MREL MicroTrap User manual

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
Operations Manual
Edition 4.4

MicroTrap™ Operations Manual - Edition 4.4
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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. MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder, MicroTrap™ VOD/Data 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 4.4, 2022
This version of the Manual
Edition 4.0, March 2014
Edition 3.0, February 2013
Edition 2.2, March 2009
Edition 2.1, January 2009

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Getting Started 1
1.1 MicroTrap™ Hardware Included 2
1.2 Installing the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software 2
1.3 Definitions of VOD Settings 3
Chapter 2: Introduction 5
2.1 Background 6
2.2 Safety Considerations 7
2.3 VOD Applications 7
2.3.1 Testing of Explosive Samples 7
2.3.2 Testing of Explosives in Blastholes 8
2.4 Applications of the MicroTrap™ with Scope Upgrade Installed 8
Chapter 3: Hardware 9
3.1 Hardware Components 10
3.1.1 MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder 10
3.1.2 Carrying Case 15
3.1.3 Battery Charger 16
3.1.4 USB Communications Cable 16
3.1.5 BNC Adapters 16
3.2 Internal Rechargeable Battery 16
3.3 Checking the Power Status 16
3.4 Recharging 17
3.5 Operating the MicroTrap™ from External Power Sources 17
3.6 Long Term Storage Considerations 18
3.7 VOD Resistance Probes 18
3.7.1 VOD ProbeRod 18
3.7.2 VOD ProbeCable 19
3.8 Technical Specifications 20

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Chapter 4: Recording VOD and Hole/Deck Delay Times 21
4.1 Safety Considerations for Selecting an Explosive Testing Site 22
4.2 The Resistance Wire Technique for Measuring VOD 22
4.3 Using ProbeRods for Testing Samples of Explosives 23
4.4 Using ProbeCable for Testing Explosives in Blastholes 25
4.4.1 Preparation of ProbeCable for Single Blasthole Recording 25
4.4.2 Preparation of ProbeCable for Multiple Blasthole Recording 27
4.5 ProbeCable and Coaxial Cable Protection 28
4.6 MicroTrap™ Setup Procedure for VOD Measurements 30
4.7 Probe Resistance Out of Range Lights 32
4.8 Utilizing the External Trigger 33
4.9 Additional Information on Memory and Triggering 33
4.9.1 Memory 33
4.9.2 Triggering 34
Chapter 5: Recording Voltage Signals From Gauges 39
5.1 Introduction to Recording DC Voltage Signals 40
5.2 Connecting Gauges to the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder 40
5.3 Signal Cable Protection 41
5.3.1 Detonation Cord 41
5.4 MicroTrap™ Setup Procedure for Recording Voltage Signals 42
5.5 Utilizing the External Trigger 44
5.6 Additional Information on Memory 45
Chapter 6: MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder Software 47
6.1 Retrieving Data 48
6.2 Selecting Data Files for Analysis 48
Chapter 7: Contacting MREL for Technical Support 49
7.1 Contacting MREL 50

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Chapter 1
Getting Started

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Photographs of these hardware components are contained in Section 3.1.
1. MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder.
2. MicroTrap™ Battery Charger that is labeled 120 VAC or 220 VAC depending on your country’s mains power.
3. Communications Cable - USB cable.
4. BNC Adapters x2.
5. Carrying Case.
6. DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Operations Software on USB.
7. MicroTrap™ Operations Manual.
8. DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Manual.
9. If Optional Scope Upgrade has been purchased, an additional 4x BNC Adapters will be included.
10. VOD resistance probes: VOD PROBERODs and/or VOD PROBECABLE and/or VOD PROBECABLE-LR. (Optional)
1.1 MicroTrap™ Hardware Included
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 MicroTrap™ components have been received and are available.
2. Ensure that the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite is installed and operational according to the
DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software manual.
3. Ensure that the Operator’s computer and MicroTrap™ are able to communicate with
each other.
4. Program the MicroTrap’s internal recording parameters using the MicroTrap™ Software.
Refer to the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Manual for installation procedure.
Overview
1.2 Installing The DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software

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1.3 Definitions of VOD Settings
This section will discuss the meaning of each setting.
Trigger Level is the threshold that the signal will cross to indicate a valid trigger. For VOD, the typical setting for Trigger Level is 95%.
Pre-Trigger Time is the amount of time of the Total Time available for each test that will be captured prior to the trigger point. For VOD, the typical
setting for Pre-Trigger Time is 25%
Number of Tests is a number from 1 to 16 that the total memory of the unit is divided into. The lower the Number of Tests, the larger number of
points will be recorded per test. The user needs to ensure that the amount of time is sufficient to capture the test which includes the amount of Pre-
Trigger Time and the Total Time.
Recording Rate is the number of points captured per second. The faster the Recording Rate, the shorter the amount of time within each test. For
VOD, the typical setting for Recording Rate is 1 MHz or or 2 MHz.
External Trigger is the setting that will allow the user to use an external source to have a valid trigger. There are two ways for the
MicroTrap™
VOD/Data Recorder
to receive an External Trigger.
• Make Circuit uses a loop of wire that is normally open circuit and triggers the MicroTrap™ when the circuit closes.
• Break Circuit uses a loop of wire that is normally closed circuit and triggers the MicroTrap™ when the circuit opens.
For more details on the External Trigger feature, refer to Section 5.5.
To use External Trigger, ensure that the switch on the panel has been set to External prior to pressing the Start button.

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Chapter 2
Introduction

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The MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder is a portable, 1 channel, high resolution, explosives continuous Velocity of Detonation (VOD)
recorder. It can be upgraded easily to provide an additional 4 channels of DC voltage (VDC) recording (Scope) capability. The operator
can use DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software to check if the unit has the Scope Upgrade installed during programming of the unit.
Contact MREL for MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder Scope Upgrade information. This provides the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder with
the ability to record high resolution VODs of explosives and simultaneously record transient events such as blast vibrations, explosion
pressures, air blast, etc. at high resolutions. It has proven its reliability under the extreme temperature, weather, dust and rugged
conditions that characterize blasting environments around the world.
The DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite allows the User to analyze VOD traces and convert DC voltage signals recorded by the MicroTrap™
VOD/Data Recorder into the desired engineering units for analysis and presentation. The software is used to program the recording
parameters of the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder, and to retrieve, display, analyze, print, and export VOD or other sensor data
obtained through testing. The DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software runs under 32 or 64 bit Microsoft Windows®. This facilitates
extremely fast data handling, and the ability to copy and paste graphs into any word processors or spreadsheets running in the
Windows® environment. Refer to the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software for more information.
The main features of the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder for VOD recording are:
• One VOD channel capable of recording at up to 2 MHz (2 million data points/sec). This speed provides a time resolution of one
data point for every 0.5 microseconds.
• Capability to record VODs and delay times using up to 900 m (2,950 ft.) of MREL’s PROBECABLE-LR VOD resistance cable. This
ensures that the MicroTrap™ can record the VODs and delay times in many blastholes per test.
• A large, circular, digital memory (4 million data points) to store the recorded data. This allows the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder
to record for relatively long periods (2.0 seconds) when recording at a rate of 2 MHz. The memory can be upgraded easily to
provide a total memory of 8 million data points. Contact MREL for MicroTrap™ Memory Upgrade information.
• A high, 14 bit vertical (or distance) resolution (214 or 1 part in 16,384). Use of shorter lengths of PROBECABLE-LR provides even more
data points recorded along every meter.
• Large non-volatile memory for storing up to 16 events before the data needs to be downloaded to a computer.
• Data is downloaded to the PC via the supplied USB cable.
• The MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder can be upgraded easily to provide an additional 4 channels of DC voltage recording
capabilities at a recording rate of 1 MHz. Contact MREL for MicroTrap™ Scope Upgrade information.
• The status of the MicroTrap™ Memory and Scope Upgrade for each MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder can be found when the unit is
connected to DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Software. Please refer to the DAS™ Data Acquisition Suite Manual for the location of this
information for each unit.
2.1 Background
This Chapter provides an introduction to the MicroTrap™ VOD/Data Recorder.
Overview