CRC-15W

Application Note
5132-5031 Rev. B

Well Detector Manual Re-Calibration Page 1/6

1 Purpose/Scope

To provide a procedure to perform a manual calibration of the CRC-15W Well Detector when
Auto-Cal will not bring the unit into calibration.

Note: The Factory Setup Password is not for general distribution to the end user.

2 Procedure

2.1 The following items are required to perform a manual calibration:

CRC-15W Calibrator
Cs137 Rod Source
Printer with Serial Printer Cable (Optional)

2.2 If the optional printer is part of the system, verify the printer connection to the port on
the back of the CRC-15W labeled PRINTER. Be sure the connectors are screwed
into place on the units.

2.3 Reset the Cal Factor to 1.000 by using the following steps:
2.3.1 Turn on the power.
2.3.2 Press the ENTER key.
2.3.3 Press UTIL, 9, 5, SPC, 1, 3 and ENTER.
2.3.4 Select COUNTER.
2.3.5 Select CAL FACTOR. Press 6(N) to answer NO to Correct?.
2.3.6 Input 1.000 using the number keys. Press ENTER when done.
2.3.7 Press 9(Y) to answer YES to Correct?.
2.3.8 Press the HOME key.

2.4 Reset the Gain Reference Number to 128 (the center of the adjustment range) by using
the following steps:
2.4.1 Press the WELL key.
2.4.2 Press the UTIL key. (UTIL may need to pressed twice if no background
measurement was performed)
2.4.3 Select SETUP. The PASSWORD: screen appears.
2.4.4 Input the password (the last 3 digits of your serial number) using the number
keys. Press ENTER when done.
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Application Note
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2.4.5 Select RESET HV. The HV DAC screen appears.

2.4.6 Press 9(Y) to reset the HV. Input 128 using the number keys. Press ENTER
when done. The screen AUTOCAL MUST BE PERFORMED ANY KEY
TO CONTINUE appears.
2.4.7 Press the ENTER, then the HOME keys.

2.5 Verify there are no sources in the area. Verify that power is applied to the printer
(optional). Perform a BACKGROUND measurement by the following keystrokes:
2.5.1 Press the BKG key.
2.5.2 Press the ENTER key.
2.5.3 Press the COUNT key.

The unit will count for a period of 20 seconds. At the end of that time period, press the
WELL key to accept and save this measurement. The printer will also print out the
value of the background measurement. Counts for this measurement should be around
500-700 cpm.

Note: The background measurement will vary depending on the normal background
of the area where the unit is located.

2.6 Place the Cs137 source into the detector well and perform a count using the following
keystrokes:
2.6.1 Press the WELL key.
2.6.2 Press 1 to select WIPE.
2.6.3 Press 3 then 0 to input a count time of 30 seconds. Press the ENTER key.
2.6.4 Press the COUNT key.

At the end of the counting period, the unit will display the total counts. To display the
bar graph, press the DSPLY key. To stop the counting at any time, simply press the
COUNT key; to resume counting, press the COUNT key again.
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Application Note
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If most of the counts displayed are in either the lower or upper channel, then the High
Voltage (HV) Adjustment Screw will need to be rotated a considerable amount. If this
is the case, the detector may be defective and the HV Adjustment Screw may not bring
the unit into calibration. If this happens, the unit will need to be sent to the factory for
repair.

2.7 Compare the values of the counts in the appropriate channels. Calculate the ratio of the
channels (see the Example below). The ratio should be .68 .74.

EXAMPLE: Counts in CH5 = 41.22 kcpm,n

Counts in CH4 = 69.53 kcpm,n

Counts in CH5 41.22

= = 0.593 Turn the HV Adj. Screw clockwise
Counts in CH4 69.53

If the ratio is too high, turn the High Voltage (HV) Adjustment Screw counter-
clockwise. If it is too low, turn HV Adjustment Screw clockwise.

Note: Adjustment directions are referenced to looking at the rear of the detector.

After making an adjustment, perform another count and recalculate the ratio. Repeat
this step until the ratio is within the specified range.

2.8 Once the ratio is within the required range, perform a BACKGROUND measurement
by using the following keystrokes:
2.8.1 Press the WELL key.
2.8.2 Press the BKG key. Press ENTER.
2.8.3 Press 2 then 0 to input a count time of 20 seconds. Press the ENTER key.
2.8.4 Press the COUNT key.

At the end of the counting period, the unit will display the total counts. Press the
ENTER key to accept this measurement. The printer will also print out the value of the
background measurement. Counts for this measurement should be around 500-700
cpm.

2.9 Auto Cal is the next step. To perform Auto Cal, follow the steps below:
2.9.1 Press the WELL key.
2.9.2 Press the UTIL key.
2.9.3 Select AUTO CAL.
2.9.4 Place the Cs137 Standard Source into the well. Press ENTER.
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2.9.5 Press the COUNT key.

The unit will count for the set period of time and during this period it will be comparing
the ratio and adjusting the internal DAC. The unit may perform this process 3-4 times
as it compares and adjusts the high voltage. At the end of this period, the unit will print
out the results. Verify the Gain Reference Number. This number should be between
118 and 138 for an acceptable range. If the Gain Reference Number is within limits, go
on to step 2.9. If the setting is out of the limits, go back to step 2.4.

2.10 The next step is to measure the Conversion Factor. To measure the Activity CF, follow
the steps below.
2.10.1 Press WELL, UTIL.
2.10.2 Select SETUP. Enter the PASSWORD (last 3 digits of Serial Number). Press
ENTER.
2.10.3 Select CONV FACTORS.
2.10.4 Press NUCL. Press 2, 7, 1, 3, 7 for Cs137. Press ENTER. Answer NO to
OK.
2.10.5 Select MEASURE CF.
2.10.6 Enter the Time, Date & Activity of the Test Source.
2.10.7 Verify source information. Answer YES to OK.
2.10.8 Insert the Cs137 into the well and press ENTER.

2.10.9 Press the COUNT key.

2.10.10 At the end of the counting period, verify that channels 4 and 5 are selected.
Press ENTER.
2.10.11 Answer YES to OK.
2.10.12 Press the HOME key.

2.11 The next step is to determine the Calibration Factor. This is determined by the
following steps:
2.11.1 Measure BKG.
2.11.2 Perform Auto Cal. Count for 60 sec. If the Energy Deviation is over 0.5%,
perform Auto Cal once more. The Energy Deviation should be within 0.5%.
2.11.3 Measure BKG.
2.11.4 Press TEST to perform 3 Tests at 180 seconds each using the Cs137 Source.
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2.11.5 Print out the test results after each test (If no printer is attached, record the
Energy Deviation on a piece of paper.). Verify that the Energy Deviation is
less than 1% on each test.
2.11.6 Calculate the Activity Deviation Average by adding the activity deviations (not
Energy Deviation) of the three tests and dividing by three.
2.11.7 Calculate the Calibration Factor:
The Calibration Factor = (1 - Average Activity Deviation)
i.e., (100.0 - Average Activity Deviation in %)/100.

EXAMPLE:
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3
Cs 137 Standard: 89.0 Ci 89.0 Ci 89.0 Ci
Measured as: 88.0 Ci 88.5 Ci 88.3 Ci
Deviation: -1.1% -0.5% -0.7%

Average Activity Deviation = (-1.1%) + (-0.5%) + (-0.7%)/3

= (-2.3%)/3
= -.77%

System Calibration Factor = {100.0 - (-.77)}/100

= 100.77/100
= 1.00771
2.11.8 Press HOME until returned to the Chamber Measurement screen.
2.11.9 Press UTIL, 9, 5, SPC, 1, 3 and ENTER.
2.11.10 Select COUNTER.
2.11.11 Select CAL FACTOR. Press 6(N) to answer NO to CAL FACTOR.
2.11.12 Input the calculated Calibration Factor, press ENTER.
2.11.13 Confirm the entered Calibration Factor.
2.11.14 Press the HOME key.

2.12 Next, perform a TEST by the following steps:

2.12.1 Press the WELL key.
2.12.2 Press the TEST key.
2.12.3 Verify that the source is still in the well and press the ENTER key.

1
When the measured results are less than the activity of the standard, the calibration factor is greater than one.
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2.12.4 Press the COUNT key.

After the count period, the unit will print out the test results. The energy deviation
should be 0.0% 2.5.

2.13 The unit should now be calibrated.

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Application Note
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ECO# Date Rev Dept. Rep. (Signature) Q.C. (Signature)

AO1776 3/00 A G. Bargerstock G. Bargerstock

AO2161 10/02 B