NukeWorker Forum
Reference, Questions and Help => Nuke Q&A => Instrument Q&A => Topic started by: UncaBuffalo on Mar 25, 2010, 02:43
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If you have used the AMP-100, please rate it for us...
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No complaints...very useful, diverse instrument. We use ours for Dose Rate tracking, Alarming ARM's and underwater surveys.
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:) Very useful instrument. Amp 50;s and 200's are also usefull. Very easy to use and calibrate. Cables can be up to 100 meters, therefore readout can be used for rediography.
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I also believe it to be a good instrument. we use it nearly every day in our pool and it has yet to fail us. I don't know of an easier instrument to use, turn it on and read it. Under water surveys (if that is what you are using it for) are a pain in the arse to begin with. The results are hard to interpret due to the water and not knowing how big the source really is that it is measuring (plane, point, line). But it is the easiest to use that I have seen in this type of environment.
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AMP 100/200:
--pretty easy to calibrate
--battery usage not bad
--user can select R/hr alarm from its preset list
But, I've had to deal with water intrusion thru the connector at the detector end. If this isn't wrapped/ taped/ sealed, it will smoke the detector. My advice: To kill 2 birds, tape the cable to the detector to provide strain relief, so that the cable's insulator isn't tugged out from the connector's sealing gasket. But duct tape sucks, please use electrical tape.
And if it gets caught on something down in the deep...don't pull too hard. It is possible to yank the cable right out. We'll get that detector back someday...
Overall, we like the AMP 100.
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AMP 100/200:
--pretty easy to calibrate
--battery usage not bad
--user can select R/hr alarm from its preset list
But, I've had to deal with water intrusion thru the connector at the detector end. If this isn't wrapped/ taped/ sealed, it will smoke the detector. My advice: To kill 2 birds, tape the cable to the detector to provide strain relief, so that the cable's insulator isn't tugged out from the connector's sealing gasket. But duct tape sucks, please use electrical tape.
And if it gets caught on something down in the deep...don't pull too hard. It is possible to yank the cable right out. We'll get that detector back someday...
Overall, we like the AMP 100.
If you're having that challenge attach a short stress relief from the detector to the cable and dip coat that full assembly in plastisol,...
Use the variety which releases easily upon cutting and mild heat gun encouragement,...
Tape is effective enough but amateur for repeated uses, plus one good DRP in the adhesive costs time, equipment and sometimes dose,...
[2cents]
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We bought 2 a few years ago for monitoring waste in our glovebox. We were not able to use it though. It's good for hard hitting gammas, but only has a linear response for energies down to 70 KeV. If you've got a significant amount of AM-241 dose, like we do, it grossly under-responds.
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AMP 100/200:
--pretty easy to calibrate
--battery usage not bad
--user can select R/hr alarm from its preset list
But, I've had to deal with water intrusion thru the connector at the detector end. If this isn't wrapped/ taped/ sealed, it will smoke the detector. My advice: To kill 2 birds, tape the cable to the detector to provide strain relief, so that the cable's insulator isn't tugged out from the connector's sealing gasket. But duct tape sucks, please use electrical tape.
And if it gets caught on something down in the deep...don't pull too hard. It is possible to yank the cable right out. We'll get that detector back someday...
Overall, we like the AMP 100.
If you are smoking the detector using it underwater, look to the Ikelite connector. Those fittings designed by Ikelite for underwater camera housings are waterproof to 300 feet.
Common problems are deterioration of the two O-rings, and forcing the connector so it damages the o-rings.
Also, the compression fitting on the cable side needs to be made up and torqued to spec.
I like to put a little dielectric silicone on the o-rings for lubrication when making one up for underwater use.
You might want to attach a line to the detector and not drag it by the cable as that stresses the compression fitting that provides waterproofing on the cable side of the connection. 1/8" dacron can be slip knotted to the detector with a couple of half hitches up a foot or so of line. Then you can remove the line trash it easily leaving the detector and cable easier to decontaminate.
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Prefer -200 more useful range for underwater purposes. Ditto silicone for o-rings, without help they will fail, it's just a matter of time