Sun Nuclear 1027 User manual

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Professional Continuous
Professional ContinuousProfessional Continuous
Professional Continuous
Radon Monitor
Model 1027
U.S. Patent #4,871,914
Document No. 102711C
November, 2000
To stay current on the accessories, applications, and software for the Radon
monitor, please visit Sun Nuclear’s website, http://www.sunnuclear.com.
Sun Nuclear Corporation
425A Pineda Court
Melbourne, FL 32940-7508
http://www.sunnuclear.com
e-mail: [e-mail]
telephone: [phone]
fax: [phone]

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Introduction
IntroductionIntroduction
Introduction
Description
DescriptionDescription
Description
The Model 1027 Professional Continuous Radon Monitor is a patented elec-
tronic detecting device using a diffused-junction photodiode sensor to mea-
sure the concentration of radon gas. The unit is operated from standard line
power and includes a 9-volt battery which provides backup power. A numer-
ical display shows the average radon gas concentration. Using the data ports,
you can print a complete report or download the data to a personal computer.
The Model 1027 has been evaluated and accepted by the U.S Department of
Environmental Protection (EPA).
About Radon
About RadonAbout Radon
About Radon
EPA maintains a comprehensive web site on radon at: http://www.epa.gov/
iaq/radon/ where you can also find html-ready versions of all of EPA's docu-
ments, brochures, and publications relating to radon.
Below are descriptions of three of the more common EPA publications on
radon, copied from site http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/index.html.
A Citizen's Guide to Radon (second edition) The Guide To Protecting Yourself
And Your Family From Radon.
This booklet was developed by the EPA, The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, and the U.S. Public Health Service. This is the complete guide
to taking action to lower the radon level in your home. It offers strategies for test-
ing and discussions of what steps to take after you have tested, discussions of the
risk of radon, and radon myths. EPA Document Number 402-K-92-001, Septem-
ber 1994. (www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/citguide.html)
Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction How to Reduce Radon Levels in Your
Home...
This booklet is for people who have tested their home for radon and confirmed
that they have elevated radon levels. EPA Document Number 402-K-92-003.
(www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/consguid.html)
Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon
This guide has been developed for anyone buying or selling a home who wants to
learn about Radon. For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superinten-
dent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328. Order
Number - ISBN: 0-16-041680-9. EPA Document Number: 402-R-93-003,
March 1993. (www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html)
Application
ApplicationApplication
Application
In a typical test, you locate the Radon Monitor in the home to be monitored,
connect power, and leave it unattended for a period of two or more days.

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Ambient room air, laden with radon, diffuses into the monitor’s detection
chamber. Radon decay by-products emit alpha particles which are detected
by the photodiode.
At the end of the monitoring period, the results are available in any of three
forms: numerical display on the control panel, printed report on the accessory
printer, or computer display. Once down-loaded to the computer, a report can
be printed using standard programs.
After obtaining the report data, you can clear the memory and immediately
begin another test. The instrument is completely reusable and requires no
supplies except power and an optional backup battery.
The printer need not be present during testing. The radon monitor can be
moved from the test site, and the report printed later. If multiple tests must
be run simultaneously, a single printer or computer can support many radon
monitors.
Specifications
SpecificationsSpecifications
Specifications
Description Value
Power Supply Transformer converts 120 VAC, 1-phase, 60 Hz to
12 VDC, 200 mA
Measurement Range: 0.1 to 999 picocuries/liter (pCi/l)
Operating Range: 45 degrees F to 95 degrees F
Accuracy ±25% or 1 pCi/l, whichever is greater after 24
hours
Disturbance Sensor: Inertial switch
Data Port: RS-232, 9-pin, D-connector allows printer data to
be sent to PC
Detector: Diffused-junction photodiode
Measurement Interval: 1 hour (4, 8, or 24-hour intervals available by spe-
cial order)
Sensitivity: 2.5 counts per hour per picocurie per liter
Display: 3-digit display LED
Battery Backup: One 9V alkaline battery supplies approximately 20
hours of operation. LED indicates low battery.
Weight: 2 Lbs
Size: 8” x 4.7” x 2.5”
EPA Evaluation: US EPA accepted

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Controls
ControlsControls
Controls
Figure 1. Controls, displays, and connections
1PRINTER PORT: Only the Model 020030 portable printer can be con-
nected to this port. The printer must be connected and powered-on before
the information transfer is initiated. (See “Optional Portable Printer” on
page 10.)
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2DATA PORT: This RS-232 data port is designed to provide a means to
transfer the information from the monitor to a personal computer. The
information transferred is identical to that which is sent through the
printer port. (For further information, see “Data Transfer to a Personal
Computer” on page 14.)
3BATTERY ON-OFF: This switch connects and disconnects the battery.
When ON, the battery will power the monitor whenever line power is not
available. When OFF, the battery will not power the monitor when line
power is disconnected. This switch should be in the OFF position any
time the monitor is not deployed for a test. This is important for two rea-
sons: first, the battery life will be reduced, and second, the monitor will
continue making measurements as long as battery power is available,
which could inadvertently affect the results of a recent test. A fresh bat-
tery will provide about 20 hours of backup power if line power fails.
4TOP PANEL-ENABLE/DISABLE: The key switch enables and disables
the digital display and buttons on the top panel of the monitor. When in
the DISABLE position, the monitor’s measurement performance is not
affected. The monitor will function effectively in either key position. This
feature is designed to mitigate the temptation to tamper with a test.
5DISPLAY: 3-digit LED display. Three decimal points appear when AVG
or CUR is pressed after memory is cleared.
6pCi/l: Picocuries per liter – the units of radon gas concentration shown on
the display.
7AVG: When this button is pressed, the measured long-term average radon
gas concentration in pCi/l is displayed on the 3-digit display. This is the
cumulative average of the entire period since the memory was last
cleared. This value is not lost if the monitor loses all power.
8CUR: When this button is pressed, the measured short-term radon gas
concentration is displayed. This is a rolling average of the most recent 12
hours. This value is lost if the monitor loses power.
9PRINT or CLEAR: These two buttons function as PRINT and CLEAR only
when the YELLOW LED is blinking. To get into this mode, hold both but-
tons down until the YELLOW LED turns on. Then release the buttons, and
the YELLOW LED will begin to blink.
10 CLEAR: (the YELLOW LED must be blinking) When the button is pressed,
the YELLOW LED will turn off. Hold the button down until the YELLOW
LED turns on again; then release the button. The YELLOW LED and dis-
play LEDs will blink once followed by a single blink of the YELLOW LED.
The monitor memory has been cleared. The disturbance switch is inactive
for the next 15 seconds.

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11 PRINT: (the YELLOW LED must be blinking) When this button is
pressed, the monitor sends a report of the information contained in mem-
ory to the both the PRINTER and DATA ports. When the button is
pressed, the YELLOW LED will turn on. When released, the LED will turn
off and the data is then transferred. When the information transfer is com-
plete, the YELLOW LED will blink once.
12 YELLOW LED: The yellow LED is a function indicator. Normally it is off.
When the unit is powered up, it blinks twice, followed by a single blink,
indicating that the startup test is complete and that the unit is functioning
normally. During monitoring, the YELLOW LED blinks each time an alpha
particle is detected. If the monitor fails during monitoring, the yellow LED
will blink rapidly. When the buttons are in the PRINT/CLEAR mode, the
Yellow LED is blinking. In this mode:
• When the PRINT button is pressed, the YELLOW LED will turn on.
When PRINT is released, the LED will turn off and the data is then
transferred. When the information transfer is complete, the YELLOW
LED will blink once.
• When the CLEAR button is pressed, the YELLOW LED will turn off.
Hold the button down until the YELLOW LED turns on again; then
release the button. The YELLOW LED and display LEDs will blink
once followed by a single blink of the YELLOW LED. The monitor
memory has been cleared.
13 LO BAT: When the red LED is on, battery has about two hours of life
remaining. Note: Power adapter must be unplugged for this LO BAT test.
14 POWER: The green LED is on continuously when the monitor is powered
by line power, blinks when monitor is powered by batteries only, and off
when LO BAT is on.
15 HV OFF: The red LED is normally off. When on, the High Voltage circuit
is off, indicating that the monitor has failed. The unit must be returned to
the manufacturer for service.
16 Battery compartment: A single 9-volt alkaline battery is used as a power
backup for the monitor. The battery is NOT recharged by the monitor. A
new battery will operate the monitor for approximately 20 hours.
17 Power connection: The power adapter should be plugged into the moni-
tor BEFORE the adapter is plugged into line power.

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Operation
OperationOperation
Operation
Unpacking
UnpackingUnpacking
Unpacking
Unpack the monitor. The package contains a monitor and key, a power
adapter, the user’s manual, and a 3.5 inch floppy disk.
NOTE: Save the packing material if you plan on returning the monitor for peri-
odic re-calibrations.
Startup
StartupStartup
Startup
1. Place the radon monitor in the desired position within the space to be
monitored for radon gas. The monitor does not need to be level.
2. Plug the power adapter into the power input jack on the monitor (Figure
2).
3. Then plug the power adapter into a 120 VAC, 60 Hz wall outlet. The
green POWER LED will turn on. Avoid using switch-controlled outlets.
Figure 2. Connecting power to the radon monitor
4. The YELLOW LED will blink twice followed by a single blink. This indi-
cates the monitor has performed all internal diagnostics and is function-
ing properly.
5. Activate the Top Panel controls by inserting the key and turning to the
ENABLE position.
6. Press the AVG button. If the memory is clear, three decimal points will
appear in the display area. If the memory is not clear, the AVG button will
cause the long term average radon concentration to be displayed.

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Clear Memory
Clear MemoryClear Memory
Clear Memory
1. Press and hold both push button switches on top until the yellow LED
turns on; then release the push buttons. The yellow LED will begin to
blink.
CAUTION: Clear the memory before starting a new measurement. If you
don’t clear the memory, the average values will be wrong because the old
measurements still in memory from the previous test will be averaged with
the new measurements.
2. While the yellow LED is blinking, press and hold the CLEAR button. At
first the yellow led turns off; then the yellow LED turns on continuously,
not blinking.
3. Release CLEAR button while the yellow LED is on continuously.
4. When the yellow LED and display LEDs blink, followed by a single blink
of the yellow LED, the monitor has been cleared.
Conduct Test
Conduct TestConduct Test
Conduct Test
1. If desired, switch on the backup battery. A fresh battery will provide about
20 hours of back-up operation.
2. Switch the Top Panel key switch to the DISABLE position and remove the
key.
NOTE: The tamper sensor is always active except for a 15-second period
immediately following the Clear command. To avoid a tamper notation on the
first reading, be sure that you do not move or jar the monitor after the tamper
sensor becomes active. In earlier models of the 1027, there were TILT and
LEVEL indicators that illuminated during this 15-second period. The original
TILT sensor has been replaced with a DISTURBANCE sensor which is more
sensitive to movement. To test this feature, CLEAR the 1027 memory and
conduct a test for several hours. During the test, try lifting or sliding the mon-
itor. Print the results. A “T” should appear in the interval when the distur-
bance was made.
3. At the end of the monitoring period, insert the key and turn the Top Panel
switch to the ENABLE position.
Display Result
Display ResultDisplay Result
Display Result
1. Press AVG to display the average radon concentration in pCi/l over the
total monitoring period.
2. Press CUR to display the radon concentration in the current 12-hour
period.

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NOTE: The AVG and CUR display values continue to update during the entire
test, even if the test period exceeds the maximum storage of 90 intervals. The
interval storage stops updating after 90 intervals until the next memory clear.
Print Report
Print ReportPrint Report
Print Report
To print out a report on the accessory printer, see “Print Report” on page 11.
To interpret the report, see “Typical Printer Report” on page 12.
Download Report
Download ReportDownload Report
Download Report
To display and/or print out a report on a computer (PC), see “Data Transfer to
a Personal Computer” on page 14.
Shutdown
ShutdownShutdown
Shutdown
1. Unplug the power adapter from the wall outlet.
CAUTION: Switch off the backup battery. If the battery is on, the monitor
continues to operate.
2. Switch off the backup battery to avoid measurement interference with the
completed test and prevent depletion of the battery.
Delayed Reports and Displays
Delayed Reports and DisplaysDelayed Reports and Displays
Delayed Reports and Displays
You can also display, print, or download the results of the test later at another
location, provided you understand the following differences:
• When you remove all power, the value of the latest partial interval and
the CUR value are lost from temporary memory.
• If power is on (including battery power) the unit continues to operate, pro-
viding values that are averaged into the result.
If you take an AVG reading, disconnect power, then restore power later and
take a second reading; the second AVG reading may be slightly different from
the first. This is because the first AVG reading includes the value for the partial
1-hour interval in process. This partial value is stored in temporary memory
and is lost when power is disconnected. The second AVG value is calculated
using only completed intervals stored in non-volatile memory.

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Optional Portable Printer
Optional Portable PrinterOptional Portable Printer
Optional Portable Printer
Description
DescriptionDescription
Description
The Model 020030 is a small, portable, dot-matrix impact printer (Figure 3).
It uses an inked ribbon to generate the printed image. This allows the printer
to utilize ordinary adding machine tape paper (2.25” wide; 2.5” outer diam-
eter & 0.44” inner diameter).
The printer is controlled by a three-position switch.
• The left position is OFF.
• The center position is ON.
• The right position, which is only momentary, has two functions:
1. When the printer is first turned on, you can pass through the center posi-
tion to the right position, and the printer will begin a print test. This will
continue until the printer is turned OFF.
2. During all other times, the right position of the switch is the PAPER
ADVANCE.
Figure 3. Optional portable printer
Connection
ConnectionConnection
Connection
1. Connect the printer data plug to the PRINTER PORT receptacle on the
radon monitor (Figure 4).
2. Connect the power converter output plug to the matching 2-pin plug from
the printer cable. There is no preferred polarity on the two pins.