Polimaster PM1704A User manual

© 2013-2015 Polimaster Ltd. All Rights Reserved
SPECTROSCOPIC
PERSONAL RADIATION DETECTORS
PM1704A
models
PM1704A
PM1704A-M
PM1704A-GN
PM1704A-GNM
OPERATIONS MANUAL
http://www.polimaster.com

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Contents
READ THIS FIRST..................................................................................3
PRECAUTIONS .....................................................................................4
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................. 5
1.1. Specifications...............................................................................................................................6
1.2. Display and control buttons................................................................................................7
1.3. Clip installation/removal.......................................................................................................9
1.4. Battery installation.................................................................................................................10
1.5. Setting current date/time..................................................................................................11
1.6. Selecting battery type..........................................................................................................11
2. OPERATION....................................................................................12
2.1. Turning the instrument ON/OFF ...................................................................................12
2.2. Going through self-tests and background calibration .....................................12
2.3. Normal operation (Search mode) .................................................................................12
2.3.1. Getting a new background ..................................................................... 13
2.3.2. Setting a new threshold (n coefficient).............................................. 13
2.3.3. False alarms ................................................................................................... 14
2.3.4. Autocalibration ............................................................................................ 15
2.4. Measurement mode............................................................................................................. 15
2.4.1. Setting new thresholds............................................................................. 16
2.4.2. Resetting statistics (restarting measurement)................................. 17
2.5. Acquiring gamma-scintillation spectra .....................................................................17
2.5.1. Establishing proper count rate .............................................................. 17
2.5.2. Acquiring spectra ........................................................................................ 18
2.6. Radioisotope Identification ..............................................................................................18
2.6.1. Selecting the library and setting up identification parameters19
2.6.2. Displaying peaks Information ................................................................ 20
2.7. DE measurement mode ..................................................................................................... 20
2.7.1. Setting new thresholds............................................................................. 21
2.7.2 Reset value of the accumulated DE ...................................................... 21
3. SETUP .............................................................................................22
4. COMMUNICATION WITH COMPUTER ...........................................23
5. MAINTENANCE ..............................................................................24
5.1. Energy Calibration Check...................................................................................................24
5.2. Manual Energy Calibration................................................................................................25
6. TROUBLESHOOTING......................................................................27

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READ THIS FIRST
Thank you for purchasing this Polimaster product. Before operating the
unit, please read this guide thoroughly, and retain it for future reference.
Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detectors (SPRDs) PM1704A are
designed to detect, search, locate and identify gamma emitting
radioactive sources as well as detect neutron radioactive materials
(gamma-neutron models) and measure dose and dose rate of gamma
radiation (GM detector models). The user need not be an expert in health
physics to operate this instrument; however, understanding basic
parameters and settings is required for proper operation.

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PRECAUTIONS
1. Avoid severe mechanical shocks and submerging the
instrument in water.
2. Do not store the instrument with the battery installed. The
battery may leak once depleted causing severe damage to the
instrument and voiding the warranty.
3. Keep the instrument at least 4 inches from radio emitting
sources to avoid false positives.

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1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
PM1704A (hereinafter referred to as the “instrument/s”) is a new family
of extremely sensitive, small and power safe Spectroscopic Personal
Radiation Detectors. When the instrument is ON it continuously monitors
radiation in the environment and compares it to a normal background
and threshold set by the user. In the event that thresholds are exceeded,
PM1704A warns the user with audio and/or vibration signals about the
presence of a radiation source nearby and enables manual and/or
automatic express identification, as well as transmission of spectra files
to remote reach back system.
All operation history is stored in the instrument’s non-volatile memory
and may be downloaded to a personal computer through a USB
connection or via Bluetooth 4.0 interface. PM1704A is also equipped
with built-in GPS to enable geocached data logging.
The instrument may be used both indoors and outdoors by a variety of
users whose professional duties involve detection and location of
radiation sources.
There are four different modifications of PM1704A: two gamma-only and
two gamma-neutron. They differ in the number and kind of detectors
used.
Gamma-only Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detectors:
•PM1704A is basic Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detector
with CsI(Tl) scintillation detector. The smallest and lightest
model in PM1704A product line;
•PM1704A-M is combined Spectroscopic Personal Radiation
Detector-Dosimeter with two independent gamma detection
channels: highly sensitive CsI(Tl) scintillator and additional
energy compensated Geiger-Muller detector to extend the
measurement range of the SPRD up to 1,000 R/h;
Gamma-neutron Spectroscopic Personal Radiation Detectors:
•PM1704A-GN is a standard gamma-neutron Spectroscopic
Personal Radiation Detector with two independent detection
channels: one for gamma (CsI(Tl) scintillator) and one for
neutron (Li6I(Eu) scintillator);
•PM1704A-GNM is a combined gamma-neutron Spectroscopic
Personal Radiation Detector-Dosimeter with three independent
detection channels. In addition to detectors used in PM1704A-
GN, the GNM model is equipped with an additional energy
compensated Geiger-Muller detector to extend the
measurement range of the SPRD up to 1,000 R/h.

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1.1. Specifications
The table below summarizes the basic specifications of and major
differences between four PM1704A models:
Gamma
Gamma-neutron
PM1704A
PM1704A-M
PM1704A-GN
PM1704A-GNM
Detectors
Spectroscopic gamma
CsI(Tl) detector




Li6(Eu) neutron detector
N/A
N/A


Geiger Muller detector
N/A

N/A

Sensitivity, gamma
(search mode)
for 137Cs, not less than
100 cps/(μSv/h) // 1 cps/(μR/h)
for 241Am, not less than
300 cps/(μSv/h) // 3 cps/(μR/h)
Sensitivity, neutrons
for Pu-α-Be, not less than
N/A
N/A
0.07 counts per cm2/neutron
for thermal neutrons, not
less than
N/A
N/A
2.0 counts per cm2/neutron
Indication range (search
mode)
gamma
from 1 to 9999 cps
neutron
N/A
N/A
from 0.01 to 999 cps
Indication range, gamma
0,01 – 130
µSv/h
(1 μR/h –
13 mR/h)
0,01 µSv/h –
13 Sv/h
(1 μR/h –
1300R/h)
0,01 – 130
µSv/h
(1 μR/h –
13 mR/h)
0,01 µSv/h – 13
Sv/h
(1 μR/h –
1300R/h)
Accuracy of exposure rate
measurement
in collimated
Cs-137 radiation:
- for PM1704A, PM1704A-
GN: from 0,1 -100 μSv/h (
10
μR/h to 10 mR/h);
- for PM1704A-M, PM1704A-
GNM: from 0,1 μSv/h -
10
Sv/h (10 μR/h to 1000 R/h);
)HK(20 1
⋅
+±
at 68 °F (+20°C)
Additional exposure rate
measurement error due to
temperature variations
±15% in the temperature range from -4 to +122 °F (-20 to
+50°C)
DE Indication range
N/A
0,01 µSv –
1,3 Sv
10 μR
–
130 R
N/A
0,01 µSv –
1,3 Sv
10 μR
–
130 R
Accuracy
of DE measurement from
0,1 μSv to 1 Sv
N/A
±20% at 68 °F
(+20°C)
N/A
±20% at 68 °F
(+20°C)
Energy range
gamma
0.033 – 3.0 MeV
neutron
N/A
N/A
thermal to 14 MeV
Response time
0.25 s
Radionuclide
identification
In accordance with ANSI 42.48 requirements

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Number of MCA channels
1024
Energy resolution, not
more than
9% at 0.662 MeV Cs-137
Alarm types
visual, audible, vibration
Power requirements
one AA size battery
Battery lifetime
up to 300 hours
PC communication
USB, Bluetooth 4.0 interfaces
Data collection, at least
1000 data points, 100 spectra files
Environmental:
temperature range
humidity
-4 to +122 °F (-20 to +50 °C)
up to 98% at +104 °F (+40 °C)
Water tightness
IP65
Drop test
1.5 m
Dimensions
75х87х38
mm
102х87х38
mm
102х87х38
mm
117х87х38 mm
Weight
230 g
260 g
280 g
300 g
1.2. Display and control buttons
An external view of the instrument is presented below:1
1This section describes the instruments’ front panel and LCD screen
using as an example the PM1704A-GN model switched on and in Search
mode.

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The instrument’s front panel bears:
-two control buttons located on the top panel of the instrument:
MODE/SET button “” (1), and SELECT button “” (2). These
buttons perform different functions depending on the mode
used.
-sound alarm speaker (3),
-LCD screen (4),
-luminance sensor (5),
-light alarm indicator (LED) (6).
The instrument’s display has three main information zones that are used
to display the following information:
Zone 1 – service information panel. May display the following symbols:
- external power source;
- audio and vibration alarms are disabled;
- audio alarm is enabled;
- vibration alarm is enabled;
- Bluetooth module is enabled;
- GPS module is enabled;
– battery charge level;
−Search mode is enabled;
02:44 (13:52) - current time.
Zone 2 – main working screen. Different information is displayed
depending on the operation mode of the instrument.
Zone 3 - analog bar on the bottom of display. Depending on which
mode the instrument is in, the analog bar may indicate time left until
self-tests or background calibration are completed or, if the alarm is
triggered in normal operation mode, the relative value of the count rate
in excess of the calculated threshold.

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1.3. Clip installation/removal
The instrument (except the basic PM1704A model) has a clip and may be
fasten to the user’s belt. The clip may be removed using a screwdriver or
similar tool, and easily replaced later, as shown in the pictures below:

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1.4. Battery installation
The PM1704A series is shipped without the battery installed. To install
the battery, unscrew the two fasteners located on the both sides of the
unit (using a coin, turn the fastener anti-clockwise to unlock them), and
remove the battery compartment cover (see picture below). Then insert
a single AA-type battery into the battery holder following polarity
instructions on the label, reinstall the battery compartment cover and
tighten the fasteners. When the battery is properly installed, the audio
and vibration alarms are initiated for a short period of time. In a few
moments, the display will show the firmware version and battery charge
level before switching to the date/time setting menu.