January 2012International Medcom, Inc. 707-823-0336 How to Use the Inspector Alert.

January 2012January 2012 International Medcom, Inc. 707-823-0336International Medcom, Inc. 707-823-0336www.medcom.comwww.medcom.com

How to Use the Inspector AlertHow to Use the Inspector Alert


This presentation is intended to give the user a brief overview of how to operate the Inspector Alert. For a complete understanding of this instrument please refer to the operating manual.


What the Inspector Alert DoesWhat the Inspector Alert Does The Inspector Alert measures the The Inspector Alert measures the

rate of the following types of rate of the following types of nuclear radiationnuclear radiation AlphaAlpha BetaBeta GammaGamma X-radiationX-radiation

The Inspector Alert measures the The Inspector Alert measures the amount of nuclear radiation inamount of nuclear radiation in Counts per minute (CPM) Counts per minute (CPM) Counts per second (CPS)Counts per second (CPS) MilliRoentgens per hour MilliRoentgens per hour

(mR/hr)(mR/hr) MicroSieverts per hour MicroSieverts per hour

((µµSv/hr)Sv/hr)


How to Turn On the Inspector AlertHow to Turn On the Inspector Alert Turn the Inspector Alert on by moving Turn the Inspector Alert on by moving

the lower switch from the lower switch from Off to to On or or Audio..

On--The Inspector Alert is --The Inspector Alert is measuring radiation but there is no measuring radiation but there is no audio.audio.

Audio--The Inspector Alert is --The Inspector Alert is measuring radiation, and beeping measuring radiation, and beeping with each count of radiation that is with each count of radiation that is detected.detected.

When the Inspector Alert is first turned When the Inspector Alert is first turned on it does a 3 second system check, on it does a 3 second system check, displaying all the indicators and displaying all the indicators and numbers.numbers.

After the system check is finished the After the system check is finished the Inspector Alert shows the current level Inspector Alert shows the current level of nuclear radiation.of nuclear radiation.

The Inspector Alert updates its visual The Inspector Alert updates its visual display once every three seconds.display once every three seconds.


How to Select the Operating ModeHow to Select the Operating Mode

Move the upper switch toMove the upper switch to Total/Timer CPM/CPS (counts per minute (counts per minute

or counts per second) or counts per second) mR/hr or or µSv/hr

(milliRoentgen per hour or (milliRoentgen per hour or microSievert per hour).microSievert per hour).

In In Total mode the Inspector Alert mode the Inspector Alert starts totaling the counts it starts totaling the counts it registers, and the numeric display registers, and the numeric display is updated each time a count is is updated each time a count is registered.registered.

The The CPM mode is the easiest to mode is the easiest to understand.understand.


How to Switch the ModeHow to Switch the Modein the Utility Menuin the Utility Menu

To switch the mode from To switch the mode from mR/hr to to µSv/hr and from and from CPM to to CPS::

Turn the Inspector Alert off.Turn the Inspector Alert off. Hold down the Hold down the + button on the button on the

end panel while turning the end panel while turning the Inspector Alert on. The Inspector Alert on. The menu icon will appear at the lower icon will appear at the lower right corner.right corner.

Scroll through the numbers on Scroll through the numbers on the screen by pushing the the screen by pushing the + and and - buttons until you get to buttons until you get to 2..

Press the Press the SET button on the button on the end panel. Press end panel. Press + for for mR/hr (CPM) and and - for for µSv/hr (CPS).

Press the SET button twice.button twice.


What is Background Count?What is Background Count? The background count is the normal The background count is the normal

level of nuclear radiation that is level of nuclear radiation that is occurring at a given time and place. occurring at a given time and place.

Some sources of background radiation Some sources of background radiation are:are: The sunThe sun Minerals in the earthMinerals in the earth Residual radiation from nuclear Residual radiation from nuclear

testing and other man made testing and other man made sourcessources

Nuclear radiation is a naturally Nuclear radiation is a naturally occurring phenomenon. When the occurring phenomenon. When the Inspector Alert is on it is normally Inspector Alert is on it is normally measuring the background count.measuring the background count.

A user should determine the normal A user should determine the normal background count in case abnormal background count in case abnormal levels of nuclear radiation occur.levels of nuclear radiation occur. The mesh screen covers the end window of the Geiger-Mueller sensor.


How to Determine the Average How to Determine the Average Background CountBackground Count

Turn the Inspector Alert Turn the Inspector Alert On, and , and put it in Total mode. put it in Total mode.

Set the Set the Timer switch on the end switch on the end panel to panel to Set..

Press the Press the + button until the display button until the display reads 00:10 (this means ten reads 00:10 (this means ten minutes).minutes).

Set the Set the Timer switch to switch to On. The . The Inspector Alert beeps three times Inspector Alert beeps three times and starts counting.and starts counting.

At the end of the ten minutes, the At the end of the ten minutes, the Inspector Alert beeps three times, Inspector Alert beeps three times, and repeats beeping several and repeats beeping several times. Note the total reading.times. Note the total reading.

Divide this number by ten for the Divide this number by ten for the average count per minute which is average count per minute which is the average background count per the average background count per minute.minute.


Considerations Involved in Finding Considerations Involved in Finding the Best Level to Set the Alertthe Best Level to Set the Alert

The ideal alert setting provides enough sensitivity to detect any increase The ideal alert setting provides enough sensitivity to detect any increase in the radiation level above naturally occurring background levels in the radiation level above naturally occurring background levels without false alarms caused by normal random variations in the without false alarms caused by normal random variations in the background radiation level. background radiation level.

A good setting for one location may cause alerts in another location A good setting for one location may cause alerts in another location since background radiation levels can vary due to since background radiation levels can vary due to altitude altitude geography geography radon gas radon gas radioactive materials in buildingsradioactive materials in buildings mineral content in soil and rocksmineral content in soil and rocks

Each user should balance the need for sensitivity against false alarms Each user should balance the need for sensitivity against false alarms occurring from local geography and conditions. occurring from local geography and conditions.

A good alert level can be developed experimentally or through the A good alert level can be developed experimentally or through the formula found on the next slide. formula found on the next slide.

Use this number and adjust it as necessary for local conditions.Use this number and adjust it as necessary for local conditions.


One Way to Determine Where to One Way to Determine Where to Set the AlertSet the Alert

Use the Inspector Alert in Use the Inspector Alert in CPM / CPS mode to measure counts for 30 mode to measure counts for 30 consecutive minutes.consecutive minutes.

Record each reading.Record each reading. Add the readings and divide the sum by Add the readings and divide the sum by

30.30. Find the difference between each reading Find the difference between each reading

and the average.and the average. Square each of these differences (multiply Square each of these differences (multiply

it by itself).it by itself). Total the squares of the differences and Total the squares of the differences and

divide the sum by 29.divide the sum by 29. Find the square root of this sum. This Find the square root of this sum. This

number is the standard deviation.number is the standard deviation. Multiply the standard deviation by 4 and Multiply the standard deviation by 4 and

add this number to the average from step add this number to the average from step 3 above. Set the alert level to this 3 above. Set the alert level to this number.number.


How to Change the BatteryHow to Change the Battery Turn the Inspector Alert over.Turn the Inspector Alert over. Remove the battery cover.Remove the battery cover. Detach the 9 volt alkaline battery from the wire connector and replace.Detach the 9 volt alkaline battery from the wire connector and replace. The battery life for the Inspector Alert is approximately 2,160 hours at normal The battery life for the Inspector Alert is approximately 2,160 hours at normal

background, average 625 hours at 1 mR/hr with beeper off.background, average 625 hours at 1 mR/hr with beeper off.

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January 2012International Medcom, Inc. 707-823-0336 How to Use the Inspector Alert.

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