ORTEC 461 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
461
ALARM CONTROL
Serial No.
Purchaser
Date Issued
100 MIDLAND ROAD
OAK RIDGE, TENN. 37830
PHONE I6151 482-4411
TWX 810-572-1078
Printad in U.S.A.

February 26,1971
ORTEC 461 ALARM CONTROL
MANUAL CHANGE SHEET
The designation for the connector that will mete with the Relay connector on the
rear panel is Bendix 6EN#?TO6E~l2-1OP (SRI. This connector ten be obtained
from ORTEC, if desired, using the ORTEC pert number 42897 for identification.
Octoba 28.197,
ECN 1
On Schemetic461.0101-Sl, make the following changes:
Delete C3.
Change the value of R20 from 390 kR to 147 kZ2’. change the value of Fi37 from 390 kR to 147 kR*,
change the value of R24 from 5.1 kS? to 8.2 ki?,, and change the value of R41 from 5.1 k.9. to 8.2 ki2,

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WARRANTY
PHOTOGRAPHS
I. DESCRIPTION
2. SPECIFICATIONS
3. INSTALLATION
3.1 General
3.2 Connection to Power
3.3 Input Connection
3.4 Relay Circuits
3.5 BNC Output Connections
4. OPERATION
4.1 General
4.2 Typical Applications
5. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
5.1 General
5.2 Input Circuit
5.3 Discriminator A
5.4 Discriminator 6
5.5 Relay Circuit
5.6 Power Regulation
6. MAINTENANCE
6.1 General
6.2 Calibration
6.3 Factory Repair
SCHEMATIC
461.0101.Sl ORTEC 461 Schematic
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig. 4.1. Typical Alarm Circuit
Fig. 4.2. Typical Process Control Circuit
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STANDARD WARRANTY FOR ORTEC INSTRUMENTS
ORTEC warrants its instruments other than preamplifier
FET input transistors, vacuum tubes. fuses, and batteries
to be free from defects in workmanship and materials
for a period of twelve months from date of shipment
provided that the equipment has been used in a proper
manner and not subjected to abuse. Repairs or replace-
ment, at ORTEC option. will be made on in-warranty
instruments, without charge, at the ORTEC factory.
Shipping expense will be to the WCCI~~~ Of the customer
except in cases of defects discovered upon initial operation.
Warranties of vacuum tubes and semiconductors made by
their manufacturers will be extended to OUTcustomers only
to the extent of the manufacturers’ liability to ORTEC.
Specially selected vacuum tubes or semiconductors cannot
be warranted. ORTEC reserves the right to modify the
design of its products without incurring responsibility for
modification of previous!v manufactured units. Since
installation conditions are beyond our control. ORTEC
does not assume any risks or liabilities associated with
methods of installation or with installation results.
DUALITY CONTROL
Before being approved for shipment. each ORTEC
Instrument must pass a stringent set of quality control
tests designed to expose any flaws in materials or work.
manship. Permanent records of these tests are maintained
for use in warranty repair and as a source of statistical
information for design improvements.
ORTEC must be informed in writing of the nature of the
fault of the instrument being returned and of the model and
semi numbers. Failure to do so may cause unnecessary
delays in getting the unit repaired. Our standard procedure
requires that instruments returned for repair pass the same
quality control tests that are used for new-production
instruments. Instruments that are returned should be
packed so that they will withstand normal transit handling
and must be shipped prepaid via Air Freight or United
Parcel Service to the nearest ORTEC repair centwlnsfru-
merits damaged in transit due to inadequate packing will be
repaired at the sender’s expense. and it will be the sender’s
responsibility to make claim with the shipper. Instruments
not in warranty will be repaired at the standard charge
unless they have been grossly misused or mishandled, in
which case the user will be notified prior to the repair
being done. A quotation will be sent with the notification.
DAMAGE IN TRANSIT
Shipments should be examined immediately upon receipt
for evidence of external or concealed damage. The carrier
makingdelivery should be notified immediately of any such
damage, since the carrier is normally liable for damage in
shipment. Packing materials, waybills. and other such
documentation should be preserved in order to establish
claims. After such notification to the carrier, please notify
ORTEC of the circumstances so that we may assist in dam-
age claims and in providing replacement equipment if
necessary.

vi
DISC A
@
T
DISC B
l
RANGE
10”
”

1
ORTEC 461 ALARM CONTROL
1. DESCRIPTION
The DRTEC 46, Alarm Control is a NIM single-width
,,,&le that is an ~CC~SSCW to an ORTEC 449 or 441
Ratemeter, lt includes two independent discriminators and
a relav, The discriminators are adjustable with front-panel
COntlO~S and are used to identify when a Pulse rate.
meas,,red by the ratemeter. rises above Or falls below a
preset value. The relay is controlled bv discrimiytor
response and can be used to control the Power, to d SIgnal
and,or tc, a pV,Cb-SS COntrOller as appropriate to Its
applIcatlo”.
lndi‘ators on the front panel of the Alarm Control light to
show that the discriminators have been fired. A signal from
each discriminator is also available through a BNC con.
nectar on the rear panel.
The 461 accepts inputs from either a standard 100-m”
ratemeter output for a recorder or from a 10-V high-level
OutPUt furnished in the 449 Log/Lin Ratemeter. A front.
Panel slide switch sets the input circuit for either Low
(100 mV) or High (10 VI.
ln addition to having separate level adjustments, the two
discriminators can be switch-selected to either provide
redundant high-level alarms or to act as a window dis-
Criminator to provide both high- and low-level alarms.
2. SPECIFICATIONS
PERFORMANCE OUTPUTS
D,SCRlMlNATOR SET POINT ACCURACY +2%.
STABILITY f0.5% for 24 hr.
TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT <*0.05%1’C.
DISC A A BNC type UG-1094/U connector on the rear
panel and en indicator lamp on the front panel show the
response of Discriminator A: NIM-standard slow positive
logic; 0 V for not triggered; +5 V for triggered; Z. = 5OQ:
will deliver and sink 100 “A.
NONLINEARITY <f0.5%.
CONTROLS
DISC B A BNC type UG-1094/U connector on the rear
panel and an indicator lamp on the front panel show the
response of Discriminator B; 0 V for not triggered; +5 V for
triggered; Z, = 500.; will deliver and sink 100 “A.
RANGE (Switch 1) Z-position slide switch on front Panel
selects either Low I100 “VI or High (10 VI input range
Se”SitlYltY.
DISCRIMINATOR A ’ 10.turn precision potentiometer
to adjust the trigger level of Discriminator‘A.
RELAY A type MS31125 connector on the rear panel
furnishes the connections to the contacts of the 4PDT
internal relay: each contact circuit is rated at 5 A, 120 V ac
noninductive; circuit connections shown in schematic
461.0101.Sl at the back of this manual. Note that the re-
lay is normally energized when power is turned on for
fail-safe system operation.
DISCRIMINATOR B IO-turn precision potentiometer
to adjust the trigger level of Discriminator B. ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL
SWITCH 2 Slide switch on printed circuit board selects
response mode for Discriminator B; the discriminator can
be triggered bv an input level higher than the set point or
If can be triggered bv an input lower than the set point.
POWER REQUIRED +24 V. 0 “A; +12 V, 55 “A:
24 V. 30 “A; - 12 V. 30 “A.
SWITCH 3 Slide switch on printed circuit board selects
the COntrOl for the alarm relay as either Discriminator A
Onlv or Discriminator A or B.
WEIGHT (Shipping) 3.5 lb Il.5 kg).
WEIGHT (Net) 1.5 lb (0.7 kg).
DIMENSIONS Standard NIM single-width module (1.35 x
8.714 in.1 per TID-20893 (Rev.).
INPUT RELATED EQUIPMENT
‘NPUT BNC tvpe UG-1094/U connectors on front and
‘ear Pane’s accept a” analog OUtPUt from a ratemeter;
apPrppriate range is either O-100 mV or O-10 V according
to the front-panel switch selection.
The input to the 461 can be furnished from any ratemeter
that has a 0. to 100.mV or a 0- to 10-V analog output.
Compatible ORTEC ratemeters are the 441 and 449.

3. INSTALLATION
3.1 GENERAL
The 461 Alarm Control is designed for installation and
operation in an ORTEC 401AI402A Bin and Power SuPPiv.
or equal. The Bin and Power Supply is designed for relay
rack mounting and is usually installed in a rack that houses
other electronic equipment. Therefore any vecuum tube
equipment or other heat source that operates in the same
rack with the 461 must be sufficiently cooled with CiT-
culatingair to prevent localized heating of the transistorized
and integrated circuits in the 461. The maximum limit for
safeoperation of the461 is 5O’C (120pFl, and the tempera-
ture of equipment mounted in racks can easily exceed
this limit unless precautions are taken.
3.2 CONNECTION TO POWER
The 461 does not include any internal power supply, but
must obtain its operating power from the standard bin and
power supply in which it is installed for operation. Always
turn off the power before inserting or removing instrument
modules. The ORTEC NIM modules are designed so that
a full complement of modules in the bin will not overload
the bin power supply. However, this may not be true when
the bin contains modules of other than ORTEC design, and
power supply voltages should be checked when other
modules are inserted, The ORTEC 401AI402A has test
points on the Power Supply control panel to monitor the
dc voltages.
3.3 INPUT CONNECTION
Furnish the input to the 461 from an analog output of a
ratemeter. If this is furnished from an ORTEC 441 Rate-
meter. connect the 100.mV Recorder output of the
Ratemeter to the 461 Input and Set the front-panel slide
switch et Low. If it is furnished from en DRTEC 449
Log/Lin Ratemeter, use either the Analog 10-V output end
set the front-panel switch et High or use the IM).mV
output and set the switch et Low. If the analog input to the
461 is furnished from any other source. set the front-panel
switch to correspond to the range available from the source.
3.4 RELAY CIRCUITS
No power is furnished to the contacts of the internal relay.
Each of its four poles furnishez a double-throw switch to
transfer en input between two output contacts, and can
control Switching in a circuit with up to 120 V ac and up to
5 A. The four input contacts are isolated from each other.
The relay is normally energized when power is applied to
the 461, and the configuration shown in schematic
461.0101.Sl shows the relay contacts in their energized
position. Response from the discriminator(sl will de-
energize the relay 2nd transfer each pole to its alternate
position.
3.5 BNC OUTPUT CONNECTIONS
Each of the internal discriminatorsisadjusted independently.
The rear-panel output connector for Discriminator A is high
(t5 V) when the discriminator is triggered on and is low
(0 VI when it is off. The discriminator will be triggered
when the analog level at the input exceeds the Disc A
control setting and will be off when the input level is less
than the adjusted level. The independent Discriminator 6
output has the same characteristics, but en internal switch
determines whether this discriminator is triggered on by
input levels that are either above the adjusted level or
below it. Application techniques will determine which
switch setting is appropriate for use of Discriminator 6.
4. OPERATION
4.1 GENERAL 4.2 TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
When the 461 is installed in a bin and power supply and
power is applied to its circuits, the internal relay will
normally be energized. This normal condition depends
on either of two internal conditions and no input; one
internal condition is the selection of A Only for the relay
control; the other condition is the selection of A + 6 for
relay control and a High setting for Disc 6. If the internal
selection is A + 6 for relay control and Disc 6 is Set for
Low, Discriminator 6 will be triggered with no input and the
relay will be de-energized.
Figure 4.1 is a typical alarm circuit. For this circuit the
analog output from a ratemeter is used es the 461 input,
and Discriminator A in the 461 is adjusted to the level that
indicates the measurement of a hazardous rate. If such a
rate were to occur, the relay contacts in the 461 would
close the circuit between pins C and G in the Relay
connector to complete the 100-V ac circuit to the alarm.
The alarm would continue until the rate is decreased suf-
ficiently to drop the input analog signal below the adjusted
Disc A level.

3
Fig. 4.1. Typical Alarm Circuit.
1” Fig, 4.1 the 10-V Analog output of th,e 449 is suggested
as the 467 Input signal. For this com,bmatlon the front-
panel switch of the 461 must be set et High. AS an alternate,
the461 Inputcould be furnished from a 100.mV source and
rhe front.p.mel switch set at Low, and the system would
operate in the same nl~!ner.
The circuit of Fig. 4.1 does not require the use of Disc B.
To prevent a false alarm that would result from triggering
of the Disc B portion of the 461, the Internal switch to
control the relay must be set at A Only. As a suggestion,
the Disc B control could be adjusted for a IOWX level than
Disc B with the internal switch for Disc B set et High, and
the Disc B front-panel light will then Serve as a monitor of
some intermediate rate.
Figure 4.2 shows an application of the 461 as a process
controller, For an example, suppose that the internal switch
for Disc B were set at Low. The Controller #l circuit
would then indicate when an input rate fell below some
minimum level and Controller #2 would indicate when the
input rate increases above ?ame maximum level. By using
the Disc A and Disc 6 controls to identify these maximum
Fig. 4.2. Typical Process Control Circuit,
and minimum rates, the operation of an automated
production line could be kept within a controlled range.
The rates could represent the number of pieces in an
assembly line, the average weight at a point on a moving
belt, the moisture content in a slurrv mixture, or any other
variable quantity in an automated process. In addition to
the suggested signals from the BNC connectors, the flexible
relay circuits are also available for any powered functions
that can be controlled automatically.
Although the461 was designed as an accessory to a standard
NIM ratemeter, and these typical applications have been for
e ratemeter as a source for the input, any analog signal
source could be used. The only restrictions on the analog
inputare that it must fall within either the @ to +10-V High
input range or the O- to +lOO-mV Low input range in
order for the responses of the 461 discriminators to be
adjusted for sensitivity to changes in the input analog levels.
The dc output of a preamplifier can be used to indicate
en input rate directly. A voltage can be obtained that is
proportional to accelerator beam current, and adjusted
for compatability with the 461. Voltage monitoring for the
appropriate dc range can be arranged easily for many
various applications.
5. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
5.1 GENERAL
The circuits of the OR‘TEC 461 Alarm Control are shown
in schematic 461.0101.Sl at the back of this manual. The
mPut circuits are et the left on the diagram, Discriminator
A is across the top, and Discriminator B is across the lower
Portion of the schematic,
5.2 INPUT CIRCUIT
An analog input can be connected into the 461 through
either the front- or rear-panel BNC connector. Since these
Connectors are not isolated, input signals should not be
furnished into both connectors simultaneously. If the
front-panel switch is set at High, the input will be
furnished directly to both the Disc A and Disc B circuits.
lf the Switch is set at Low, the input is routed through an
amplifier, IC 1, and then is furnished to the discriminators.
P*tmiometer R13 balances the dc level of the IC 1
amplifier. The actual range of voltages applied to the
discriminators is o to 6 v.
5.3 DISCRIMINATOR A
IC 2 is Discriminator A. A bias level is furnished to pin 3
from the Disc A control, and the input level is furnished to
pin 2. As long as the level et pin 3 is more positive than the
level at pin 2, Disc A is not triggered. When the level at pin
2 increases above the bias at pin 3, the discriminator is
triggered on and will remain in this state until the input
level drops below the bias level again.
While IC 2 is not triggered, Ql conducts and holds the
Q2 emitter negative. This cuts off 03. Q6. and 04. With
Q3 cut off, the front-panel lamp will not light. With Q6
cut off, there is no signal to the relay. With 04 cut off, the
signal through the rear-panel Disc A BNC is held et 0 V.
When IC 2 is triggered, it cuts off Ql and makes the Q2
emitter more positive. This turns on Q3 and the front-panel
Disc A lamp; Q6 conducts and de-energizes the relay; and
Q4 conducts and furnishes a nominal +5 V through the
Disc A rear-panel BNC connector.

5.4 DISCRIMINATOR B
IC3 isDiscriminator B. It respondsthesame as Discriminator
Aexcept that the internal switch can reverse the connections
from the Disc B control and the input between pins 2 and
3. Thus this discriminator can be triggered by an input
level that is either above the bias level or below the bias
level.
When IC 3 is not triggered, Q7 conducts and prevents any
further response in the461 circuits.
When IC 3 is triggered, Q7 is cut off. Q9 will then conduct
and light the Disc B lamp on the front panel. QlOconducts,
and the signal out through the Disc B connector rises from
0 to a nominal t5 V.
If the internal switch for relay control is set at A Only, there
will be no effect on the relay due to the condition of IC 3.
If the internal switch is set at A + B, Q12 will conduct
when IC 3 is triggered, and this de-energizes the relay.
5.5 RELAY CIRCUIT
Q13 controls the circuit to the relay. When power is turned
on and both Q6 and Cl12 are Cut off, Q13 conducts and the
relay is energized. The relay contacts are then in the
positions shown in the schematic diagram. When either
06 or 012, or hot?, conducts, this cuts off Q13 to
de-energize the relay and switch each of its four sets of
contacts to the alternate circuit.
Since the relay is normally energized, the circuit between
pins D and H of the Relay connector is designated as
normally closed, and the circuit between pins C and G is
designated normally open. The C to G circuit can be used
to directly control the power to an alarm, although there
are various alternate circuit configurations that are also
furnished through the r&w.
5.6 .POWER REGULATION
Each of the four dc levels furnished from the bin and power
supply is filtered in the 461. A special filter, R54 and ClO.
furnishes +12 V to both discriminator control circuits with
an isolation from any transients that may occur in the
remaining functionsserved by this input level.
The -6-V level required by IC 2 and IC 3 is obtained from
the -12-V input. Q14 operates as a Zener diode to regulate
this for the required power to the IC circuits.
6. MAINTENANCE
6.1 GENERAL
Operation of the ORTEC 461 Alarm Control is identified
directly by its front-panel indications, its signals through
rear-panel BNC connectors, and the operation of its
internal relay. The description of its circuits in Section 5
will aid in any troubleshboting that may be necessary.
level signal in the 0. to +10-V range. The calibrating control
is wxentiometer Rl3. a lo-turn screwdriver cotentiometer
m&ted on the printed circuit in the insirument. This
potentiometer has been factory-adjusted for the properrrent,omerer nas Dee” TaCmrV-aa,“Sfecl mr tne proper
balance in IC 1 with a quiescent output of 0 to -20 mV at,I-^-^ :? IC 1 with a quiescent output of 0 to -20 mV at
pin 6. and should not require any readjustment unless thisI should not require any readjustment unless this
integrated circuit is replaced.-i--~~‘* is replaced.
6.3 FACTORY REPAIR
6.2 CALIBRATION
The only calibration in the 461 is the balance of its input
amplifier, IC 1. This is in the input circuit only if the
front-panel switch is set at Low and should amplify an
analog signal in a 0. to +lOO-mV range for a response in the
461 at a point that is proportional to its response to a High
The ORTEC 461 may be returned to the factory at any
time for repair or recalibration. Our standard procedure is
to use the same rigid quality control and checkout that are
used for a new instrument. Always contact the Customer
Service Department before shipping an instrument to the
factory. The telephone number is [phone].

Pin Function Pin Function
1 +3 Volts
2 - 3 Volts
3 spare Bus
4 Reserved Bus
5 Coaxial
6 Coaxial
7 Coaxial
8 200 volts dc
9 Spare
l 10 +6 volts
l 11 - 6 volts
12 Resewed Bus
13 Carry No. 1
14 Spare
15 RWTWd
l 16 Cl2 volts
l 17
- 12 volts
18 Spare Bus
19 Reserved Bus
20 spare
21 Spare
22 ResW&d
23
24
25
26
27
l 2S
‘29
30
31
32
l 33
“34
35
36
37
38
39
40
l 41
l 42
G
REW-Ved
Re%?Wd
ReWWd
spare
Spare
+24 voltr
- 24 volts
Spare Bus
Carry No. 2
spare
115 volts ac (Hot)
Power Return Grou
Reset
Gate
Spare
Coaxial
Coaxial
Coaxial
115 volts ac (Neut.)
High Quality Groun
Ground Guide Pin
BIN/MODULE CONNECTOR PIN ASSIGNMENTS
FOB AEC STANDARD NUCLEAR INSTRUMENT MODULES
PER TID-20893
The transistor types installed in your instrument may differ
from those shown in the schematic diagram. In such cases,
necessary replacements can be made with either the type
shown in the diagram 6r the type actuallv used in the
instrument.