Decatur Electronics SVR3D User manual

Surface Velocity
Radar SVR3D
User’s Manual
Rev 10-6-21

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
About This Manual..............................................................................................5
1. Safety Information........................................................................................5
..................................................................................................5
WARNING..........................................................................................................5
2. Receiving Inspection.................................................................................... 7
3. Getting Started.............................................................................................8
4. Components ..............................................................................................13
RCL............................................................................................................13
PWR...........................................................................................................14
MENU ........................................................................................................14
Clock Time Information..............................................................................16
Clock AM/PM indicator ..............................................................................16
Low or High Speed operation....................................................................16
Battery Capacity Indicator .........................................................................16
Clock Date Information..............................................................................16
Hold or Transmit Indicator .........................................................................16
Speed Units ...............................................................................................16
Standard Deviation Value..........................................................................17
Vertical Cosine Angle ................................................................................17
Instant Speed Value ..................................................................................17
Water Velocity Direction Arrows................................................................17
Average Speed Value................................................................................17
Speed Direction Indicator ..........................................................................18
Water Signal Tracking Marker...................................................................18
Water Velocity Spectrum Display Area......................................................19
Average Speed Value................................................................................19
Speed Direction Indicator ..........................................................................20
Water Velocity Spectrogram Display Area ................................................20
Average Speed Value................................................................................21
5. Operating Modes .......................................................................................22
6. Measuring Surface Velocity .......................................................................28

7. Angle Compensation .................................................................................32
8. Communications Port ................................................................................36
9. Performance Tips.......................................................................................37
10. Care, Cleaning, and Storage .....................................................................43
11. Data download...........................................................................................43
12. Specifications.............................................................................................49
a. Legal Requirements...................................................................................52
b. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)...........................................................53
c. Warranty....................................................................................................56
TWO-YEAR RADARWARRANTY.............................................................56
TWO-YEARWARRANTY EXCEPTION ....................................................56
d. Service Return Procedure .........................................................................57
e. How to Order Additional Products .............................................................58

4
Welcome to Decatur Electronics, Inc.
Thank you for choosing this Decatur Electronics product—the
SVR3D™, an advanced surface velocity radar (SVR) device for
measuring water surface velocity. The SVR3D is extremely
valuable for measuring watersurface velocity during high-velocity
flows and flood conditions where using contact measurement
instruments poses a risk to safety.
The SVR3D incorporates many leading features such as cosine
error correction for the vertical and horizontal angle positions of
the gun to the target . The SVR3D also contains a configurable
horizontal cosine adjustment that may be used when the angle of
the gun is notparallel to the flow of the target .
If you are as pleased with its performance as we think you will
be, ask your Decatur sales representative about other Decatur
productsincluding the Genesis™ line of radars, the Onsite™
line of speed trailers, dollies, and pole signs.
Try any one of our products and see if you don't agree that it
is thebest-in-class!
—The Management and Staff at Decatur Electronics

5
Note the following symbols in this manual:
Indicates a warning message about
safety precautions.Please read carefully .
Indicates a helpful tip or precaution to note .
This manual contains valuable information to help you set up,
use and maintain your radar, so you can optimize its life and
keep it atpeak performance. Please take a moment to read
through it, and keep it handy for future reference.
All service needs should be referred back to the manufacturer.
•The internal battery pack is not user serviceable.
WARNING
Do not put the radar gun in the water. This will
damage it. The SVR3D measures the water
surface only from outside the water.

6
•Opening the SVR3D automatically voids any
warranty still in effect. There are no user serviceable
parts inside.
• Do not expose the SVR3D to excessive moisture.
Never submerge the device. If the SVR3D should
accidentally get submerged, remove from the
water immediately, wipe off and let dry.
•Do not drop the SVR3D on hard surfaces since
damage could occur. Units damaged by dropping or
abuse are not covered for warranty repair.
Violation of these guidelines may void the warranty.

7
•When you receive your radar, inspect all components for
freight damage that might have happened during shipping
or unloading. Take pictures to document any damage.
•Notify the freight company immediately of any damage,
preferably while the driver is present. Record the damage on
thebill of lading and keep a record of the problems or
damage.
•The package should include the following pictured items
alongwith this User’s Manual.
SVR3D™
Detachable power and data USB cable

8
3.1 Introduction
The SVR3D is a hand-held surface velocity radar (SVR™) gun
specificallydesigned to measure the surface velocity of water—
great for use in streams and rivers. Features such as Recall
allows you to review the previous measurement. Other features
are selectable through the menu option.
Figure 3.1
SVR3D overview

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The radar gun features a tilt sensor system, which internally
compensates for the cosine angle effect of the vertical (pitch-
down) angle of the gun to the target. It is not necessary to
manually set the tilt sensor.
3.2 Battery Charging
The SVR3D contains an internal Lithium rechargeable battery
pack . When you first receive your radar, the batteries will need
to be charged for the first time before using. Once batteries have
been charged if you do not use the SVR3D for 3-4 weeks, you
will want to recharge the batteries before use in order to get the
full run time . To charge batteries for the first time, follow steps in
3 . 3 .

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3.3 Charging the Batteries
The USB power cable that comes with the SVR3D is used to
charge the internal battery. P lug the USB cable into the USB
connector located near the front of the trigger. The USB
connector can be inserted in either orientation. If the SVR3D is
powered off and charging, a green charging status light will
illuminate the center power button. Once fully charged, the
green light will stop lighting. If the SVR3D is powered on,
battery charge and charging status will be shown in the upper
right hand corner of the display.
Figure 3.3a
Inserting the USB Cable
Figure 3.3b
Power button illuminated when SVR3D is OFF and charging

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•Best performance from your batteries is obtained
whenrecharged at temperature between 50ºF
(10ºC) and 113ºF (45ºC) . Recharging outside of
that temperature range may result in reduced
battery life or incomplete charging.
Figure 3.3c
Battery and charging status while SVR3D is ON and charging
3.4 Battery Run Time
How long the SVR3D can operate between recharges
depends uponseveral factors, age of the battery pack, and
how the SVR3D is used. Generally,a fully charged SVR3D
should run for approximately 1 week between recharges given
normal use.

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3.4.1 Auto Power Off
If enabled and If no trigger or key press is detected the
SVR3D will automatically power off after 5, 10 or 15
minutes (depending on setting) in order to conserve
battery life.
3.5 Replacing the Internal Battery Pack
The internal battery pack is not user serviceable or replaceable.
Only a factory authorized service center can perform this service
or replacement.
3.6 Connecting the USB Cable
The USB cable plugged into the SVR3D provides power to
charge the internal batteries and for serial communication. The
USB port on the SVR3D is located on the housing just in front
and to the side of the trigger switch. With the USB cable
plugged into the SVR3D and also plugged into a suitable power
source (laptop, computer, usb charging device, etc) the SVR3D
will attempt to charge the batteries even while operating.
3.7 Control Panel Functions
The operation of the SVR3D is controlled by the three-button
key padand the trigger .

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4.1 Control Buttons
Figure 4.1a
Faceplate (Display and Control Buttons)
Looking at the control buttons from left to right the buttons have
thefollowing functions:
RCL
When the recall button (RCL) is pressed the unit enters recall
mode whereby the operator can review a list of previous
measured speeds. The recall mode is entered if the following is
true:
•The unit is not transmitting
•A measurement is not currently taking place.
The recall mode allows the operator to recall the last measured
speeds that the SVR3D calculated. After pressing the RCL
button, a list containing the 8 most recent measured speeds will
be displayed with the most recent speed displayed at the
bottom and 8th most recent at the top. In addition to the speed,
the time and date is also saved. Each press of the trigger
brings an older sample in at the top and shifts the list down one
level. Additional trigger pulls will continue shifting older saved
data into view. Press the RCL button again to exit the recall
screen.

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PWR
The PWR button (center button) turns the radar on and off. When powered
on the SVR3D will enter a power up cycle displaying a test screen,
recalling the last saved operating parameters, placing the SVR3D radar
into the last operating mode prior to being turned off and finally preparing
the radar to take a measurement. The power up test screen is shown in
Figure 4.1a and allows the user to check screen and backlight functionality.
To power down the unit, the user must press and hold the power button
down for a least 2 seconds. When you see the word “Powering Down” and
“Release Power Button”, you must now release the power button and the
unit will power down. If any settings or operating parameters were
changed during operation, the SVR3D will save those settings into non-
volatile memory.
MENU
Pressing the MENU button brings up the menu screen which allows the user to
change certain operating settings. Repeatedly pressing the MENU button
advances through the programmable features. Pressing the trigger button
while a feature is selected (green color) allows the user to change parameters
in a sub-menu under that particular feature.
Figure 4.1b
Menu screen after pressing the MENU button .

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4.2 Display
4.2.1 SVR3D display
The SVR3D uses a large color sunlight readable display.
Depending on the mode, the screen can show a variety of
information from discrete digital values to spectrum and
spectrogram displays. The brightness of the screen is
automatically controlled but can be set to manual brightness
levels as needed via the menu. (see LCD brightness menu
settings)
4.2.2 SVR3D display after power on
When first turned on, the SVR3D performs a display check
to allow the user to verify proper screen function. Figure
4.1a
4.2.3 SVR3D Common display icons for all modes
The SVR3D has several operating modes to give the
operator a wide variety of water surface velocity information
during a measurement cycle. The common display icons
used for all modes of operation are:
Figure 4.2.3
Common Icons for all SVR3D operating modes

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Clock Time Information
SVR3D shows current time (if enabled)
Clock AM/PM indicator
SVR3D shows current AM or PM indicator. (If clock enabled
and only applies if 12 hour mode is set)
Low or High Speed operation
SVR3D shows displays “Lo” if radar is set for Low Speed
Operation.
SVR3D shows displays “Hi” if radar is set for High Speed
Operation.
Battery Capacity Indicator
SVR3D shows current battery charge state as a percentage
and as a graphic battery icon. The battery and percentage will
change in color (going from Green to Red) as the battery
loses capacity. When the battery voltage reaches 0%, the
message “Low Bat” will display.
Clock Date Information
SVR3D shows current date (if enabled)
Hold or Transmit Indicator
SVR3D shows “Hd” for transmitter on hold (not transmitting).
SVR3D shows “Xt” for transmitter on.
Speed Units
SVR3D shows fps for “Feet per Second” standard units.
SVR3D shows m/s for “Meters per Second” standard units.

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4.2.4
If the SVR3D is set for digital speed display operation
(digital display of instantaneous and averaged speeds), the
screen will appear as such:
Figure 4.2.4
Digital display operation with status indicator icons.
Standard Deviation Value
SVR3D shows the current standard deviation value.
Vertical Cosine Angle
SVR3D shows the current tilt angle (Cosine angle to water)
Instant Speed Value
SVR3D shows the current instant speed value (non-
averaged).
Water Velocity Direction Arrows
SVR3D shows the current direction of instant and averaged
speed value.
Average Speed Value
SVR3D shows the current averaged speed value.

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4.2.5
If the SVR3D is set for spectrum operation (Spectrum
display), the screen will appear as such:
Figure 4.2.5
Mode 1 Spectrum display with status indicator icons.
Speed Direction Indicator
SVR3D will show a direction indicator depending on the
direction of the water flow. A downward pointing arrow (as shown)
indicates the detected water flow is in the approaching direction. An
upward pointing arrow indicates detected water flow is in the receding
direction.
Water Signal Tracking Marker
The SVR3D will highlight the detected peak water velocity
with a marker that will track the strongest signal located within the
measurement area of the radar. The marker will track the strongest
water flow return in real-time.

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Water Velocity Spectrum Display Area
The SVR3D will show the spectrum of the water return by
displaying all Doppler return frequencies from the water flow. The
display shows increasing water velocities from left to right and
increasing signal strengths from bottom to top. The signal strengths
are color coded with blue being the weakest Doppler return with red
color denoting a large return.
Average Speed Value
SVR3D shows the current averaged speed value.

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4.2.6
If the SVR3D is set for spectrogram operation (Spectrogram
display), the screen will appear as such:
Figure 4.2.6
Mode 2 Spectrogram display with status indicator icons.
Speed Direction Indicator
SVR3D will show a direction indicator depending on the
direction of the water flow. A downward pointing arrow (as shown)
indicates the detected water flow is in the approaching direction. An
upward pointing arrow indicates detected water flow is in the receding
direction.
Water Velocity Spectrogram Display Area
The SVR3D will show the spectrogram display of the water
return by displaying all Doppler return frequencies from the water flow
over time. This display is similar to the spectrum display however,
instead of the showing the signal strength in the vertical direction, the
display now shows the spectrum over time in that direction. If the
detected water flow is in the approach direction, the display will fill
from the top to the bottom and alternately, if the detected water flow
is in the receding direction, the display will fill from the bottom to the
top. Like the spectrum display, the signal strengths are color coded
with blue being the weakest Doppler return and red color denoting a