Operation Manual for Mag612 Three-Axis Magnetic Field Probe

Operation Manual for Mag612 Three-Axis Magnetic Field Probe

Table of Contents 1. About this Manual 3 1.1. Symbols Glossary 3 2. Safe Use 3 3. Introduction 3 4. Overview of the Mag612 4 5. Magnetic Field Sensor Circuit Design 4 6. Probe Location and Mounting Recommendations 4 7. Connections 5 8. Mag612U Electronics Board 5 8.1. Connecting the Probe and Electronics Board 6 9. Mag612-RTPDE and -RTUDE 6 10. Integration Considerations 6 11. Cable Testing 6 12. Cable Recommendations 7 13. Connecting Power 7 14. Electromagnetic Compatibility 7 15. Troubleshooting and Care and Maintenance 8 15.1. Troubleshooting 8 15.2. Care and Maintenance 8 16. Product Handling 8 17. Storage & Transport 9 18. Environmental Precautions 9 19. End of Life Disposal 9 Page 2 of 10

1. About this Manual This manual provides the information necessary to help customers connect, and operate, the Bartington Instruments Mag612 probe and electronics board. It should be read in conjunction with the product brochure DS3434 and the outline drawings available from the product page. 1.1. Symbols Glossary The following symbols used within this manual call your attention to specific types of information: WARNING: Indicates a situation in which serious bodily injury or death could result if the warning is ignored. Caution: Indicates a situation in which bodily injury or damage to your instrument, or both, could result if the caution is ignored. Identifies items that must be disposed of safely to prevent unnecessary damage to the environment. Note: A paragraph in this format provides useful supporting information on how to make better use of your purchase. 2. Safe Use WARNING: These products are not qualified for use in explosive atmospheres or life support systems. Consult Bartington Instruments for advice. Caution: To prevent irreparable damage, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and precautions must be used when handling the unpackaged sensor electronics board. 3. Introduction The Mag612 is a three-axis fluxgate probe with a separate electronics board. The probe is for use together with electronics to provide measurements of static and alternating magnetic fields in three orthogonal axes. Page 3 of 10

4. Overview of the Mag612 The Mag612U is a two-part three-axis fluxgate sensor with a superior orthogonality. It consists of a compact, lightweight and environmentally sealed fluxgate probe and unpackaged electronics, connected by a cable up to 3 metres in length. Figure 1. Mag612 probe The probe can be mounted into the customer equipment with the electronics located remotely. The Mag612 probe is supplied with a connector allowing easy connection to either its decicated electronics or the RTPDE. In the case of supply with the RTUDE, the sensor will be hard wired to the RTUDE. 5. Magnetic Field Sensor Circuit Design Compatible unpackaged room temperature electronics are included with the Mag612U sensors. See Mag612U Electronics Board. Magnetic field sensor circuit schematics and design notes are available, at additional cost, from Bartington Instruments. Contact the Bartington Instruments sales team for more information on sales@bartington.com. 6. Probe Location and Mounting Recommendations The probe should be located away from large magnetic fields or materials that may over-range the sensor or interfere with the field being measured. The method of mounting will depend on the application and the enclosure. Page 4 of 10

Each probe has four countersunk fixing holes, for M2.5 screw attachment to a stable base of fixture. For details of the mounting arrangements for the probe refer to drawing DR3622, available from Bartington Instruments. Note: The use of magnetic materials in the mounting arrangement must be avoided. All mounting components should be checked before installation, by introducing the component within the immediate vicinity of the sensing elements of a working magnetic field sensor, and observing any variation in the background field. The analogue output is positive for conventional flux direction, South to North, in the direction of the arrow shown on DR3622 for each axis; i.e. the maximum positive output will be obtained from any axis when the arrow points towards magnetic north along the total field vector. 7. Connections Connection details for the Mag612 probe are provided in DR3622, available from Bartington Instruments. 8. Mag612U Electronics Board The separate Mag612 electronics board (figure 2) is unpackaged and is used to operate Mag612 three-axis probes. Figure 2. Mag612 electronics board Page 5 of 10

8.1. Connecting the Probe and Electronics Board Prior to the installation of the system, the electronics board must be connected to a Mag612 probe to provide sensor functionality. The electronics should then be connected to a suitable power supply and acquisition unit. The Mag612 probe can either be soldered onto the electronics, or supplied with a detachable connector. Diagrams showing the connectors and solder points are available from Bartington Instruments. 9. Mag612-RTPDE and -RTUDE In the event the customer whish to integrate the Mag612 probe to their own design electronics, schematics can be purchased from Bartington Defence & Space. For evaluation purpose, packaged and unpackaged drive electronics corresponding, to the schematics can be supplied as an optional extra. Outline drawing for the RTPDE and RTUDE are available from the Mag612 Page. Connection of the Mag612 probe to the RTPDE is done via a Hirose connector, where the probe will connect to the body of the RTPDE. The other hirose connector on the RTPDE is suitable for connection to Bartington Defence & Space power supply and data acquisition units. Connection of the Mag612 probe is hard wired to the RTUDE. The RTUDE will be also supplied with a Hirose connector mounted on a tail for connection to Bartington Defence & Space power supply and data acquisition units. 10. Integration Considerations The electronics board design has a flat amplitude response and a small, predictable phase lag. In order to offer maximum flexibility and not degrade the performance, it has no internal filters. The analogue outputs may require external filters to optimise their performance, depending on the application. 11. Cable Testing The cabling from the power supply to the Mag612 electronics board must be fully tested to ensure the correct functionality. Site the sensor and connect the power supply and cabling. Ensure the connections are installed in the correct orientations. Page 6 of 10

Switch on the power supply and wait until the sensor has stabilised. Refer to the technical specification in the brochure for warm-up times. Confirm no magnetic objects are moving in the vicinity. To check the output: Connect a voltmeter to the axis sensor outputs (across signal and common). Whilst monitoring the voltmeter readings, align the probe axis with the terrestrial magnetic field. Confirm that the measured readings approach the local geomagnetic field value. 12. Cable Recommendations The Mag612 electronics board provides unbalanced output lines for analogue signal transmission. Note: Customers manufacturing their own cables must ensure the cables are shielded to prevent them picking up electromagnetic interference. The connecting cable to the electronics board output connector should be an eight-core screened cable. Note: Cables are particularly prone to wear and damage if twisted, flexed beyond their design limits, or subjected to excessive or repeated movement. All cables should be mounted securely in place. 13. Connecting Power Caution: Check that the polarity of the supply is correct before powering the sensor. Caution: Connect the Mag612 electronics board before the supply is energised, as this prevents high surge currents which could cause damage. Note: Apply the positive and negative supplies simultaneously, and avoid leaving the electronics board connected to one polarity only. 14. Electromagnetic Compatibility Note: The Mag612 probe and electronics board are not shielded for immunity from, or emission of, electromagnetic fields. Page 7 of 10

Note: The Mag612 is intended for integration into other systems. Ensure these meet the appropriate level of shielding. 15. Troubleshooting and Care and Maintenance 15.1. Troubleshooting Your sensor is unlikely to suffer any defects in normal use: no internal components are serviceable. The most likely causes of failure, and their solutions, are detailed in the following table. In the event of any apparent malfunction beyond those described in the table below, please email service@bartington.com, or telephone the Bartington Instruments service team on +44 (0)1993 706565. Cause Power supply Cables Solution Check the power supply as detailed in Connecting the Probe and Electronics Board. Check the cables as detailed in Cable Testing. Power input If no fault can be found in the power supply or cables, ensure the cable length is not too long, causing excessive voltage drop between the power supply and electronics board. Refer to the parameters defined in the brochure technical specification. Damaged sensor If any physical damage is apparent to the module and / or the casing then the sensor may need to be replaced. For information about disposal of a damaged unit, refer to End of Life Disposal. 15.2. Care and Maintenance Surface dirt contamination on the Mag612 probe should be removed using a mild detergent solution only. 16. Product Handling ESD protection should be used when handling the Mag612 electronics board, to prevent irreparable damage. Page 8 of 10

17. Storage & Transport The Mag612 electronics board should be treated subject to ESD precautions. Note: Store only within the temperature range specified in the product brochure. Note: Do not expose to strong magnetic fields while being stored. 18. Environmental Precautions Refer to the brochure for maximum environmental electrical and mechanical ratings. Caution: Exceeding the maximum environmental ratings may cause irreparable damage to the Mag612 probe and electronics board. 19. End of Life Disposal This product (electrical and electronic equipment) should not be placed in municipal waste. Check local regulations for disposal of electronic products. Page 9 of 10

T: +44 (0)1993 706565 F: +44 (0)1993 774813 E: sales@bartington.com Bartington Instruments Limited 5 Thorney Leys Business Park, Witney, Oxford, OX28 4GE, England. www.bartington.com The copyright of this document is the property of Bartington Instruments Ltd. Bartington is a registered trade mark of Bartington Instruments Limited in the following countries: United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, European Union, India, Japan, Norway and the United States of America.