BASIC OPERATION
The Radiation Alert Charger (fig. 1) is used to zero a variety of quartz or carbon
fiber dosimeters. The Charger controls the movement of the hairline fiber
inside the dosimeter. When the fiber is on zero, the dosimeter is fully
charged/zeroed. It is powered by a piezoelectric generator. The CHARGER
requires absolutely no batteries.
To charge a dosimeter you simply squeeze the lever a few times. If the fiber
passes zero and is still visible, a discharge button allows the operator to
discharge the dosimeter and set it exactly on zero. The clamp is adjustable
and self-locking and automatically holds the dosimeter for you. By squeezing
the trigger, you can easily position a dosimeter into or remove it from the
charger.
POSITIONING THE DOSIMETER IN THE CHARGER.
1. Hold the charger upright as shown in fig. 1. Lift the clamp and pull it back
to the approximate length of the dosimeter. Place the dosimeter in the clamp
with the recessed end (opposite the lens) over the charging contact. This
allows for the electrical contact between the dosimeter and the Charger.
2. While squeezing the trigger and push the clamp against the lens end of the
dosimeter and release the trigger.
Important:
If the clamp is not pushed
against the lens end of the dosimeter before releasing the trigger, electrical
contact may not be adequate to charge the dosimeter.
DO NOT PUSH TOO
HARD.
You may damage the dosimeter.
3. Check that the position of the dosimeter provides a good view of the scale
through the lens. Refer to fig. 2
CHARGING THE DOSIMETER
4. With the dosimeter locked in place, look through the dosimeter at a light
source such as a light bulb, window or a small flashlight to view the scale
shown in fig. 3.
5. Squeeze and release the charging lever until you see the fiber appear on
the scale. The fiber appears from the right of the scale and moves towards
zero. Once you see the fiber, partial squeezes of the charging lever will be
enough to control its movement. If the dosimeter is not responding, repeat
step 2.
If the fiber has traveled to the left of zero but is still visible, push the discharge
button until the fiber is on zero. If the fiber is not visible, repeat Step 5.
6.
To remove the dosimeter, squeeze the trigger, lift the dosimeter to just above
the end of the clamp. Pull dosimeter straight back to disengage it from the
charging contact. If your dosimeters are all the same length, you should not
have to adjust the clamp as described in steps 1 and 2. The length setting of
the clamp will not change unless the clamp is manually adjusted.
NOTE:
The ideal operating range for the charger is between 40-60%
relative
humidity.
If operation occurs outside of these specific conditions, you may
notice the fiber
move away from zero (discharge) at faster rate. In this case,
once the
dosimeter is fully charged, remove it immediately from the charger and
recheck
it to make sure the fiber is on zero.
trigger
lens
charging
contact
dosimeter
Charging
lever
discharge
button
clamp
0
50
100
150
200
MILLIROENTGENS
fiber
left
right
Fiber moves right to left during charging
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3