SatisGeo KT- 6 User manual

Field Rock Magnetic Susceptibility Meter
KAPPAMETER
KT- 6
Instruction Manual
portable geophysical instruments
tel/fax: [phone] Ječná 29a
e-mail: [e-mail] 621 00 Brno
www.satisgeo.com Czech Republic

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. GENERAL INFORMATION 4
1.1 Applications 4
1.2 Specifications 4
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUMENT 7
2.1 Operating Principle 7
2.2 Design 7
3. OPERATION 8
3.1 Battery Instalation 8
3.2 Power ON/OFF 9
3.3 Measurement 10
3.4 Data Memory 13
3.5 Scan Mode 16
3.6 Low Battery Voltage Indication 18
3.7 Date and Time Set 18
3.8 Miscellaneous 19
4. MEASURING METHODS 20
4.1 Measured Value and Corrections 20
4.1.1 True and Apparent Susceptibility 20
4.1.2 Effect of the Gap between the Active Face of the
Instrument and the Rock Surface 21

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4.1.3 Corrections for Surface Unevenness and for Finite
Dimensions 22
4.1.4 Measurement on a Cylindrical Surface 23
4.2 Instructions for Measurement 24
4.2.1 Measurement on Outcrops 24
4.2.2 Piece Specimen Measurement 25
4.2.3 Drill Core Measurement 25
5. ERROR MESSAGES 26
6. MAINTENANCE 27
7. WARRANTY 28
8. CONNECTORS WIRING 29

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1. GENERAL INFORMATION
1.1 Applications
The pocket susceptibility meter KT-6 is designed for
quick field measurements of magnetic susceptibility of
outcropping rocks, drill cores and larger pieces of rocks.
The use of KT-6 is especially advantageous for selecting
of suitable specimens for further precise laboratory
studies of magnetic properties.
1.2 Specifications
Sensitivity:
1x10-5 SI units.
Measuring ranges: from -999 to 9999 x 10-3 SI
units with automatically
switched accuracy (9.99,
99.9, 999).
Operating frequency:
10 kHz.
Display:
4 digit LCD, 13 mm high.
Data memory:
up to 70 measurements.
Controls:
set switch, two touch switches:
Clear/Measure [C/M],
Recall [RCL].

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Serial interface RS-232C:
Baud rate: 9600Bd.
Format: 10 bits (1 start, 8
data, 1 stop), no parity.
Power consumption:
10 mA (average).
Battery:
9 V alkaline, IEC standard
type 6LF22.
Ambient operating
temperature:
from -10OC to +55OC.
Dimensions (diameter x
length):
65 x 187 mm.
Weight :
0.35 kg (including battery).
Accessories:
leather case, instruction manual,
RS-232C cable,
floppy disk with a
communication program.
Note: The instrument is delivered without the battery.

Fig. 1. Principal elements of KT-6
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2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUMENT
2.1 Operating Principle
The fundamental part of the instrument is an LC
oscillator of 10 kHz, the inductivity of which is embodied
by a flat measuring coil situated at the active face of the
instrument. The susceptibility measurement is performed
in two steps. The frequency of the oscillator is measured
with the coil at some distance from the rock (free space
measurement) and then with the coil applied to the rock
surface. From the frequency difference the true
susceptibility is computed by the built-in microcomputer
and then displayed. For the details see section 4.
Measuring methods.
2.2 Design
The use of a microprocessor and LSI circuits of very low
power consumption made it possible to decrease the size
of the instrument to such an extent that the KT-6 could
be designed for one-hand operation. A robust leather
case, which can be either carried on a strap over the
shoulder or worn on a waist-belt, facilitates the KT-6 field
manipilation.
The instrument case consist of two hermetically insulated
compartments. The water- and dust-proof front
compartment contains all electronics together with the
measuring coil, touch switches and display. The battery
and the set switch are housed in the rear compartment
covered with a lid - see Fig.1.

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3. OPERATION
3.1 Battery Instalation
Caution:
• Before any manipulation with the battery, the
instrument must be turned off.
The instrument is powered by one 9 V battery type
6LF22 IEC standard. The battery is housed in the rear
compartment of the instrument. The covering lid can be
removed by unscrewing the fixing screw. The battery is
then removed by pulling out the textile strip. A new
battery is then connected, the textile strip inserted and
the battery put in.
Caution:
• The battery compartment is not waterproof. If the
interior gets wet, the compartment must be dried
to prevent the contacts from corroding.
• If long-term storage of the KT-6 is anticipated,
remove the battery from the instrument to prevent
damage from electrolytic leakage. After long
storage always inspect the battery.
If a standard dry battery is used, the operation time will
exceed 100 hours. The instrument can also be powered
by a rechargeable battery. The operating time is then
shorter, approximately 30 hours. It is necessary to
recharge the battery outside the instrument using the
charger.

3.2 Power ON/OFF
The instrument can be switched on by pressing [any]
touch switch. The buzzer beeps and the display shows
the stand-by status:
Fig. 2
or
Fig. 3
while the switch is held down. This is also a test of the
display. The character ‘b’ left of the most significant digit
indicates low battery voltage. For further information see
section 3.6.
When the switch is released, the display shows the
current time (or date respectively).
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Fig. 4
If the display does not show the pattern given in Fig. 2 or
Fig. 3 or Fig. 4 and fails to do so even if the instrument is
switched on and off several times. proceed according to
section 5.
The instrument is switched off automatically 40 seconds
after the last pressing a switch.
3.3 Measurement
Immediately after switching on the instrument is ready to
measure. The measurement is carried out in two steps.
By pressing the switch [C/M] on the side of the
instrument (see Fig. 1) for the first time, the instrument is
cleared (zeroed); by pressing this switch for the second
time, the susceptibility of the specimen is measured.
To be cleared properly, the instrument must be removed
from the measured rock and from other magnetic or
conductive objects to a distance of at least 30 cm. The
clearing cycle takes about 0.3 s. At the end of the cycle
the display shows:
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Fig. 5
The character ‘C’ indicates that the instrument is cleared.
The digits give the number of readings stored in the
memory - see section 3.4.
The measurement must then be completed within 10 s,
otherwise the instrument reverts to the stand-by status
and the display shows the time. This is audibly indicated.
In this case clear must be repeated. During the
measuring interval the active face of the KT-6 must be
pressed lightly against the surface of the rock measured.
When the [C/M] switch is pressed for the second time,
the measuring cycle is started. It takes approx. 0.3 s. At
the end of this cycle the true susceptibility of the rock (in
10-3 SI units) is displayed.
The formats of the susceptibility display for the individual
ranges are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.
Fig. 6
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Fig. 7
Fig. 8
If the susceptibility is lower than –999 x 10-3 SI units or
higher than 9999 x 10-3 SI units, the instrument will
display the error condition:
Fig. 9
A negative value of the susceptibility measured in the
free space lower than -0.01 x 10-3 SI units may suggest
that the instrument does not work properly.
If, after completion of the first measurement, the [C/M]
switch is pressed again, the instrument will be cleared,
the display shows:
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Fig. 10
and the clear/measure sequence can proceed as
described above.
3.4 Data Memory
Up to 70 measured susceptibility values with the date
and time of the measurement can be stored in the data
memory. The displayed value is automatically stored in
the memory if the [C/M] switch is pressed again, i. e.
during the next clearing period.
If, for some reason, it is not desirable to store the data
just displayed, the [RCL] switch must be pressed before
pressing the [C/M] switch.
When the 70th measurement is stored in the memory,
the display shows:
Fig 11
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From this moment all further measurements are flagged
by the character ‘F’ (full):
Fig. 12
Storing this data in the memory causes the first stored
value to be pushed out, so that always the last 70
measurements are stored in the data memory (i.e. FIFO -
first in first out).
The stored data can be recalled and displayed by
pressing the [RCL] switch at any time. First the serial
number of the measurement appears for about 0.5 s, e.
g.
Fig. 13
followed by the respective susceptibility value.
Measurements are displayed successively in the order
reverse to the measurement sequence. In this way all the
stored data can be surveyed.
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After the oldest value the notice ‘CL’ is displayed:
Fig. 14
warning the operator that another pressing of the [RCL]
switch clears the whole memory and the instrument
reverts to the stand-by status. If the [C/M] switch is
pressed instead, the contents of the memory will be
retained.
Note:
• The data stored in the memory are not lost when
the KT-6 is switched off,
• but they are lost when the battery is low or being
replaced.
The contents of the data memory can be sent to a
computer via the RS-232C interface using the program
Kmdata.exe. The program is supplied with the
instrument. To install the program simply copy it to a
desired directory on a hard disk. It is not recommended
to run the program from the diskette.The program
Kmdata.exe runs under Windows 95 and allows the data
to be transmitted from the kappameter to the computer
and stored in a text file.
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Instructions:
• Connect the serial output of KT-6 with the COM port of
the computer.
• Switch on the KT-6.
• Start the program Kmdata.exe.
• Select the COM1 or COM2 or other if necessary (item
Data - Setup in the main menu),
• Select the item Data - Receive in the main menu.
• Select the item File - Save as. The values of the
susceptibility with respective datum and time are
saved in a text file.
Note:
• The values of the susceptibility processed in the
computer are displayed, printed or saved in SI
units. The numbers are thousand times smaller
than those displayed on the KT-6, where the 10-3 SI
units are used.
3.5 Scan Mode
The scan mode enables to get fast information on the
distribution of susceptibility over a particular rock object.
In this mode the measurements are repeated
automatically in half a second intervals. Each
measurement is displayed but not stored in the memory.
Each value is audibly indicated in the logarithmic scale
relative to the first value.
The scan mode is achieved when the instrument is
waiting for clearing (in the stand-by status or after a
measurement). Press the [C/M] switch in free space,

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hold it down, place the instrument against a rock,
simultaneously press the RCL switch and then release
both switches.
The scan mode stops when the [C/M] switch is kept
pressed for about 0.5 s.
Note:
• Variations of the ambient temperature cause
changes in the inductivity of the measuring coil
and consequently changes in the oscillator
frequency. In the normal measurement mode,
these changes are eliminated because the free
space frequency of the oscillator is measured in
the clearing cycle prior to each measurement.
• In the scan mode only one measurement of the
free space frequency is used for calculating all the
following susceptibility values. The temperature
drift causes a gradual decrease of the accuracy of
results. It is expedient to interrupt work in this
mode from time to time and to clear the instrument
again. Though the influence of the temperature
drift can be suppressed in this way.
• The scan mode is not recommended for precise
measurements of low susceptibility values.

3.6 Low Battery Voltage Indication
If the battery voltage drops below 5.3 V, the character ‘b’
appears at the most left position of the display. The
battery condition is tested at switching the instrument on
and each time the susceptibility value is displayed.
Fig. 15
When the warning ‘b’ appears, the KT-6 will operate
properly for several more hours. Nevertheless, it is
recommended to replace the battery soon.
3.7 Date and Time Set
A setting mode is entered by pressing the [SET] switch -
see Fig. 1. The blinking value (hours, minutes, year,
month, day) can be modified by pressing [C/M] touch
switch, the next item is achieved by pressing the [RCL]
touch switch. Another pressing the set switch ends the
setting mode and enters the measuring mode. After
switching on the instrument is always in the measuring
mode.
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3.8 Miscellaneous
The instrument should be protected from heavy shocks
and kept clean. Special attention should be paid to the
condition of the battery contacts. An unreliable contact
can depreciate proper operation of the instrument.
Both touch switches are very sensible so that only
moderate pressure is needed for switching. It is indicated
by the buzzer or by change in the display.

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4. MEASURING METHODS
4.1 Measured Value and Corrections
4.1.1 True and Apparent Susceptibility
The value measured with the KT-6 depends on the size
and shape of the rock object.
The instrument KT-6 is calibrated for the idealized case
in which the pick-up coil is attached to an absolutely
smooth plane confining a half-space filled with
magnetically homogeneous and isotropic medium. Then
the displayed value of the susceptibility is the true value.
(The true value of susceptibility is computed in the
microprocessor from the measured, so called apparent,
susceptibility.)