DURRIDGE RAD7 User manual

RAD7 RADON DETECTOR
User Manual
Owner__________________________
Serial #______________
SERVICE RECORD
Date Service
It is recommended that the unit be returned to DURRIDGE Company annually, for recalibration.
DURRIDGE Company Inc.
524 Boston Rd
Billerica, MA 01821
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]
Revision 7.4.0. © 2015 DURRIDGE Company www.durridge.com
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WARNING
Opening the cover of this instrument is likely to expose dangerous voltages.
Disconnect the instrument from all voltage sources while it is being opened.
Due to battery power, the instrument may still be dangerous.
Using this instrument in a manner not specified by the manufacturer may
impair the protection provided by the instrument.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
..................................................................................................INTRODUCTION 10
...........................................................................1. GETTING STARTED: 11
YOUR FIRST DAY WITH THE RAD7 11
.....................................................................................................1.1 Unpacking 11
RAD7 Packing List!11
...........................................................................1.2 General Safety Instructions 12
...............................................................................................................................1.2.1 Air Travel 13
................................................................................................1.3 Taking a Look 13
The RAD7 Professional Electronic Radon Detector!13
................................................................................1.4 Starting a Two-day Test 14
RAD7 Normal Configuration!14
.......................................................................................1.5 Starting a Sniff Test 16
RAD7 SNIFF Configuration!16
.........................................................2. BASICS OF RAD7 OPERATION 18
...................................................................................................2.1 Introduction 18
...........................................................................................................................2.1.1 The Key Pad 18
........................................................................................................................2.1.2 Command List 18
................................................................................................................2.2 Test 18
..............................................................................................................................2.2.1 Test Status 18
.........................................................................................................2.2.1a Quick Save-and-Restart 19
..........................................................................................................2.2.2 Test Start and Test Stop 20
.................................................................................................................................2.2.3 Test Save 20
...............................................................................................................................2.2.4 Test Clear 20
...............................................................................................................................2.2.5 Test Purge 20
.................................................................................................................................2.2.6 Test Lock 21
................................................................................................................................2.2.7 Test Sleep 21
................................................................................................................................2.2.8 Test Print 21
.................................................................................................................................2.2.9 Test Com 21
...............................................................................................................2.3 Data 21
..............................................................................................................................2.3.1 Data Read 21
..............................................................................................................................2.3.2 Data Print 22
...............................................................................................................................2.3.3 Data Com 22
........................................................................................................................2.3.4 Data Summary 23
...............................................................................................................................2.3.5 Data Free 23
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............................................................................................................................2.3.6 Data Delete 23
......................................................................................................................2.3.7 Data Renumber 24
..............................................................................................................................2.3.8 Data Erase 24
.............................................................................................................2.4 Setup 24
........................................................................................................................2.4.1 Setup Protocol 24
Table 2.4.1 Preset protocols!24
.............................................................................................................................2.4.2 Setup Cycle 24
..........................................................................................................................2.4.3 Setup Recycle 25
.............................................................................................................................2.4.4 Setup Mode 25
..........................................................................................................................2.4.5 Setup Thoron 25
............................................................................................................................2.4.6 Setup Pump 26
..............................................................................................................................2.4.7 Setup Tone 26
..........................................................................................................................2.4.8 Setup Format 26
.............................................................................................................................2.4.9 Setup Units 27
.........................................................................................................................2.4.10 Setup Savuser 27
............................................................................................................................2.4.11 Setup Clock 27
..........................................................................................................................2.4.12 Setup Review 28
...........................................................................................................2.5 Special 28
..........................................................................................................................2.5.1 Special Ident 28
........................................................................................................................2.5.2 Special SPrOn 28
........................................................................................................................2.5.3 Special SPrOff 28
......................................................................................................................2.5.4 Special SetBaud 28
.........................................................................................................................2.5.5 Special Status 28
...........................................................................................................................2.5.6 Special Start 28
............................................................................................................................2.5.7 Special Stop 28
....................................................................................................................2.5.8 Special Comspec 29
......................................................................................................................2.5.9 Special ComAll 29
........................................................................................................................2.5.10 Special SPrAll 29
.......................................................................................................................2.5.11 Special S-Load 29
.......................................................................................................................2.5.12 Special Version 29
........................................................................................................................2.5.13 Special Model 29
.........................................................................................................................2.5.14 Special Serial 29
...........................................................................................................................2.5.15 Special Beep 29
........................................................................................................................2.5.16 Special Relays 29
..............................................................................................2.6 Infrared Printer 29
Alpha Energy Spectrum!30
..................................................3. BASICS OF RAD7 TECHNOLOGY: 31
HOW IT WORKS 31
...................................................................................................3.1 Introduction 31
......................................................................................3.2 Radon Decay Chain 31
Radon and Thoron decay chains!32
................................................................................................................3.2.1 Radon-222 (Radon) 33
...............................................................................................................3.2.2 Radon-220 (Thoron) 33
....................................................................................3.3 Continuous Monitors 33
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..........................................................................................................3.4 Sniffers 34
...............................................................................................3.5 Working Level 34
...........................................................................3.6 RAD7 Solid-State Detector 35
................................................................................3.6.1 RAD7 Calibration and Data Correction 35
............................................................................................3.7 RAD7 Spectrum 36
.......................................................................................................3.8 Windows 37
.......................................................................................3.9 Isotope Equilibrium 38
.................................................................................3.10 Modes: Sniff and Auto 39
...................................................................................................3.11 Background 39
.............................................................................3.11.1 Short-lived Radon and Thoron Daughters 39
..............................................................................................................3.11.2 Adsorbed Radon Gas 40
.................................................................................................3.11.4 Long-lived Radon Daughters 40
........................................................3.11.5 Contamination by Radon, or Thoron, Producing Solids 40
.............................................................................................................3.11.6 Other Alpha Emitters 40
.....................................................................................................3.11.7 Beta and Gamma Emitters 41
...................................................................................3.12 Precision & Accuracy 41
.........................................................................................................................3.12.1 Dry operation 41
Table: 3.12 Typical RAD7 precision based on counting statistics only.!41
..............................................................................................................3.12.2 Humidity Correction 42
..................................................................................................3.12.3 Concentration Uncertainties 42
......................................................................................3.13 Spectrum Examples 44
...................................................................................................3.13.1 Operational Radon Spectra 44
.......................................................................................................................3.13.2 Thoron Spectra 45
..............................................................................................................3.13.3 Combination Spectra 46
..............................................................................................................3.13.4 Pathological Spectra 48
...............................................................................4. USING THE RAD7: 50
RADON AND THORON MEASUREMENT IN AIR 50
...................................................................................................4.1 Introduction 50
.................................................................................4.2 Continuous Monitoring 50
............................................................................................................................4.2.1 Preparation 50
...................................................................................................................................4.2.2 Purging 50
..........................................................................................................................4.2.3 Test Location 51
..........................................................................................................................4.2.4 Test Protocol 51
........................................................................................................4.2.5 To Print Or Not To Print 51
.....................................................................................................................4.2.6 Running the Test 52
.................................................................................................4.2.7 Security and Quality Control 52
...................................................................................................................4.2.8 Finishing the Run 52
...............................................................................................................4.2.9 Examining the Data 53
..................................................................................................4.2.10 Very Short Term Monitoring 53
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.........................................................................................................4.3 Sniffing 53
..............................................................................................................................4.3.1 Why Sniff? 53
.................................................................................................4.3.2 Locating Radon Entry Points 54
............................................................................................................................4.3.3 Preparation 54
...................................................................................................................................4.3.4 Purging 54
.....................................................................................................................4.3.5 Running the Test 54
.........................................................................................................4.3.6 Drilled Sampling Points 55
........................................................................................................................4.3.7 Spot Readings 55
..............................................................................................4.4 Grab Sampling 55
...........................................................................................................................4.4.1 Applicability 55
............................................................................................................................4.4.2 Preparation 55
..................................................................................................................................4.4.3 Protocol 56
..................................................................................................................4.4.4 Taking the Sample 56
..................................................................................................................................4.4.5 Analysis 56
....................................................................................4.5 Thoron Measurement 56
..................................................................................................................4.5.1 Thoron and Radon 56
..................................................................................................4.5.2 Thoron Measurement Issues 56
...............................................................................4.5.3 Calculation and Interference Correction 57
................................................................................4.5.4 Avoiding Longer Lived Decay Products 57
........................................................4.5.5 Decay Correction, Flow Rate, and Thoron Calibration 58
.....................................................................................................4.5.6 Calculating Sample Decay 58
...............................................................................4.5.7 Calculating Internal Cell Concentration 58
.........................................................................4.5.8 Internal Cell Thoron Sensitivity Calibration 58
.........................................................................................4.5.9 Setting up a Thoron Measurement 58
..........................................................................................................................4.5.10 Thoron Mode 59
Recommended RAD7 Thoron Configuration!59
..................................................................................4.6 Managing Background 60
......................................................................................4.7 Airflow Rate Limits 60
..........................................................................................................4.7.1 Maximum Airflow Rate 60
...........................................................................................................4.7.2 Minimum Airflow Rate 60
............................................................4.8 Harsh and Hazardous Environments 61
.....................................................................................................................4.8.1 Splashing Water 61
.................................................................................................................4.8.2 Dusty Environment 61
...................................................................................................................4.8.3 Radiation Hazard 61
...........................................................5. USING RAD7 ACCESSORIES: 62
TESTING FOR RADON IN THE GROUND AND WATER 62
...................................................................................................5.1 Introduction 62
..............................................................................................5.2 Radon in Water 62
.......................................................................................................5.2.1 The RAD H2O Accessory 62
The RAD H2O Accessory!62
The RAD AQUA Accessory!62
....................................................................................................5.2.2 The RAD AQUA Accessory 63
..............................................................................................5.2.3 The WATER PROBE Accessory 63
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........................................................................................5.3 Soil Gas Sampling 63
.............................................................................................................................5.3.1 Application 63
...............................................................................................5.3.2 The Soil Gas Probe Accessory 63
...................................................................................................5.3.3 Soil Gas Probe Preparation 63
.....................................................................................................................5.3.4 Running the Test 64
..............................................................................................................5.3.5 Interpreting the Data 64
...............................................................................5.4 Emission Measurements 64
.............................................................................................................................5.4.1 Application 64
......................................................................................................5.4.2 Open Loop Configuration 64
....................................................................................................5.4.3 Closed Loop Configuration 64
.......................................................................................................5.4.4 Very Low Emission Rates 65
.......................................................................................................................5.4.5 Bulk Emissions 65
....................................................................................................................5.4.6 Surface Emission 65
The Bulk Emission Chamber!65
The Surface Emission Chamber!66
.................................................................................5.5 Supporting Accessories 66
................................................................................................................................5.5.1 Overview 66
...............................................................................................................5.5.2 The Range Extender 66
The Range Extender!66
.........................................................................................................................5.5.3 The DRYSTIK 67
The DRYSTIK (Model ADS-3R)!67
......................................................................................6. PC Connectivity 68
................................................................................6.1 PC Connectivity Basics 68
..................................................................................6.1.1 Connecting the RAD7 to the Computer 68
Connecting the RAD7 to a computer using the StarTech USB to Serial Adaptor!69
Connecting the RAD7 to a computer using the KeySpan USB to Serial Adaptor!69
.....................................................................................6.2 CAPTURE Software 70
..........................................................................................................6.2.1 CAPTURE Installation 70
CAPTURE Software running in Windows 7!70
...................................................................................................................6.2.2 Feature Summary 71
......................................................................................................6.2.3 Downloading RAD7 Data 71
..........................................................................................................6.2.4 Graphing and Analysis 71
.................................................................................................6.2.5 Real-Time RAD7 Monitoring 71
...................................................................6.3 RAD7 Communication Protocol 72
...............................................................................................6.3.1 Communication Requirements 72
.......................................................................................................6.3.2 RAD7 Command Format 72
...............................................................................................................6.3.3 Parsing RAD7 Data 72
Table 6.3.3 RAD7 Data Record Content !73
..........................................................................................................6.3.4 Terminal Emulator Tips 74
..............................................................................6.4 Serial Port Specifications 74
.......................................................................................................6.4.1 Communication Protocol 74
Table 6.4.1a Serial Port Pin Assignments!74
Table 6.4.1b Communication Parameters!74
..................................................................................................6.4.2 Extending the RS-232 Range 74
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............................................................................................7. Maintenance 75
.......................................................................7.1 Accessories - Usage and Care 75
................................................................................................................................7.1.1 Desiccant 75
.........................................................................................................7.1.2 Laboratory Drying Unit 75
Table 7.1.2 Laboratory Drying Unit Life !75
..................................................................................................................7.1.3 Small Drying Tube 75
Table 7.1.3 Small Drying Tube Life!75
........................................................................................................7.1.4 Cascading Drying Tubes 76
.....................................................................................................................................7.1.5 Filters 76
.................................................................................................................................7.1.6 Batteries 76
............................................................................7.1.7 Real-time Clock and Non-volatile Memory 77
...............................................................................................................7.1.8 Printer and Adapter 77
...........................................................................................7.2 Operating ranges 77
Table 7.2 RAD7 Operating Ranges!77
........................................................................................7.3 Service and Repair 78
.............................................................................................................................7.3.1 Calibration 78
.....................................................................................................................................7.3.2 Repair 78
.................................................................................................................................7.3.3 Shipping 78
................................................................................................................................7.3.4 Upgrades 78
..............................................................................7.4 RAD7 Quality Assurance 79
................................................................................................................................7.4.1 Spectrum 79
............................................................................................................................7.4.2 Spill Factor 79
.........................................................................8. TROUBLESHOOTING 80
..........................................................................................................8.1 Display 80
.........................................................................................................................8.1.1 Blank Display 80
.......................................................................................................................8.1.2 Frozen Display 80
......................................................................................8.1.3 Incomplete Or Garbage Characters 80
........................................................................................................8.2 Readings 80
..............................................................................................................................8.2.1 No Counts 80
.........................................................................................8.2.2 Excessive Uncertainty In Reading 80
........................................................................................................8.2.3 Run/Cycle Number 0000 80
.................................................................................8.3 Relative Humidity high 80
.........................................................................................8.4 Water Catastrophe 81
......................................................................................8.5 Battery Voltage Low 81
......................................................8.6 Pathological Values and Error Messages 81
...............................................................Appendix 1: Wireless Infrared Printer 82
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..........................................................................A1.1 Infrared Printer Description 82
..................................................................................................................................A1.1.1 General 82
..................................................................................................................................A1.1.2 Features 82
..........................................................................................................................A1.1.3 Power Switch 82
......................................................................................................................A1.1.4 Indicator LEDs 82
..........................................................................................................................A1.1.5 Push Buttons 82
...................................................................................................................................A1.1.6 Sensors 82
Infrared Printer Component Locations and Functions!83
.............................................................................A1.2 Infrared Printer Operation 84
............................................................................................................................A1.2.1 Precautions 84
..................................................................................................................................A1.2.2 Self-Test 84
.............................................................................................................................A1.2.3 Setup Mode 84
Table A1.2.3 Sel and Feed Functions!84
....................................................................................................................A1.2.4 Using the Printer 85
Using the Infrared Printer!85
........................................................................A1.3 Infrared Printer Maintenance 85
................................................................................................................A1.3.1 Battery Installation 85
..................................................................................................................A1.3.2 Paper Installation 85
..............................................................................................................A1.3.3 Cleaning the Printer 86
........................................................................................................A1.3.4 Cleaning the Print Head 86
......................................................................A1.4 Infrared Printer Specifications 87
Table A1.4 Infrared Printer Specifications!87
.......................................................................Appendix 2: RAD7 Specifications 88
Table A2.1 Functional Specifications!88
Table A2.2 Technical Specifications!88
Table A2.3 Physical Specifications!89
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INTRODUCTION
The RAD7 is a highly versatile instrument that can form the basis of a comprehensive radon measurement
system. It may be used in many different modes for different purposes. This manual adopts a progressive
approach, in which there is, first, a simple, step-by-step description of how to get readings for a) real-time
monitoring, and b) sniffing. Next comes a more detailed description of the many features of the
instrument and how to access them. The rest of the manual covers a whole range of topics, in somewhat
arbitrary order. We recommend that, as soon as possible, you read the entire text, just so that you will
have an idea of what there is. While you can start to make good measurements on the first day of
ownership of the RAD7, it can take years to master the subtleties of radon and thoron behavior, and to
appreciate the full capabilities of the instrument.
We have tried to make the manual easy to use, with a useful table of contents. Please let us know how
well we have succeeded. If there are some topics inadequately covered, please tell us. We will issue
updates from time to time.
Points of special note
The RAD7 is a rugged and long-lasting piece of equipment. There are many units still in daily use that
were sold ten years ago or more. However, it is a sophisticated, precision electronic device, and it is not
hermetically sealed, so please treat it with respect. Please do not allow water, other liquids or dirt to get
into the machine. If using it somewhere where it may get splashed, damaged, or exposed to rain, please
protect it. See Chapter 4.8.1.
The batteries are lead-acid technology, like a car’s. If left in a discharged state they will lose capacity.
After running the RAD7 on its batteries please recharge them as soon as possible (by plugging in the
unit). With careful use the batteries will last five years or more.
Finally, there is one security feature that is sometimes inadvertently set by an inexperienced, though
authorized, user; namely the key pad lockout. If the key pad ceases to function, and all you see is
DURRIDGE RAD7 on the display, just do the following: Hold down the [ENTER] and two arrow keys
until you hear a beep, release the three keys and immediately push [MENU]. You should then be rewarded
by >Test on the display. If the tone was set to OFF, then you will not hear the beep, so hold the three
keys down for three to four seconds, before releasing them and pushing [MENU], - try hold-down times a
little longer, or shorter, if, at first, you do not succeed.
DURRIDGE Company Inc.
524 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821 USA
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.durridge.com
European Representative:
Dr. Martyn J. Key
c/o Radiansa Consulting S.L.
Montcalm 20-22, 17006 Girona, Spain
Tel: [phone]
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