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Instantel Minimate Blaster Operator's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Instantel Minimate Blaster

  • Page 2 To protect your warranty, you must complete and return a Warranty Registration Certificate, or complete the online Warranty Registration Form, within ten days of purchase. Units will be assumed out of warranty if there is no warranty card on file at Instantel. Retain this portion and the proof of purchase for your records.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Thank You ….................... v Before You Begin ..................v Check the Package Contents ....................v Record the Minimate Blaster Identification Numbers ............v Check Your Local Electric Power Supply ................v Connect the Battery ......................vi Charge the Battery ......................vi Check the Monitor’s Memory ...................
  • Page 4 4.6. Alternate Manual Waveform Calculations ............4–10 4.6.1. Sinusoidal Waveforms ...............4–10 4.6.2. Nearly Triangular Waveforms ............4–10 4.6.3. Compound Waveforms ..............4–11 4.6.4. Irregular Waveforms ................4–12 Notes: ....................4–13 5. Maintenance ..................5–1 5.1. Battery Charging ....................5–1 5.2. Annual Calibration Requirements ................. 5–2 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...
  • Page 5 Minimate Blaster Specifications..................2 b) Parts and Accessories ..................... 3 c) Compliance Reports......................4 d) Calculating Battery Life ....................5 e) Connecting a Printer to the Minimate Blaster ..............5 Notes: ......................7 Index ......................1 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...
  • Page 6 Table of Contents ___________________________________________________________ Notes: Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 7: Thank You

    Date Purchased Check Your Local Electric Power Supply Every Minimate Blaster comes with a 120 VAC 60 Hz input AC adapter providing 10 to 14 VDC, 500 mA output. An optional 220 VAC adapter is available. Check with your local power utility to ensure the supplied electric power may be used with the Minimate Blaster.

  • Page 8: Connect The Battery

    Before you use the Minimate Blaster, charge its battery for at least 24 hours. Although Instantel ships every Minimate Blaster fully charged, it is a good idea to top up the battery charge before use. To check the battery charge, turn the Minimate Blaster on and read the battery level displayed in the Main Window.

  • Page 9: Check The Monitor's Memory

    Minimate Blaster and the Blastware software programs for the first year. All you have to do is complete the registration card included with your Minimate Blaster and return it to Instantel by mail or facsimile within thirty (30) days of purchasing your new monitor.

  • Page 10: Condensed Instructions

    • Clean the Minimate Blaster Periodically. Vacuum dust, dirt, and sand from the Minimate Blaster. Use alcohol to remove stains. Do not use paint thinners and ketone solvents. These may damage the Minimate Blaster. To avoid scratching the protective cover and display, do not scrub the surfaces with abrasive material including cleaning pads.

  • Page 11: Conventions Used Throughout This Manual

    The following typographical conventions appear throughout this manual. Bold type This type indicates the Minimate Blaster keys you press. For example, when you see Setups key, it means press the Setups key located on the Minimate Blaster keyboard. Window This word, when capitalized, refers to a message window appearing on the Minimate Blaster display.

  • Page 12: Notes

    Before You Begin ____________________________________________________________ Notes: Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 13: Introduction

    Appendix. 1.1. Minimate Blaster Features and Benefits The Minimate Blaster offers outstanding features unequaled in the industry. The following table lists some of the features. Please see the specifications located in the Appendix of this manual for a complete list.

  • Page 14: Accessories

    • 110 VAC and 220 VAC Adapter – connect the Minimate Blaster to your local electrical power supply. • Auto / 12 V Adapter – connect the Minimate Blaster to your vehicle’s 12 volt power supply or a 12 volt battery for remote installations.

  • Page 15: Minimate Blaster Keys

    _________________________________________________________________ Introduction 1.3. Minimate Blaster Keys 1–3 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 17: Basic Tutorial

    ASIC UTORIAL In this tutorial, you will learn how to turn on and setup the Minimate Blaster to record an event. Follow this tutorial to practice event monitoring. You can also use it as a guide when recording actual events.
  • Page 18 Basic Tutorial ________________________________________________________________ Step 2: Turn the Minimate Blaster On Press and hold the Enter key, located on the Minimate Blaster face panel, until you hear an audible beep. A Start Up Window displays for three seconds followed by the Main Window display.
  • Page 19 ________________________________________________________________ Basic Tutorial b) Choose a Trigger Source By choosing a trigger source, you set the Minimate Blaster to trigger and start recording on either ground vibrations, measured by the standard transducer, or sound pressure, measured by the microphone. The trigger source may be the transducer, microphone, or both the transducer and microphone.
  • Page 20 Step 8: Turn the Minimate Blaster OFF We are finished with the Minimate Blaster, so we can turn it off. Press the Cancel key to return to the Main Window. Press and hold the Enter key until the display disappears. The Minimate Blaster is now turned off.

  • Page 21: The Minimate Blaster

    Figure 4 Sensor Orientation 3.2. Installing the Standard Transducer The following sections apply to the standard transducer as supplied by Instantel. The sections illustrate installation procedures recommended by Instantel. Your particular monitoring activities may employ one or a combination of all of the following procedures. You may even devise your own method for a specific application.

  • Page 22: Soft Surface Installation

    4. Protect the Minimate Blaster from Water The Minimate Blaster is splash resistant designed to withstand temporary exposure to drops of water. It is not waterproof and should not be immersed in water. Immersing the monitor or installing the monitor where standing water can accumulate may damage the monitor.

  • Page 23: Hard Surface Installation

    Use this method for installations where velocity levels remain very low. The sandbag must be of sufficient size to cover the standard transducer and lay on the surrounding surface around the standard transducer. A sandbag should weigh at least 25 pounds (12 kg) containing sand or 1/4” 3–3 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 24: Installing The Microphone

    Blaster windows, selects windows, and saves your settings. To turn the Minimate Blaster ON, press and hold the Enter key until an audible beep sounds. To turn the Minimate Blaster OFF, display the Main Window then press and hold the Enter key until the display disappears.

  • Page 25: Setups Key

    3.7.2. Sample Rate The Minimate Blaster offers three sample rates: a standard rate of 1024 samples per second, a fast rate of 2048 samples per second, and a faster rate of 4096 samples per second. Increasing the sample rate increases the accuracy of the waveform recording.

  • Page 26: Maximum Geo Range

    Use your judgment when setting the trigger level. You must set the level high enough so the Minimate Blaster does not trigger on unwanted events such as nearby vehicle traffic. At the same time, you have to set the trigger level low enough so that an event activity exceeds the trigger level and starts the Minimate Blaster recording.

  • Page 27: Record Time

    (300 m) from the event to the Minimate Blaster to account for the speed of sound. For example, in the figure below the minimum record time required is 1.1 seconds. To be on the safe side and ensure you record all the event’s activity, set the record time to 2.0 seconds.

  • Page 28: Scaled Distance

    Scaled Distance Window. 3.7.12. Time The Minimate Blaster supports the twelve hour, 11:55:23 PM, and twenty four hour, 23:55:23, time formats. You can choose either format. To set the time, press the Setups key when the Main Window is displayed. Press the Enter key to scroll through the windows until the Time: Window appears.

  • Page 29: Right Arrow Key + Setups Key

    The timer can be set for a one time monitoring session or it can be set to monitor at the same time every day. Using the timer extends the Minimate Blaster battery life by turning on and monitoring only the time periods when events occur and not the time periods between events.

  • Page 30: Daily Self Check

    The Minimate Blaster uses the Metric or the Imperial measurement system. To set the Minimate Blaster to operate with either system, press the Right Arrow key and the Setups key at the same time when the Main Window is displayed. Press the Enter key to scroll through the windows until the Measurement System Window appears.

  • Page 31: Microphone Units

    Use the Up and Right Arrow keys to set the alarm level. Press the Enter key to save your setting. 3.8.9. Serial Connection This sets the Minimate Blaster to communicate with a computer using the BlastMate III PC Connecting Cable (712A2301) or via a modem over telephone lines or radio frequencies. You must set the Minimate Blaster to the proper serial connection before starting communications.

  • Page 32: Up Arrow Key

    From the Main Window, press the Up Arrow key to display the View Events Window. This window indicates the total number of events stored in the Minimate Blaster. Press the Enter key to enter the View Window. Press the Up Arrow key to scroll through the events beginning with the most recently recorded event.

  • Page 33: Delete All Events

    Once the events have been deleted, they cannot be recovered. To delete all the events in the Minimate Blaster, press the Up Arrow key with the Main Window displayed, until the Delete All Events Window appears. This window indicates the total number of events stored in the Minimate Blaster.

  • Page 34: Upload One Event

    Minimate Blaster ______________________________________________________________ 3.9.6. Upload One Event You can copy events stored in a Minimate Blaster to a BlastMate III monitor. For example, you could transfer events from the Minimate Blaster to the BlastMate III then print them using the BlastMate III printer.

  • Page 35: Test Key

    When the Record Stop Mode is set to AutoRecord, the Auto Window determines the length of time the Minimate Blaster continues to record for after an event’s activity falls below the trigger level. This ensures that an events activity, particularly air blast, is recorded. For example, if you plan to record an event at a long distance from the source, set the Auto Window to a large value to compensate for the time required for the air blast to travel from the source to the monitor’s...
  • Page 36 Enter key to save your setting. f. Power Saving Timeout The Power Saving Timeout is a timer that automatically turns the Minimate Blaster off when it has remained in the ready to monitor mode with the Main Window displayed for a specified period of time.

  • Page 37: Option Key + Test Key = Review Setups

    Up Arrow key to change the setting. Press the Enter key to save your setting. 3.12.2. Option Key + Test Key = Review Setups Press these two keys together to review the Minimate Blaster setups. Reviewing the Minimate Blaster setups scrolls you through the current settings allowing you to check the setups without having to enter the individual window for each setting.
  • Page 38 Minimate Blaster ______________________________________________________________ 3–18 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 39: Reference

    4. R EFERENCE This chapter discusses wall and ceiling installation procedures, and the theory of operation for the Instantel® standard transducer, microphone, Sensorcheck, anti-alias filter, and data analysis techniques. 4.1. Additional Installation Procedures The following sections outline procedures to install the standard transducer on walls and ceilings.

  • Page 40: Standard Transducer Ceiling Installation

    Secure the standard transducer to the leveling plate with the three screws provided. Remove the existing leveling feet and replace with the extended leveling feet. Screw the leveling feet through the bottom of the leveling plate. Place 4–2 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 41: Theory Of Operation

    Tighten the retaining nut on the bolt to secure the installation. Press the Test key to check your sensors using Sensorcheck. 4.2. Theory of Operation This section describes how Instantel’s transducer and microphone operate. It also discusses Instantel’s Sensorcheck program, anti-alias filter, and the data analysis techniques used to calculate monitoring results.

  • Page 42: Microphone

    Contact your dealer for further information. 4.3. Sensorcheck Sensorcheck performs a two stage test on the Minimate Blaster and its sensors. In the first stage, the program displays the Minimate Blaster serial number, software version, the total amount of memory installed in the Minimate Blaster, the total amount of memory available to store events, and the number of events presently stored in memory.

  • Page 43: Checking The Standard Transducer Geophones

    Acceptable overswing ratios range from 2.8 to 4.8. The figure below displays a graph of a “free fall” response for a geophone coil. A and A are used for overswing calculations. Figure 20 Calculating a Geophone's Overswing Ratio. 4–5 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 44: Checking The Microphone

    4.3.3. Sensorcheck Report The Sensorcheck report appears on the Minimate Blaster display. The message “All Channels Working, Press Option + Test to Review Setups” indicates the Minimate Blaster sensors have passed the Sensorcheck. 4.4. Anti-alias Filters Aliasing occurs when a high–frequency signal appears as an erroneous low frequency because the...
  • Page 45 In other words, the wavelength periods occur much faster than a Minimate Blaster can sample and use in the calculation. At higher frequencies there are fewer sample points per cycle and therefore greater error. The following table illustrates how error increases with frequency.
  • Page 46 Peak Displacement The Minimate Blaster calculates peak displacement, or particle distance traveled, by multiplying speed by time. In the Minimate Blaster the interval velocity is multiplied by the time interval and the resulting displacement segments are summed. ...

  • Page 47: Pressure

    L = particle velocity along the longitudinal plane Figure 24 Calculating the Peak Vector Sum. The Minimate Blaster calculates the peak vector sum for each point of the sampled waveforms and displays the largest value. Note that this is not necessarily at the peak velocity for an individual waveform.

  • Page 48: Alternate Manual Waveform Calculations

    Calculating Displacement: × π Maximum Displacement (in.) × π Maximum Displacement (mm) b. Calculating Acceleration: π × Maximum Acceleration (in./s π × Maximum Acceleration (mm/s 4.6.2. Nearly Triangular Waveforms Motion is irregular and has large amplitude. 4–10 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 49: Compound Waveforms

    Figure 27 Manual Waveform Calculations on Compound Waveforms. a. Calculating Displacement: × × Maximum Displacement (in.) π π × × Maximum Displacement (mm) π π 4–11 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 50: Irregular Waveforms

    × Maximum Acceleration (in./s π π × × Maximum Acceleration (mm/s 4.6.4. Irregular Waveforms Figure 28 Manual Waveform Calculations on Irregular Waveforms. a. Calculating Displacement: Maximum Displacement = area under curve measured by a planimeter. 4–12 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 51: Notes

    ___________________________________________________________________ Reference Notes: 4–13 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 53: Maintenance

    The Minimate Blaster internal battery requires periodic and regular charging. To check the battery charge, turn the Minimate Blaster on and read the battery level from the Main Window. If a number appears in this window instead of the bars, charge the monitor immediately to avoid possible battery damage.

  • Page 54: Annual Calibration Requirements

    The Unit, Standard Transducer, and the microphone require annual calibration to ensure continued accurate monitoring results. Calibration may be performed by an authorized Instantel service facility or by Instantel. Contact your dealer to arrange to have your Minimate Blaster and its sensors calibrated.

  • Page 55: Troubleshooting

    Backlight does not turn ON. Backlight on time set to zero. Increase the backlight on time. Low Battery level . Check the battery level and charge battery, as required. FAULT PROBABLE CAUSE CORRECTIVE ACTION 6–1 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...
  • Page 56 Damaged transducer. Have the transducer checked by an authorized Instantel service facility. Check Microphone Message. Microphone not connected. Connect the microphone. Damaged microphone or microphone Have the microphone checked by an cable. authorized Instantel service facility. 6–2 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 57: Appendix

    ____________________________________________________________________ Appendix Appendix A−1 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

  • Page 58: A) Minimate Blaster Specifications

    Appendix ____________________________________________________________________ a) Minimate Blaster Specifications The Minimate Blaster is fully compliant with the International Society of Explosives and Engineers (ISEE) performance specifications for blasting seismographs. Range 10 in/s (254 mm/s). Seismic Resolution 0.005 in/s (0.127 mm/s), to 0.000625 in/s (0.0159 mm/s) with built–in preamp.

  • Page 59: B) Parts And Accessories

    Microphone Stand Assembly 714A3401 AC Adapter 110 V AC Adaptor (Origin - China): For use with Instantel Series III (output 12 VDC 500 mA) DV – 1250 220 V AC Adaptor (Origin - China): For use with Instantel Series III DV –...

  • Page 60: C) Compliance Reports

    Appendix ____________________________________________________________________ c) Compliance Reports The Minimate Blaster supports numerous Compliance Reports, also called National Frequency Analysis Standards, including U.S.A. USBM/OSMRE, British Standard BS 6472, French GFEE, German DIN 4150, New Zealand 4403:1976, and Spain UNE 22.381. Two frequency standards, U.S.A.

  • Page 61: D) Calculating Battery Life

    With a fully charged battery, the Minimate Blaster has a battery life of 10 days in monitor mode. If you use the Timer for eight hour daily monitoring, the battery life increases to approximately 25 days in monitor mode.
  • Page 62 You must set each printer to the listed setups in order for it to work properly with the Minimate Blaster. Before you can connect and use a printer with the Minimate Blaster, you must load the required printer driver into the monitor using the Blastware software program. Connect the Minimate Blaster to your computer using the BlastMate III to PC Connecting Cable (712A2301).

  • Page 63: Notes

    (9) Input / download buffer (10) Automatic line feed (LF) (11–13) International character set All OFF (14) Character set Any setting (15–18) Code page All OFF (19) Automatic emulation switching mode OFF (1A) Low ink warning Any setting Notes: A−7 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...
  • Page 64 Appendix ____________________________________________________________________ A−8 MiniMate Plus Operator Manual...

  • Page 65: Index

    3–9 Canon BJ–30, 7 A Weight Ceiling Installation, 4–2 and zero crossing frequency, 4–10 Charge Weight, 3–8 microphone units, 3–11 Cleaning the Minimate Blaster, 5–2 Accessories, 1–2, 2 Clock Adapter adjusting speed, 3–8 charging the battery, vi Compliance Reports, 4 voltage, vi Compound Waveforms, 4–12...
  • Page 66 Microphone Units, 3–11 ceiling, 4–2 Minimate Blaster ground spikes, 3–2 burying, 3–3 hard surface installation, 3–3 sandbagging, 3–4 microphone, 3–4 Minimate Blaster Keys, 1–3 sandbagging, 3–4 Models, 1–1 wall, 4–1 Modem Irregular Waveforms, 4–13 serial connection, 3–11 setting the baudrate, 3–12 Monitor Everyday, 3–9...
  • Page 67 Vertical Axis, 3–1 Setups Key View Events, 3–12 compliance module, 3–5 Sinusoidal Waveforms, 4–11 Soft Surface Installation, 3–2 Wall Installation, 4–1 Software Version, 2–2 Warning Alarm Sound Pressure, 4–10 geo alarm level, 3–11 analysis, 4–10 I−3 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...
  • Page 68 Index _______________________________________________________________________ mic alarm level, 3–11 limitation, 4–7 Warranty. See the title page sample rate error, 4–8 Waveform Calculations, 4–10 sound pressure, 4–10 Zero Crossing Frequency (ZC Freq), 4–7 calculating, 4–7 I−4 Minimate Blaster Operator Manual...

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