MREL HANDITRAP II User manual

Operations Manual
Edition 4.0
MREL GROUP OF COMPANIES LIMITED
5-779 Sir John A MacDonald Blvd. Kingston, Ontario K7L 1H3 Canada
T: [phone] E: [email protected] www.mrel.com

HandiTrap II™ Operations Manual - Edition 4.0
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Copyright Information
MREL Group of Companies Limited (MREL) warrants that the product is free from Manufacturer’s defects for a period of one (1) year from
the date of shipment to the Customer. This Warranty covers all parts and labour.
MREL does not warrant that the product will meet the Customer’s requirements, or that it will operate in the combinations which may be
selected by the Customer.
MREL does not and cannot warrant the performance or results that may be obtained by using the product. Accordingly, the product and its
documentation are sold “as is” without warranty as to their performance, merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. The Customer
assumes the entire risk as to the results and performance of the product.
MREL is committed to product innovation; accordingly product may undergo specification improvements without notice. Copyright © 2022
MREL Group of Companies Limited. HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder, HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Logo, and MREL Logo are trademarks
or registered trademarks of MREL Group of Companies Limited. Windows®is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
© Copyright 2022, MREL Group of Companies Limited. This Operations Manual supersedes any earlier editions. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction or adaptation of any part of this documentation or Software without written permission of the Copyright owner is unlawful.
Publication History
Edition 4.0, March 2014
This version of the Manual
Edition 3.0, May 2012
Edition 2.2, March 2009
Edition 2.1, January 2009

III
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started 1
1.1 Ensuring That All Hardware Has Been Received 2
1.2 Installing the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software 2
Chapter 2: Introduction 3
2.1 Background 4
2.2 Safety Considerations 4
2.3 Applications for the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 5
2.3.1 The main applications when testing explosive samples 5
2.3.2 The main applications when testing explosives in a blasthole 5
Chapter 3: Handitrap II™ VOD Recorder Hardware 7
3.1 Hardware Components 8
3.1.1 HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 8
3.1.2 Battery Charger 10
3.1.3 HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder USB Cable 11
3.1.4 BNC Adapter 11
3.1.5 External Trigger Adapter 11
3.2 HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Internal Rechargeable Battery 11
3.3 Recharing the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 12
3.4 Long Term Storage Considerations 12
3.5 VOD Resistance Probes Used by the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 12
3.5.1 VOD PROBEROD 12
3.5.2 VOD PROBECABLE-HT 13
3.6 RG-58/U Coaxial Cable and Portable Cable Reel 13
3.6.1 Light-Duty Cable Reel 13
3.6.2 Heavy-Duty Cable Reel 13
3.7 HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Techincal Specifications 14
Chapter 4: Recording VODs and Deck Delays 15
4.1 Safety Considerations for Selecting an Explosive Testing Site 16
4.2 The Resistance Wire Technique for Measuring VOD 17
4.3 Installing the VOD PROBEROD for testing a Sample of Explosives 17
4.4 Installing VOD PROBECABLE-HT for Testing Explosives in a Blasthole 19
4.4.1 Preparation of VOD PROBECABLE-HT for a single Blasthole 21
4.5 Coaxial Cable Protection 22
4.6 HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Setup Procedure for VOD Measurement 22
4.7 VOD PROBEROD or VOD PROBECABLE-HT Circuit Resistance 23
4.8 Utilizing the External Trigger 24
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Chapter 5: The DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software for Windows® 25
5.1 Retrieving Data From The HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 26
5.2 Selecting Data Files for Analysis 26
5.3 Introduction To Analysis 26
Chapter 6: Battery Maintenance 27
7.1 Monitoring the Battery 28
7.2 Discharge/Recharge Cycle 28
7.3 When to Replace the Battery 29
7.3.1 Maintenance Schedule for Battery 29
7.3.2 Alternate Maintenance Schedule for Battery 29
7.3.3 Estimating Battery Run Time 30
7.3.4 Charging Time 30
7.3.5 Charing for a Precise Amount of Time 30
7.3.6 Using Timed Charging with the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder 30
Chapter 8: Contacting MREL for Technical Support 31
8.1 Contacting MREL 32

1
Chapter 1
Getting Started
T: [phone]: +1-61 www.mrel.com [email protected]

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1.1 Ensuring That All HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Hardware
Has Been Received
1.2 Installing the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software
All of the steps detailed in this Chapter should be completed before the Operator goes into the field to conduct a VOD test:
1. Ensure that all HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder components have been received and are available.
2. Install the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Software on the Operator’s computer.
3. Ensure that the Operator’s computer and HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder are able to communicate with each other (Section 1.3).
Details of these hardware components are contained in Chapter 3.
1. HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder.
2. HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Battery Charger that is labeled 120 VAC or 230 VAC depending on your Country’s mains power.
3. Communications Cable – USB cable.
4. BNC Adapter.
5. External Trigger Adapter.
6. DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software on USB.
7. HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder Operations Manual.
8. (Optional) VOD resistance probes: VOD PROBERODs or VOD PROBECABLE-HT.
9. (Optional) Coaxial Cable on cable reel.
Refer to the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software manual for installation procedures.
This Chapter provides a quick start guide to the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder.
Overview

3
Chapter 2
Introduction
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The HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder is a portable, 1 channel, high resolution, explosives continuous VOD recorder that has proven its
reliability under the extreme temperature, weather, dust and rugged conditions that characterize blasting environments around the world.
The HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder is also the simplest and most affordable high-resolution recorder available for testing either samples of
explosives, or explosives in a blasthole.
The DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software allows the User to analyze VOD traces recorded by the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder . This
software is used to retrieve, display, analyze, print and export VOD data.
The HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder is an easy and safe instrument to operate. However, one should be aware of the inherent risk
associated with explosive’s handling and familiar with working in blasting environments. For this reason, it is always recommended that
knowledgeable personnel, experienced in handling explosives and familiar with blasting procedures operate the
HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder when testing explosives. The standard rules of safety used with explosives should apply when monitoring
VODs or other explosive parameters.
When recording VODs, the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder outputs a low voltage (less than 5 VDC) and an extremely low current (less than
50 mA) to the VOD PROBEROD or VOD PROBECABLE-HT within the explosives from the VOD PROBEROD/VOD PROBECABLE-HT
connector on the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder. This low excitation signal ensures that the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder will not and can
not prematurely initiate explosives and/or detonators.
Standard (and common sense) rules apply when it comes to the presence of electrical storms near the testing area. Due to the inherent
hazards associated with blasting during these storms, in addition to the possibility of electrical interference causing false trigger signals to
the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder, it is recommended to immediately suspend all blasting activities and evacuate the area. This is standard
policy at most blasting operations.
2.1 Background
2.2 Safety Considerations
STOP
Persons not trained and/or authorized to handle explosives should not attempt to utilise the
HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder for monitoring explosive properties.
This Chapter provides an introduction to the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder.
Overview

5
2.3.1 The main applications of the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder when testing explosive
samples include:
•Test the performance of explosives against the quality control standards set by the manufacturers.
•Measure the continuous VOD in any charge under confined or unconfined conditions.
•Determine the critical diameter and critical density of an explosive charge.
•Determine the gap sensitivity of explosives.
•Measure the timing accuracy of detonators.
•Measure the continuous VOD of primers/boosters.
•Determine the minimum booster size for any explosive by measuring run-up velocities.
2.3.2 The main applications of the HandiTrap II™ when testing explosives in a blasthole
include:
•Measure the continuous VOD hole diameter that is wet or dry and in any type of rock.
•Determine whether full detonation, low order detonation or failure occurred and where in the explosive column it happened.
•Check VODs against manufacturers’ specifications in full scale blasting environments.
•Determine the minimum booster size for any explosive by measuring run-up velocities in full scale blasting environments.
•Measure the timing accuracy of detonators in a decked hole in full scale blasting environments.
•Measure the effects of water, drill cuttings, rocks, etc. trapped within the explosive mass.
•Determine the length of explosive column to use in decking operations to evaluate the effect of stemming and drill cutting dilution,
water pick-up, etc. on the explosive run-up requirements.
•Determine the correct length and type of stemming material to be used between decks of explosives to prevent sympathetic
detonation or explosive desensitization from occurring.
•Using multiple HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder’s, determine the delay time between blastholes.
Contact MREL for information on other MREL VOD recorders that are able to test the VOD of explosives in multiple blastholes and
determine the delay time between holes.
2.3 Applications for the HandiTrap II™ VOD Recorder
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