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SPECTECH

Model ST150 Nuclear Lab Station

ST150 Nuclear Lab Station

The ST150 Nuclear Lab Station provides a self-contained unit that includes a versatile timer/counter, GM tube, sample stand, and an 11 piece absorber set. The unit comes complete with a serial interface to either Macintosh or IBM compatible personal computers. High voltage is fully variable from 0 to +800 volts. The supply is fully regulated and controlled by the processor for digital accuracy and readout on the display. Extra large LED's are used for the digital display for clear visual readout under widely differing ambient light conditions with leading zero suppression for clarity. Classroom demonstrations and nuclear experiments may now be run directly from an IBM-PC or Apple Macintosh compatible computers using the on-line serial DATALINK built into the ST150 and the NUCLAB emulation software. Counting functions may be initiated from the ST150 or the computer. The software supplied produces computer screen displays of all functions including analog and digital emulation of a ratemeter. Real-time data is automatically transferred to the computer and stored in spreadsheet compatible files. Data analysis and graphical presentation are now possible using many common spreadsheet programs bringing new techniques to Nuclear Science education. An AC to DC line converter is supplied for continuous benchtop operation.

Operating and Service Manual

Warranty Spectrum Techniques warrants products of our manufacture against defects in workmanship or material for a period of one year from date of shipment. We will repair or replace at our option, any instrument that is deemed to be defective during this period. This warranty fully covers all replacement parts and labor. The instrument must be returned to our factory prepaid and we in turn will pay the cost of return shipping . This warranty does not cover damage caused by mishandling or misuse. GM tubes with broken windows are specifically excluded from this warranty. Accessory items not manufactured by Spectrum Techniques but supplied as part of our systems will be subject to the original manufacturers warranty.

April 1996

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Specifications. Input: Built in Geiger Mueller tube: 15 mm diameter, 1.52 mg/cm. window, 500V operating, 150V plateau. 0 to +800 volts, digitally selectable in 20 volt increments. 6-decade LED, 1 in. numerals. Displays counts, time, and high voltage. Count for preset time, set and view preset time, and set and view high voltage 0-800v. DB-9 male connector accepts RS-232 serial cable to IBM-PC compatible, and DB-9 female accepts DIN cable for Macintosh computers. 11 piece set, 6-7400 mg/cm. 6 position, 1cm spacing. Input 9 volt DC, at 500mA from AC adapter. Specify 110-120, 220-240 VAC at time of order. 10 in. W, x 7.5 in. H, x 6.2 in. D. ST150 Nuclear Lab - PC emulation DOS program runs with or without Windows on most IBM compatible PC's. Requires EGA or better graphics capability. Optional Macintosh software runs under MultiFinder under System 6.0 and later and also runs under System 7.x. All software provides real-time display of simulated analog or digital ratemeter in CPM or CPS, count, elapsed time, preset time, high voltage setting, acquisition time, and run number. Data is saved to spreadsheet compatible files. Bi-directional control offers computer control of count start/stop and data transfer. Page 3 Operation

High voltage:

Display:

Modes:

Data Link:

Absorbers: Sample holder: Power:

Dimensions: Software supplied:

Page 3 CAUTION The detector window is extremely thin and fragile. If broken it cannot be repaired and will not be covered under the warranty. Never allow objects to touch the window.

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Operating Modes and Controls. COUNT. This is the normal operating mode where the display registers the number of radiation events detected by the GM tube. Before starting a count, a preset time may be entered using the TIME and UP/DOWN buttons. To begin the count interval press the COUNT button. Any existing count and elapsed time will be automatically cleared. If a preset time has been entered, the unit will count until the preset time is reached. STOP. This button will stop the current count.

General. The ST150 Radiation Counter may only be operated with the AC adapter provided or with one of identical specifications. The sample holder provides six positions with 1 cm. separation between each for placement of radioactive sources and absorbers. 11 absorbers are provided for use in radiation absorption experiments. Absorbers may be placed in empty sample holder slots between the source and the detector. Detectors. Geiger-Mueller tubes produce electrical pulses when ionizing radiation events occur within their sensitive volume. For proper operation, these detectors should be run at a predetermined operating voltage specified by the manufacturer or derived empirically. To improve sensitivity to alpha and beta particle radiation, many GM tubes have extremely thin entrance windows which require considerable care in handling. Do not allow any object to come in contact with the GM tube mounted in the top of the sample holder. T h e ST150 includes a fully adjustable high voltage power supply to cover a wide range of applications. The high voltage level may be displayed on the digital readout by pressing the H.V. button once. Adjustments to the high voltage may then be made in 20 volt increments using the UP/DOWN buttons. To return to count display mode press H.V. again. TIME. If the operator wishes to count radiation events for a predetermined time, a preset time may be entered by pressing TIME and entering the required counting time in seconds using the UP/DOWN buttons. To return to count display mode press TIME again. HIGH VOLTAGE. The high voltage setting on the GM tube may be set by pressing the H.V. button. The current setting will be displayed. The high voltage may be adjusted in 20 volt increments using the UP/DOWN buttons between 0 and 800 volts. To return to count display mode press H.V. again.

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Operation. Basic operation of the model ST150 Radiation Counter is straightforward and intuitive. First set the high voltage to the recommended value for the GM tube using the H.V. and UP/DOWN buttons. If no other presets are required, press H.V. again to return to the count display mode. Operation may now be controlled with the START and STOP buttons. Pressing TIME will display the acquisition time in seconds. To count for a preset time, press the TIME button and enter the required counting time in seconds using the UP/DOWN buttons. Once set the preset time will remain unchanged unless the UP/DOWN buttons are pressed again. Start the count with the COUNT button. The count may be stopped before the preset time is reached by pressing the STOP button. Once the preset time is reached the counter will stop accumulating data. At this point it is only necessary to press COUNT to restart the next cycle as the preset will automatically be restored and the count register reset to zero. If the ST150 is linked to a computer running the NUCLAB software, data will be automatically transferred to the computer whenever a count stops either by reaching the preset time or pressing the STOP button. If however, the count is stopped by remote control from the computer the data is NOT automatically transferred. This allows a single run in a multiple run experiment to be repeated before it is stored.

GM Plateau. The correct operating voltage for the Geiger-Mueller tube may be determined experimentally using a small radioactive source such as Cs-137 or Co-60. A properly functioning tube will exhibit a "plateau" effect, where the counting rate remains nearly constant over a range of applied voltage. Place the radioactive source close to the window of the GM probe and slowly increase the high voltage until radiation events just begin to be detected. Now increase the voltage in 20 volt steps recording the counting rate at each increment. The rate should remain fairly constant over a range of voltage and then increase rapidly as the high voltage is further raised indicating that the tube is entering the breakdown region. Do not continue to operate the tube in this breakdown condition but reduce the high voltage and make a plot of the counting rate versus the applied voltage. The recommended operating voltage may now be determined as the center of the plateau region. In the example below note that the plateau extends from approximately 350V to 600V. A reasonable operating voltage in this case would be 500V.

GM Plateau
6000 5000 4000 Counts 3000 2000 1000 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 High Voltage

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Resolving Time. Geiger-Mueller tubes exhibit dead time effects due to the recombination time of the internal gas ions after the occurrence of an ionizing event. The actual dead time depends on several factors including the active volume and shape of the detector and can range from a few microseconds for miniature tubes, to over 1000 microseconds for large volume devices. When making absolute measurements it is important to compensate for dead time losses at higher counting rates. If the resolving time of the detector is known, the true counting rate may be calculated from the measured rate using the following expression:

Applications. The ST150 may be used for a variety of applications some of which are listed below. Surface contamination measurement. Plotting a GM plateau. Radiation background measurement. Natural radioactivity. n= m/1-mt GM resolving time. Detector efficiency. Radiation absorption studies. Backscattering. Inverse square law. Isotope half life. Radiation properties. Counting statistics.

where n is the true counting rate, m the measured rate, and t the detector resolving time. If the detector resolving time is unknown, it may be determined experimentally using two radioactive sources. Maintaining constant counting geometry is important throughout the experiment. A special source split into two halves is available for making the measurement, but good results may be obtained by careful positioning of two standard check sources. With the high voltage correctly set for the GM tube, position the two sources (a+b) side by side to obtain a count rate of at least 10,000 CPM. Accurately record the countrate as R(a+b). Remove source (b) and record the count rate as R(a). Carefully replace source (b) to its original position, remove source (a) and record the count rate of source (b) as R(b). The resolving time is given by R(a)+R(b)-R(a+b) T= 2R(a).R(b) The resolving time of the ST150 Nuclear Lab Station is very short and is not a significant factor compared to that of the GM tube.

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Page 10 NucLab Nuclear Lab Station Software for IBM PC Compatibles

Maintenance. CAUTION Dangerous voltages can exist inside the ST150 from the high voltage power supply. Before removing the cover ensure the instrument is in the OFF position and the high voltage is set to zero. Only qualified technicians should attempt any repairs. Your ST150 has been built with care using quality parts and should not require any routine service. In the unlikely event of a malfunction, the unit may be returned to the factory for repair. We will gladly supply a cost estimate if the warranty period has expired. A complete list of parts is included for your convenience. Please contact our customer service department for pricing and availability. In many instances substitute parts may be used providing they meet or exceed the original specifications. Your ST150 Radiation Counter is supplied with a computer communication and control software package named NUCLAB. Command and data are transferred via the standard RS 232C serial port, and require connection to the computers COM 1 or COM 2 port. NUCLAB allows counting control of the ST150 from either the front panel buttons or the computer system. To run NucLab insert the program disk supplied into drive A, type A: NUCLAB and the following screen will appear:

Select the appropriate COM port and continue. The COUNT and STOP controls on the ST150 front panel are repeated on the main NucLab screen and will remotely control those operations on the unit. Other features of the software are invoked from their selection within the menu system. Features and menu selections are made by clicking on the selection with a mouse or by pressing the key corresponding to the underlined character in the selection.

Page 11 NucLab contains an on-screen help menu for guidance through the basic operations. The Help system provides hypertext allowing topics to be quickly accessed. To invoke the Help system choose Help Contents from the Help menu bar selection. Click on any highlighted text to see an explanation of the feature. Highlighted text may also be selected by pressing TAB until the desired selection is indicated.

Page 12 the number of entered runs have completed. When all of the desired data has been collected, the data may be saved to a spreadsheet compatible text file by choosing the Save selection from the File menu. The extension defaults to . TSV to indicate a Tab Separated Value file format. This format allows the collected data to be directly imported into most speadsheets with the run number, voltage, count, elapsed time, and time of day information correctly separated into columns.

Several different VIEW modes are possible including analog ratemeter and digital counter/timer with CPM or CPS selection. When counting is stopped on the ST150 either by pressing STOP or by reaching a preset time, the latest count data will be transferred to the computer. If a count is interrupted by clicking the STOP icon on the NucLab screen the data will be not transferred. This allows a count to be interrupted and restarted without being saved on the computer. To force a count to be saved as a legitimate data run press the Insert (Ins) key. From the Presets pull down menu a number of automated data runs may be invoked by choosing Set Preset Runs. After the number of desired runs is entered pressing the COUNT button on the ST150 or clicking the Count icon from the software will initiate the first count. When the preset time is reached, the data will be transferred to the computer, the elapsed time and counter will be cleared and the next count interval will begin. This process continues until

In the event of a breakdown in the communication between the ST150 and the computer the link may be reestablished if possible by choosing Serial Relink from the Presets menu. If this fails to reestablish communications, try powering down both the ST150 and the computer to fully reset the serial port.

G1500 REV3 SPECTRUM TECHNIQUES 1995

WP1

VAL J1

SW1
C2 C1 C1

R1
1 1 VI G 2 VO

C3 C2

3 U1

+5V

1
C2 .1 C3 .1
GND

VAL

LM7805CTB C1 10uF

C4 .1

C5 .1

C6 .1

C7 .1

C8 .1

C9 .1
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I1
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I2
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I3
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I4
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I5
SEGA SEGF SEGE SEGD SEGC SEGG SEGB 1 2 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 CA CF CE CD DP CC CG CB A

I6

WP2
1

GND

LR1720R

LR1720R

LR1720R

LR1720R

LR1720R

LR1720R

Q1
B

Q2
B

Q3
B

Q4
B

Q5
B

Q6
B

2N3906
E

2N3906 R2 51
E

2N3906 R3 51
E

2N3906 R4 51
E

2N3906 R5 51
E

2N3906 R6 51
E

R7 51

+5V +5V

2
1 6

2
U3
1 3

C10 .1

DS6

DS5

DS4

DS3

DS2

DS1

+5V

CN1

C11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1

V+

V C C

C1+ C1-

.1
14 7 13 8 T1OUT T2OUT R1IN R2IN

WP3
1

T1IN T2IN R1OUT MAX232

11 10 12 9

TXD CTS RXD

R8

WP4
1

WP5
1

+5V
CLED 1

DB9M

U2:A
2

COUNT

2K R9

WP6 C12 .1
C2+ 6 VG N D 1 5 C24 5 WR* CTS CNT HV TIME TXD RXD 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 29 30

P-80C32
P3 7 / RD P3 6 / WR P35/T1 P34/T0 P3 3 / INT1 P3 2 / INT0 P31/TXD P30/RXD P27/A15 P26/A14 P25/A13 P24/A12 P23/A11 P22/A10 P21/A9 P20/A8 PSEN ALE P17 P16 P15 P14 P13 P12 P11 P10 P07/AD7 P06/AD6 P05/AD5 P04/AD4 P03/AD3 P02/AD2 P01/AD1 P00/AD0

U6
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 STOP START + SA3 SA2 SA1 SA0 AD7 AD6 AD5 AD4 AD3 AD2 AD1 AD0 PSEN* 1 27 20 22 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 25 24 21 23 2 VPP PGM E G A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 A9 A10 A11 A12 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 19 AD0 AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 AD6 AD7 +5V

U2:D
A0 9 8 HVLED 3

74LS04 U2:B
4

LED1
H.V.

C13 .1

2K R10

GND

AB12 AB11 AB10 AB9 AB8 PSEN* ALE

+5V

A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 AB8 AB9 AB10 AB11 AB12

74LS04
WR*

SN74LS32N
2 3 1 TLED 5

74LS04 U2:C
6

LED2
TIME

2K

U4:A
GND 1 11 3 4 7 8 13 14 17 18

U7
OC CLK 1D 2D 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D 8D 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 5Q 6Q 7Q 8Q 2 5 6 9 12 15 16 19 DS1 DS2 DS3 DS4 DS5 DS6

74LS04

LED3

EA RST

31 9 19

GND

C14 1UF

18

XTAL2

XTAL1

U5 X1
2 3 START

AD0 AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 AD6 AD7

2764-17 S1
1 4

74HC374 5.1K R11

SEGA

5.1K 47
GND

12MHz 47
ALE AD0 AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 AD6 AD7 1 11 3 4 7 8 13 14 17 18

U8
OC C 1D 2D 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D 8D 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 5Q 6Q 7Q 8Q 2 5 6 9 12 15 16 19 A0 A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7

S2
1 4 2 3 STOP

R12

R13
4 5 3

U9
BI/ RBO RBI LT a b c d e f g

10 R15
13 12 11 10 9 15 14

R14
SEGB

C15

C16

10 R16

SEGC

10 R17 10 R19 10

SEGD

S3
1 4 2 3 HV

GND

SA0 SA1 SA2 SA3

7 1 2 6

A B C D

10 R18

SEGE

4
1 4

74LS373 S4
2 3 TIME A1 WR* 13

SEGF

U2:F
12

7447

10

SEGG

SN74LS32N S5
1 4 2 3 + 10 8 9

74LS04

U4:C
GND AD0 AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 AD6 AD7 1 11 3 4 7 8 13 14 17 18

U13
OC CLK 1D 2D 3D 4D 5D 6D 7D 8D 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 5Q 6Q 7Q 8Q 2 5 6 9 12 15 16 19 TLED HVLED CLED

S6
1 4 2 3

+5V

+5V GND C19 .01/1KV R24 WP8

1 P1 A

+5V R20 1M R21 5.1K C18 GND

CNT

C17 C20 .01/1KV D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 .01/1KV

74LS374

.1

WP7 T1
S1 1 K A K A K A K A K

5.1K R27

3.3M R22 R26 22M R22A 5.1M

C21 47pF/1KV

R23 47K D7 1N914 R30 1M 3K

U10:A
3 4

1.8k GND U11

8 VCC RESET TRIG THR OUT CONT DIS GND P2 S2

R25
1

WP9
1

D6

1N4004
K

1N4004 C22

1N4004 C23 .01/1KV

1N4004

1N4004 C24 .01/1KV

2 1 1

100

WP10

VAL
1

MC3405P

1N4004
A

.01/1KV

R29 4.7K

4 2 6 5 7 1

R28 100

Q7 +5V R33 2N3906 R32 100K Q8

B

TB1
1 SIG GND

R31

WP11 GND 22M R46 U10:D 1K R37 D8 1N914 D9 1N914 MC3405P C30
14 13

GND R45 51K

Changed R22 22M>>3.3M 5-2-02 Added R22A <5.1M> 5-2-02

WP12 1.00K GND

1

LM555CHC C26 .01 C27 .01 R39 10K +5V

C

GM-15 R35
12

R36 22M D10 1N914 +5V

9 14 10 15 16 1 2

22M R40 62K R40A C29 .001

MPSA64

U12
VDD WR CS DB0 RFB DB1 DB2 OUT1 DB3 OUT2 DB4 DB5 DB6 GND DB7 VREF 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 GND AD0 AD1 AD2 AD3 AD4 AD5 AD6 AD7

10uF

SN74LS32N
5 6 4

GND

10uF 100K R41 R42 1.00K

W CW

6
GND

C31

1N914 R47 D11 R34

U10:C MC3405P

U4:B
WR*

Title

ST 150 COUNTER
U2:E

6
Rev
3

R43 10K

CCW

+5V 1.00K

R38

1.00K

Size
10

Number
G1500

A2

11

4.22K C28 .1 GND

TLC7524CN 74LS04

A1
Date 3/22/96 Filename

Drawn by
ST150.S01

R.S.S

GND

Sheet

of

Reference Designator R38,R42 R34 R11,R14,R15,R16,R17,R18,R19 R25,R28 R37 R29,R39 R32,R41 R20,R22,R31 R4 R24 R1 R8,R9,R10 R26,R33,R35,R36 R30 R23 R2,R3,R4,R5,R6,R7 R2A,R3A,R4A,R5A,R6A,R7A, R12,R13,R21,R27 R45 C29 C27 C15,C16 C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,C10, C11,C12,C13C18,C26,C28 C17,C19,C20,C22,C23,C24 C21 C1,C30,C31 C14 D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,D6 D7,D8,D9 LED1,LED2,LED3 I1,I2,I3,I4,I5,I6 CN1

Part # A1001 A4221 AA100 AA101 AA102 AA103 AA104 AA105 AA563 AA182 AA1R0 AA202 AA226 AA302 AA473 AA510 AA512 AA513 CB102 CB103 CB470 CC104 CD103 CD470 CN100 CN10R DA004 DA008 DL001 DL002 EC001 EC007 EC018 ES005 LX001 M an 150 M C002

Com p. Description Res 1.00K 1% RES 4.22K 1% Res 10 RES 100 RES 1K RES 10K RES 100K RES 1M RES 56K RES 1.8K Res 1 RES 2K RES 22M RES 3K RES 47K RES 51 RES 5.1K RES 51K CAP .001UF CAP .01UF CAP 47PF CAP .1UF M ono CAP .01UF CAP 47PF CAP 10UF 35V CAP 1UF 25 Diode 1N4004 Diode 1N4148 LED HLM P4700 LED LR1720R P Conn DE9P m Power Jack ST350 Conn DE9P f Switch SPST XFormer HV Operation M anual Charger 9 v, 115v POT 10K Trimmer ST150 Absorber holder Trans M PSA64 Trans 2N3906

Qnty 2 1 7 2 1 2 2 3 1 1 1 3 4 1 1 6 10 1 1 1 2 15 6 1 3 1 6 3 3 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7

Spectrum Techniques, Inc.

106 Union Valley Road Oak Ridge, TN 37830 USA. Tel: (865) 482-9937 Fax: (865) 483-0473 support@spectrumtechniques.com www.spectrumtechniques.com

J1
CN2 SW1 T1

R43 Q8 Q1,Q2,Q3,Q4,Q5,Q6,Q7

PA103 RAB 11 TA001 TA003