However, trying to meet the demands of every customer, Polimaster customizes every single piece of sold equipment according to the specific order.

Certain modes may be independently switched on/off by the customer using the Polimaster PRD software supplied with the instrument.

Operation modes included by the manufacturer in your particular detector comply with the Order chart (see Appendix А).

2 DELIVERY OPTIONS

Delivery kit of the detector corresponds to the Table 2.

Table 2

Description, type

Quantity per model

PM

1703M-O

PM

1703М-О1 v.10

PM

1703М-О1 v.12

PM

1703МА

PM

1703МВ

1703GNO

1703GNA

1703GNВ

Personal radiation detector PM1703М-О / 1 / - / - / - / - / - / - / -
Personal radiation detector PM1703М-О1 v.10 / - / 1 / - / - / - / - / - / -
Personal radiation detector PM1703М-О1 v.12 / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / - / -
Personal radiation detector РМ1703МА / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / - / -
Personal radiation detector РМ1703МВ / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / -
Personal radiation detector РМ1703GNO / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / -
Personal radiation detector РМ1703GNA / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1 / -
Personal radiation detector РМ1703GNВ / - / - / - / - / - / - / - / 1
Polimaster PRD Software on CD / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Software for radionuclide identification on Flash Card / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / 1
Panasonic POWER LINE AA (LR6) power supply cell / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Holster1) / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
IR communication adapter (ACT-IR220L or IR210B)1) 2) / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
Pocket PC iPAQ series 69XX 1),2) / - / - / - / - / 1 / - / - / 1
Operation manual / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
User packing box / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1
1) Is ordered separately;
2) Other similar devices can be used.

3 SPECIFICATIONS

3.1 Gamma Sensitivity, at least
РМ1703М-О
РМ1703М-О1 v.10
РМ1703М-О1 v.12
РМ1703GNО / 70 s-1/(mSv/h) (0.7 s-1/(mR/h))– for 241Am;
100 s-1/(mSv/h) (1.0 s-1/(mR/h))– for 137Cs
РМ1703МА
РМ1703МВ
РМ1703GNА
РМ1703GNВ / 100 s-1/(mSv/h) (1.0 s-1/(mR/h))– for 241Am;
100 s-1/(mSv/h) (1.0 s-1/(mR/h))– for 137Cs
3.2 Neutron Sensitivity, at least
PM1703GNО
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNВ / 0.035 (counts×cm2)/neutron – for Pu- a -Be;
1.3 (counts×cm2)/neutron-for thermal neutrons
0.07 (counts×cm2)/neutron – for Pu- a -Be;
1.5 (counts×cm2)/neutron-for thermal neutrons
3.3 Energy Range of gamma radiation / from 0.033 to 3.0 MeV
3.4 Energy Range of neutron radiation
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNО
PM1703GNВ / From thermal to 14.0 MeV
3.5 Photon radiation DER indication range
PM1703М-О1 v.10
РМ1703М-О1 v.12
РМ1703М-О
РМ1703GNО
РМ1703МА
РМ1703МВ
РМ1703GNА
PM1703GNВ / 0.01 – 9999 mSv/h (1 mR/h – 1000 mR/h)
0.01 mSv/h – 13 Sv/h (1 mR/h – 1300 R/h)
0.01 – 99.99 mSv/h (1 – 9999 mR/h)
3.6 Neutron count rate indication range
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNО
PM1703GNВ / 001 – 999 s-1 (by request 0.01 – 999 s-1)

3.7 Accuracy of DER measurement, no more:

PM1703М-О1 v.10

- in the range from 0.1 to 9999 mSv/h (10 mR/h – 1000mR/h) / ± 30 %
PM1703М-О1 v.12

- in the range from 0.1 mSv/h to 10 Sv/h (10mR/h –1000R/h)

/ ±(15 + К1/ + К2 ) %, where - DER value, mSv/h (mR/h));
К1 – coefficient 0.0045 (mSv/h), (0.45(mR/h));
К2 – coefficient 0.015 (mSv/h)-1, (0.00015(mR/h))
РМ1703М-О
РМ1703GNО
РМ1703МА
РМ1703МВ
РМ1703GNА
РМ1703GNВ
in the range from 0.1 to 70 mSv /h (10 – 7000 mR/h)
(at 137Cs in the collimated radiation) / ± 30 %

3.8 Measurement time

/ 0.25 s
3.9 False alarms rate in the gamma radiation measurement mode at the level of radiation background not more than 0.2 µSv/h (20µR/h) with gamma channel coefficient
n=5.3

n=4.5

/ no more than 1 per 10 hours of continuous operation;
no more than 1 per 60 minutes of continuous operation
3.9.1 PM1703МА
PM1703МВ
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNВ
At preset gamma coefficient n = 4.5 (number of mean-square deviation of current radiation background) and gamma-radiation background level is no more than 0.25 µSv/h, the detector should detect gamma radiation sources according to Table 3 below with the probability more than 0.5 / Corresponds to III HY20 State Standard Р 51635-2000
3.9.2 PM1703МА
PM1703МВ
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNВ
At the present gamma coefficient n = 5.3 the instrument’s mean time to alarm once the radiation background is increased by 0.5 mSv/h (50 mR/h), no more / 2 s (corresponds to ANSI N42.32)
3.9.3 PM1703МА
PM1703МВ
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNВ
At the present gamma coefficient n = 4.5, alarm rate when a gamma source producing DER 0.5mSv/h (0.06-1.33MeV) at the detector’s reference point is passed through with a speed 0.5 m/s in the standard background conditions, at least / 45 alarms for 50 passages with each type of source
Corresponds to IAEA Nuclear Security Series #1
3.10 False alarms rate in the neutron radiation detection mode with neutron coefficient n=5.0
PM1703GNА
PM1703GNО

PM1703GNВ

/ no more than 1 per 10 hours of continuous operation
3.10.1 PM1703GNА
PM1703GNВ
At the present neutron coefficient n = 5.0 the instrument’s mean time to detect 252Cf with neutron flux rate 2.5 s-1·cm-1 at the reference point of the instrument placed on phantom / 2 s (corresponds to ANSI N42.32)
3.11 Battery lifetime / At least 1,000 h*
3.12 Background calibration / - automatic – after the detector is turned ON or an coefficient n change;
- autocalibration on background level change;
- user initiated
3.13 Alarm type / - audio tone;
- vibration;
- visual
3.14 PC Communications through IR channel at an up to 0.2 meter distance / -- reading of the history from detector memory;
- setting the detector parameters
3.15 Communication with Pocket PC through Bluetooth channel РМ1703MВ
РМ1703GNВ / - reading of the history from detector memory;
- radionuclide identification
3.16 Data Collection / 1000 data points
3.17 Environmental:
- temperature range;
- humidity / - 30 to + 50 °С (-22°F to +122 °F)
(LCD: - 15°C to + 50 °С)
by 95 % at +35°C (+95° F)
3.18 Constant and alternating magnetic fields resistible, field strength / by 400 А/m
3.19 Electrostatic discharge resistible / 8 kV (air discharge),
6 kV (contact discharge)
3.20 Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields resistible / 10 V/m in the range of frequencies from 20 to 1000МHz,
30 V/m in the frequencies range from 800 to 960 kHz and from 1.4 to 2.0GHz
3.21 Power requirements / 1.5 V*
(one cell POWER LINE AA (LR6) or similar by parameters)
3.22 Environmental protection / IP65
3.23 Drop test / 0.7 m (2.3 ft)
(1.5 m (4.9 ft) in a special protection holster)

3.24 Dimensions

PM1703М-О
PM1703МА
PM1703GNО
PM1703GNА
РМ1703М-О1 v.10
РМ1703М-О1 v.12
РМ1703МВ
РМ1703GNВ / 72 x 32 x 87 mm (2 13/16" x 1 ¼" x 3 7/16")
75 x 35 x 98 mm (2 15/16" x 1 3/8 "x 3 7/8")

3.25 Weight (without holster), not more

РМ1703М-О
РМ1703МА
РМ1703GNО
РМ1703GNА
РМ1703М-О1 v.10
РМ1703М-О1 v.12
РМ1703МВ
РМ1703GNВ / 180 g (6.35 oz)
200 g (7.05 oz)
230 g (8.1 oz)
* It is also possible to use a rechargeable battery to power the detector. It is only important to make sure that the battery size is the same (AA (LR6)) and its voltage is in the 1.1 – 1.6 V range. In this case, however, battery lifetime and working temperatures may differ from the specified above.
Battery lifetime of PM1703MB, PM1703GNB is not less than 15 hours, if the Pocket PC communication mode through Radio channel is constantly turned on.

Table 3

Parameter /

Source type

133Ba / 137Cs / 60Co
Gamma source activity, kBq (µCi) ±30 % / 55.0 (1.5) / 100.0 (2.7) / 50.0 (1.35)
Moving speed (source/ detector), m/s / 0.5±0.05 / 0.5±0.05 / 0.5±0.05
Distance between source and detector , m / 0.2±0.005 / 0.2±0.005 / 0.2±0.005

4 CLIP INSTALLATION/REMOVAL

The detectors come with a clip which may be used to fasten the detector to a waist belt or pocket. The clip may be easily removed from the detector by using a screwdriver or similar tool according to instructions depicted in the figure 1 a-b.

Optionally, the detector may be supplied with a synthetic protective holster which may be worn at the waist belt. When the holster is used, it is recommended to remove the clip.

а) b)

Figure 1

5 BATTERY INSTALLATION

The detector is packaged without the battery installed.

To install the battery open the cover (11 in the figure 2) located on the right end of the unit with a coin or screwdriver. Once opened, insert a single AA alkaline battery (12 in the figure 2) loading the positive (+) end first. Reinstall the cover and tighten it. If the battery is properly installed, the LCD screen will display all segments.