11
Precautions
To keep the Digital Radiation Monitor in good condition, handle it with care and
observe the following precautions:
•
Do not contaminate the Digital Radiation Monitor by touching it to radioactive
surfaces or materials.
•
Do not leave the Digital Radiation Monitor in temperatures over 122
°
F (50
°
C)
or in direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
•
Do not get the Digital Radiation Monitor wet. Water can damage the circuitry
and the coating of the mica surface of the Geiger tube.
•
Avoid making measurements with the detector window in direct sunlight if the
mica surface of the Geiger tube has been damaged by moisture or abrasion; this
could affect the readings.
•
Do not put the Digital Radiation Monitor in a microwave oven. It cannot
measure microwaves, and you may damage it or the oven.
•
If you expect to not use the Digital Radiation Monitor for longer than one
month, remove the battery to avoid damage from battery corrosion.
•
Change the battery promptly when the battery indicator appears on the display.
Troubleshooting
The Digital Radiation Monitor is a highly reliable instrument. If it does not seem to
be working properly, look through the following chart to see if you can identify the
problem. If the Digital Radiation Monitor requires servicing, please contact Vernier
Software & Technology for an RMA number.
Do not attempt to repair the Digital Radiation Monitor; it contains no user-
serviceable parts and you could void your warranty.
CAUTION:
Do not send a contaminated instrument for repair under any
circumstances.
12
Troubleshooting Chart
Problem
Possible Cause
What to Check
Display blank
battery: dead, missing,
or poor connection
Install and firmly connect a new
9 volt battery
broken LCD
If count light and audio work, the
LCD may need to be replaced
Display works, but
no counts are
registered
damaged Geiger tube
If mica surface of the tube has
wrinkles or breaks, it needs to be
replaced
Reading high and
another DRM at
same location has a
normal reading
contamination
Scan DRM with another instrument
to check for contamination; clean
DRM with a damp cloth and mild
soap
moisture
The circuit board may be wet; dry
the instrument in a warm dry place;
if it still has a problem, it requires
factory service
Instrument has false
high reading
photosensitivity
Remove from direct sunlight and
ultraviolet sources; if the high count
drops, the mica coating on the GM
tube may be damaged and the tube
needs to be replaced
continuous discharge
The Geiger tube needs to be
replaced
electro-magnetic
field
Move the instrument away from
possible sources of electromagnetic
or radio frequency radiation
6 Basics of Radiation and Its Measurement
This chapter briefly tells what radiation is and how it is measured. This information
is provided for users who are not already familiar with the subject. It is helpful in
understanding how the Digital Radiation Monitor works and in interpreting your
readings.
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation that changes the structure of individual atoms by
ionizing them. The ions produced in turn ionize more atoms. Substances that
produce ionizing radiation are called radioactive.
Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon. Nuclear reactions take place continuously on
the sun and all other stars. The emitted radiation travels through space, and a small
fraction reaches the Earth. Natural sources of ionizing radiation also exist in the
ground. The most common of these are uranium and its decay products.
