Polimaster PM1401MA User manual

GAMMA PERSONAL RADIATION DETECTOR
РМ1401 MA

2
Operation Manual
Copyright
© Copyright 2009-2015 Polimaster Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction, adaptation or
translation without prior written permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the
copyright laws.
Trademarks
Polimaster® and Polismart®are registered trademarks of Polimaster Ltd.
Product Improvements
Continuous improvement of products is a policy of Polimaster Ltd. and its affiliates. All
specifications, operating and maintenance instructions are subject to changes that do not
make substantial effect on the product functionality and may be not mentioned in the
current Operation Manual.

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CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN .............................................................................................5
1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Specifications................................................................................................................................................................ 6
1.3 Display and control buttons .................................................................................................................................. 7
1.4 Clip installation/removal ......................................................................................................................................... 8
1.5 Battery installation ..................................................................................................................................................... 8
1.6 Delivery kit ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8
1.7 Accessories .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.7.1 Telescopic extension pole............................................................................................................... 9
1.7.2 Protective holster............................................................................................................................... 9
1.7.3 IR-adapter ............................................................................................................................................. 9
CHAPTER 2: OPERATION....................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Turning the instrument on/off............................................................................................................................11
2.2 Installation of the external vibrator ..................................................................................................................11
2.3 Going through self-tests and background calibration ............................................................................12
2.4 Operation Modes......................................................................................................................................................12
2.4.1. Search Mode.....................................................................................................................................12
2.4.2. Measurement mode.......................................................................................................................14
2.5 Low battery indication ...........................................................................................................................................14
2.6 Safety Alarm Threshold..........................................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 3: SETUP ................................................................................................................ 15
3.1 Setting up the n-coefficient .................................................................................................................................15
3.2 Enabling/disabling the audible and vibration alerts ................................................................................15
CHAPTER 4: PC COMMUNICATION....................................................................................... 17
MAINTENANCE AND TROUBLESHOOTING .......................................................................... 17
LIMITED WARRANTY ............................................................................................................ 18

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WELCOME
Thank you for purchasing a Polimaster Gamma Personal Radiation Detector
PM1401MA. Before operating this unit, please review this manual thoroughly and retain it for
the future references.
PM1401MA is designed to detect, search, and locate gamma radioactive sources.
PM1401MA uses Infrared (IR) interface to communicate with a personal computer.
The instrument is easily operated and requires only understanding of the basic
parameters and settings for proper operation.
PRECAUTIONS
•The PM1401MA is not a personal safety device. It is designed only for the detection
of radiation sources and does not function as a personal dosimeter.
•Keep the instrument at least 11 cm (4 in.) from radio emitting sources, such as cell
phones, to avoid false positives.
•Do not store the instrument with battery installed. The battery will leak once
depleted causing severe damage to the instrument and void the warranty.
•Do not expose the instrument to high temperatures. Environment operation
temperature range of the instrument shall be above -30 °C (-22 °F) and below +50 °C (+122
°F).
•Avoid severe mechanical shocks and submerging the instrument into water.

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CHAPTER 1: BEFORE YOU BEGIN
1.1 Introduction
Polimaster Gamma Personal Radiation Detector PM1401MA (hereinafter referred to as
“the instrument” or “РМ1401MA”) is a personal radiation detector with highly sensitive CsI(Tl)
scintillation crystal which provides fast response and localization of gamma radioactive
sources.
When ON, the instrument continuously monitors the environment for radiation and
alerts the user with visual, audio and/or vibrating alarms if radiation source is detected or any
of preset radiation thresholds are exceeded. All operations history is stored in the device’s
permanent memory, protecting the data even when the battery is removed. The stored data
can also be transferred from the PM1401MA to a personal computer via its IR interface.
The instrument can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments and is intended
for everyday and/or emergency use by firefighters, military, police, and other first responding
communities.

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1.2 Specifications
Detectors
Gamma
CsI(Tl) scintillator
Sensitivity, gamma radiation
Cs-137
Am-241
100 s-1/(µSv/h) / (1 s-1/(µR/h))
100 s
-1
/(µSv/h) / (1 s
-1
/(µR/h))
Energy range
Gamma
0.06 – 3.0 MeV
Measurement range
Gamma (±30 % at
137
Cs)
0.1 µSv/h – 70 µSv/h / (10 µR/h – 7000 µR/h)
Indication range
Gamma
0.01 µSv/h – 99.99 µSv/h / (1 µR/h – 9999 µR/h)
Response time
0.25 s
Alarm types
visual, audible and external vibrator
Power requirements
one AA size battery
Battery lifetime
Up to 1000 hours
Communication
IR interface
Memory
990 data points
Environmental
Temperature range
LCD indication
Humidity
-30 to +50 °C (-22 to +122 °F )
-15 to +50 °C (+5 to +122,5 °F )
up to 95 % at +35 °C (+95 °F )
Ingress Protection Rating
IP65
Dimensions
110х57х32 mm
(4
1/3
х 2
1/4
х 1
1/4
in)
Drop test
1,5 m (5 ft.) onto concrete surface
Weight, including battery
320 g.(11.29 oz)

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1.3 Display and control buttons
The instrument contains the following control and display components:
1. MODE button is used for turning the instrument ON; switching between
operation modes; background update (calibration); changing parameters in Setup
Menu.
2. LIGHT button is used for switching on the backlight, enabling IR-
communication with PC, changing parameters in Setup mode, turning the
instrument OFF.
3. IR port, is used for the advanced instrument setup and data download.
4. Alarm LED.
5. Battery compartment cover.
6. External vibrator socket.
7. Audible alarm buzzer.
8. LCD.
The LCD of the instrument may display any of the following information:
•gamma Dose Equivalent Rate in µSv/h or µR/h;
•gamma countrate in counts per second (s-1);
•average statistical error of the measured value in %;
•n coefficients: number of mean square deviations for the gamma threshold;
•Messages: "tESt", "CAL", “bAtt” , "OL", "oFF", "bt", etc.;
•Critical battery discharge : displayed when the battery voltage drops below
1.1 V.
The analog bar in the middle of the LCD display indicates the time left until self-tests
or the background calibration are completed. In the Search Mode, the bar represents a
relative value of a gamma count rate excess over the calculated alarm threshold (the point at
which the alarm is expected to be set off).
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3
2
4
6
8
5
7

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1.4 Clip installation/removal
The РМ1401MA comes with a clip, which may be used to fasten the instrument to
waist belt or pocket. The clip may be easily installed and removed from the instrument by
using a screwdriver or similar tool as shown on the figures below:
1.5 Battery installation
РМ1401MA is packaged without a battery installed. To install the battery, open the
battery compartment cover located on the right side of the instrument with a coin or
screwdriver. Once opened, insert a single AA battery loading the positive (+) end first.
Reinstall the battery cover and tighten it. If the battery is installed properly, the unit
will turn ON automatically, the LCD screen will display all segments for about 1 second and
then the unit will perform self-test and initiation procedures.
1.6 Delivery kit
The following items are included in the PM1401MA standard delivery kit:
•The PM1401MA instrument;
•External vibrator with wrist band;
•AA-LR6 Battery;
•CD-ROM with software;
•Operation Manual;
•Package.
Clip installation
Clip removal
1
2

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1.7 Accessories
The following optional accessories can be used with the PM1401MA:
•External vibrator;
•Telescopic extension pole;
•Protective holster;
•IR-adapter
All accessories can be ordered separately from the manufacturer and are not included
into the regular delivery set.
1.7.1 Telescopic extension pole
Optional telescopic extension pole can be used with PM1401MA to operate the
instrument in remote and hard-to-reach areas. It also allows connecting external vibrator to
the pole handle and the instrument’s socket to use vibrator. The following figures explain
how to fix to and remove the instrument from the telescopic extension pole.
Follow steps 1 and 2 to mount the instrument onto the pole clamp. Connect the lower
pole connector to the instrument (step 3); connect the external vibrator cable to the handle of
the telescopic pole (step 4), following guidelines in section 1.6.1.
Adjust the length of telescopic extension pole by using two clamps located on the
handle (arrows on the figure above).
1.7.2 Protective holster
Optionally PM1401MA can be equipped with holster that provides additional
protection for the instrument from weather, dust and occasional drops. It can be also fixed on
the waist belt using belt loop.
1.7.3 IR-adapter

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Optional IR-adapter may be used with PM1401MA to provide communication with a
PC (see Chapter 4 “PC Communication”).