SVR. Surface Velocity Radar

Transcription

1 SVR Surface Velocity Radar User s Manual Rev 2/Aug/2011

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3 SVR Surface Velocity Radar User s Manual

4 Table of Contents Welcome to Decatur Electronics About This Manual Safety Information Receiving Inspection Getting Started Introduction Battery Charging Removing The Battery Holder Battery Installation Inserting The Holder Into the SVR Charging The Batteries Charging Status Indicator (LED) Battery Run Time Auto Power Off Replacing Batteries Connecting The Power Cord Plug In The Power Cord Control Panel Functions Components Control Buttons Display Trigger Mounting Configuration Operating Modes Menu Backlight Display Function COS Display Function U Display Function A Display Function SEN Measuring Surface Velocity Introduction Taking a Measurement

5 7 Angle Compensation Vertical Angle Compensation Horizontal Angle Compensation Serial Output Performance Tips How Radar Works Interference Sources and Remedies Angular Interference (Cosine Effect) Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) Feedback Interference Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Scanning Environmental Factors: Wind, Rain, Snow Care, Cleaning, and Storage Specifications Measurement Specifications Factory Default Settings Antenna Parameters Environment Voltages Power Consumption Legal Requirements Documents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Warranty Service Return Procedure How to Order Additional Products User Notes

6 SVR User s Manual Welcome to Decatur Electronics Europe, Inc. Thank you for choosing this Decatur Electronics product the SVR, an advanced surface velocity radar (SVR) device for measuring water surface velocity. The SVR is extremely valuable for measuring water surface velocity during high-velocity flows and flood conditions where using contact measurement instruments poses a risk to safety. The SVR incorporates many leading features such as cosine error correction for the vertical and horizontal angle positions of the gun to the target. The SVR also contains a configurable horizontal cosine adjustment that may be used when the angle of the gun is not parallel to the flow of the target. If you are as pleased with its performance as we think you will be, ask your Decatur sales representative about other Decatur products including the Genesis line of radars, the Onsite line of speed trailers, dollies, and pole signs and the Responder line of in-car video systems. Try any one of our products and see if you don't agree that it is the best-in-class! The Management and Staff at Decatur Electronics 6

7 About This Manual This manual contains valuable information to help you set up, use and maintain your radar, so you can extend its life and keep it at peak performance. Please take a moment to read through it, and keep it handy for future reference. SVR User s Manual Note the following symbols in this manual: Indicates a warning message about safety precautions. Please read it carefully. Indicates a helpful tip or precaution to note. 1. Safety Information All service needs should be referred back to the manufacturer. WARNINGS Do not over voltage the radar - it can damage the unit! See notes. When replacing batteries in the SVR you should replace all 6 with new batteries even if you suspect that only one cell is defective. Use rechargeable Nickle-Metal-Hydride batteries only. The SVR is designed to operate off of conventional +12 VDC (+10.8 to VDC) from the power cable. In addition, the SVR is also designed to operate at 7.2VDC from the internal batteries. Over voltage to the power cables or incorrect batteries can cause damage. 7

8 SVR User s Manual Opening the SVR (other than battery replacement) automatically voids any warranty still in effect. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Do not expose the SVR to excessive moisture. Never submerge the device. Violation of these guidelines may void the warranty. Do not drop the SVR on hard surfaces since damage could occur. Units damaged by dropping or abuse are not covered for warranty repair. 8

9 2. Receiving Inspection When you receive your radar, inspect all components for freight damage that might have happened during shipping or unloading. Notify the freight company immediately of any damage, preferably while the driver is present. Record the damage on the bill of lading and keep a record of the problems or damage. SVR User s Manual The package should include the following pictured items along with this User s Manual. SVR Detachable power cable Batteries & battery holder 9

10 SVR User s Manual 3. Getting Started 3.1 Introduction The SVR is a hand-held surface velocity radar (SVR) gun specifically designed to measure the surface velocity of water great for use in streams and rivers. Features such as Recall allows you to review the previous measurement. Other features are selectable through the menu option. The radar gun features a tilt sensor system, which internally compensates for the cosine angle effect of the vertical (pitch-down) angle of the gun to the target. It is not necessary to manually set the tilt sensor. Also, the software compensates for the horizontal (yaw) angle created when the gun is aimed at a target from an angle greater than 10 from the parallel alignment of the gun to the target. 3.2 Battery Charging The SVR is designed to operate off of six (6) rechargeable Nickel- Metal-Hydride batteries (or off the DC power cord). When you first receive your radar, the batteries will need to be charged for the first time before using. Once batteries have been charged if you do not use the SVR for 3-4 weeks, you will want to recharge the batteries before use in order to get the full run time. To charge batteries for the first time or to replace the batteries following steps 3.6 to Removing the Battery Holder The battery holder is located inside the handle of the SVR and is accessed by means of a sliding door. When first received, the holder should already have batteries installed, but if not then you will need to remove the holder and loaded it with batteries. To remove the battery holder slide the battery cover to the right until the battery holder is released as shown in Figure 3.3. The door can be completely removed from the slide. 10

11 SVR User s Manual Figure 3.3 Slide the battery door open. 3.4 Battery Installation Insert the batteries into the battery holder following the polarity guide that is on the inside of the battery holder (Figure 3.4a.) Once properly loaded the battery holder will look like the example in Figure 3.4b Figure 3.4a Battery holder Figure 3.4b Battery holder with batteries Notice that the negative side of each battery goes to the spring contacts of the holder. 3.5 Inserting the Holder into the SVR The battery holder is designed so that it can only make contact with the power connections inside the gun if the holder is slid into the gun in the correct way. If you look closely at the holder you will see that there is a positive and negative terminal on it. These need to be inserted into the gun with the terminals located at the top as shown in Figure

12 SVR User s Manual Figure 3.5 Insert batteries. Once the batteries have been properly loaded into the holder and the holder has been inserted into the handle of the gun then the door can be put back in place and slid closed. If you have not already charged the batteries using an optional NiMH charger, you are now ready to charge the batteries using the power cable. If the holder has been placed incorrectly into the handle the door can not be put back in place and closed Charging the Batteries The power cable that comes with the SVR can be used to either power the SVR directly from your vehicle receptacle or to charge the SVR s batteries. Once the batteries have been properly installed into the holder and inserted into the handle plug the power cord into the power connector at the base of the handle by aligning the red dot on the power cord s plug with the red dot on the connector. Failure to align the plug with the connector properly will result in damage to the pins of the jack. Reference figure 3.6 for proper alignment. 12

13 SVR User s Manual Figure 3.6 Align the dots. Next, plug the lighter plug into an active cigarette lighter receptacle in the vehicle. The red led on the lighter plug should come on showing that power is being applied to the SVR. With the SVR turned off, it will take approximately 2 hours to fully charge the batteries. Turning the SVR on with the cord plugged in will stop the charge cycle allowing the gun to be operated from the power cord. Batteries do not charge when the gun is turned on. 3.7 Charge Status Indicator (LED) The status of the charge can be determined by the Charge Status Indicator LED located on the bottom of the handle (See figure 3.7). The table below defines the status. Fast blinking green light = checking battery condition Medium blinking green light = charging battery Solid green light = charged Solid red light = charging error 13

14 SVR User s Manual Figure 3.7 Charge status indicator. The normal charging sequence is fast blink for 60 seconds, medium blink until batteries are fully charged (approximately 2 hours for fully discharged batteries) and solid green once batteries are charged. The gun can be left to charge indefinitely. The charging circuit will automatically shut off once charging is complete. The SVR must be OFF or the batteries will not charge. You can not operate the SVR and charge the batteries at the same time. Best performance from your batteries is obtained when recharged at temperature between 50ºF (10ºC) and 113ºF (45ºC). Recharging outside of that temperature range may result in reduced battery life or incomplete charging Battery Run Time How long the SVR can operate between recharges depends upon several factors including the milliamp hour (mah) capacity of the batteries, age of the batteries, and how the SVR is used. Generally a set of 6 new 2500 mah batteries fully charged should run for approximately 1 week between recharges given normal use.

15 3.8.1 Auto Power Off If no trigger or key press is detected the SVR will automatically power off after 5 minutes in order to conserve battery life. 3.9 Replacing Batteries When replacing the batteries with new ones remember to use only rechargeable Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries and to replace ALL the batteries at the same time even if you suspect that only one battery is bad. Follow the instructions listed in steps 3.2 through 3.7 for proper installation and charging when replacing batteries. SVR User s Manual 3.10 Connecting the Power Cord If you choose to run off the power cord instead of the internal batteries, connect the power cord to the receptacle on the bottom of the SVR being sure to properly align the plug on the power cord to the connector on the bottom of the SVR. The SVR automatically will switch from the internal batteries to the power cord for power when the unit is turned on Plug In the Power Cord Plug the radar s power cord into your vehicle s cigarette lighter receptacle. If you are using a separate battery pack as a power source, plug the radar s power cord into the battery pack s receptacle Control Panel Functions The operation of the SVR is controlled by the five-button key pad and the trigger. 15

16 SVR User s Manual 4. Components 4.1 Control Buttons Figure 4.1 Faceplate (Display and Control Buttons) Looking at the control buttons from left to right the buttons have the following functions: MENU The MENU button lets you view the options you can change. Repeatedly pressing the MENU button advances through the programmable features. SEL The select (SEL) button lets you choose the settings in each of the mode options. To change a mode option, press the SEL button. PWR The PWR button turns the radar on and off. When first powered on the SVR will display the screen shown in Figure 4.1. When you power the SVR off the word OFF will appear in the display and the unit will power down. 16

17 RCL When the recall button (RCL) is pressed the unit enters recall mode if the following are true: The unit is not transmitting. All 10 measurements have been completed and the speed result has been displayed. SVR User s Manual The function is active if the letter "r" appears on the left-hand side of the display. MODE The MODE button lets you change the resolution of the display. You can choose to have the speed displayed in 10ths or 100ths. 4.2 Display Number Segments The 5 large digits (88888) display the speed. Resolution is determined by the placement of the decimal point. The icons indicate the status Status Indicator Icons When first turned on the SVR performs a segment check of the display to show that all segments and icons are working. The following icons will appear at the top and bottom of the display screen, however not all of the icons are for features used by the SVR. The icons that represent the features that are used by the SVR describe the following conditions: Figure Number segments and status indicator icons. 17

18 SVR User s Manual POWER When POWER appears, the power is on. LOW BAT The LOW BAT icon indicates that your internal batteries (or your separate battery pack) may be low on power. The system will not transmit or display any new speeds while LOW BAT appears and the display will remain blank. XMIT XMIT means the radar is transmitting. HOLD HOLD indicates the system is not transmitting. FPS Indicates that the gun is set to display speeds in feet-per-second. M/S Indicates that the gun is set to display speeds in meters-persecond. Once the segment check test is completed the display will show the POWER, HOLD and the units of measure (FPS or M/S) icons along with 5 dashes ( - ) across the center of the display. The SVR is now ready to use. Figure 4.2b The display showing the segment check test is completed and the SVR is ready to use.. 18

19 4.3 Trigger The radar transmits and receives microwave energy when you pull the trigger. To measure the flow velocity, pull and release the trigger. The radar will continue to transmit even though the trigger is now released. See section 6.2 Taking a Measurement. 4.4 Mounting Configurations The radar is designed for hand-held operation. Optionally, you can mount it to a standard camera tripod. SVR User s Manual 5. Operating Modes The MENU and SEL buttons on the SVR control panel lets you review and change programmable settings. The radar gun will remember the settings you last set when it is turned off and will power up with them. 5.1 Menu You can use the factory default settings or you can select your own settings. To select a setting, repeatedly press the MENU button until the setting you want to change appears. Then release the MENU button and press the SEL (select) button to advance through the selections for that setting. When you have made your selection, release the button and your new settings will be in effect. If neither MENU or SEL is pressed after 2 seconds, the radar gun will return to normal operating mode, capturing whatever settings you have selected to that point. Table 5.1 shows the menu setting choices. The menu options are: bl = Backlight (on/off) C = Cosine Adjustment(0º to 60º in increments of 5º) U = Units of measure (European meters-per-second or USA feet-per-second) A =Angle (reporting only) SEN = Sensitivity (1-10 with 10 being maximum sensitivity) 19

20 SVR User s Manual Table 5.1 Menu Settings 20

21 5.1.1 Backlight Use the backlight function to turn the SVR's display backlight on or off. Turning the backlight off when not needed saves battery power. SVR User s Manual Figure Backlight mode Display Function COS Use COS (cosine) to adjust the cosine correction angle for the horizontal (yaw) angle (the valid range is 0 to 60 in increments of 5 ). The correction angle chosen will be saved and retained until you change it again. Figure Cosine mode 21

22 SVR User s Manual Display Function U Sets the units of measure that speed will be displayed in. Choose EUr to display for meters-per-second (m/s) or USA to display feet-per-second (f/s). Figure Units mode Display Function A Vertical Angle Display Used to verify that the SVR is reading vertical angle correctly. The vertical angle may be checked by pressing the Menu button until the letter "A" is shown in the display and then pressing the SEL button. As you move the gun up and down the angle that the gun is currently at will be displayed. To exit the mode pull the trigger switch or press the MENU, RCL or PWR buttons. 22 Figure Vertical Angle

23 5.1.5 Display Function SEN Sensitivity Display and Adjustment Higher numbers tell the gun to pickup surface velocity from a further distance. Lower numbers reduce the distance. If the sensitivity is too high the indicated velocity may be unpredictable and erratic. Choose a value that works best for the site you are taking measurements at. SVR User s Manual Figure Sensitivity Mode 6. Measuring Surface Velocity WARNING Do not put the radar gun in the water. This will damage it. The SVR measures the water surface only from outside the water. 6.1 Introduction To begin a velocity measurement, point the radar gun at the water and pull and release the trigger (there is no need to hold the trigger in). The surface velocity can be measured flowing toward or away from the gun. A dash ( - ) on the left hand side of the display (as seen in Figure 6) will show and continue to flash until the velocity stabilizes. 23

24 SVR User s Manual The dash will stop flashing when the SVR has performed enough measurements to display an averaged and reliable velocity. The SVR will begin taking an additional 10 measurement starting with zero (0) and proceeding up to 9 as each measurement cycle is completed. Once all additional 10 measurements have been completed the average of all the measurements are displayed. This will take 60 seconds to complete. Figure 6.1 The dash ( - ) appears on the left hand side of the display window 6.2 Taking a Measurement Turn the SVR on by pressing the PWR button. Once the display segment check is completed the gun is ready to use. Pull and release the trigger. The SVR shows a dash ( - ) on the left hand side of the display. The dash ( - ) keeps flashing, indicting SVR is taking measurements. The velocity is updated once per second. This velocity may vary significantly while the SVR focuses its data processing. Towards the end of the first 10 seconds, the displayed velocity will be accurate. (Do not pull the trigger again or the measurement cycle will be terminated.) 24 After 10 seconds the dash ( - ) is replaced by the number "0" (zero) indicating that the next measurement cycle has started. The speed shown is the average velocity over the last 10 seconds and will remain in the display until the current measurement cycle is completed. The leading 0 will continue flashing.

25 After 5 seconds the measurement cycle is completed and the "0" (zero) is replace with the number "1" indicating that the next measurement cycle has started. The speed shown in the display is the average velocity over the last 15 seconds and will remain unchanged until this cycle is completed. The number 1 will continue flashing. SVR User s Manual After 20 seconds, the number in the left hand side of the display updates to "2" and runs the same speed measurement as described previously. The SVR will continue to take speed measurements every 5 seconds and display the new average speed and update the number shown on the left hand side of the display until all measurement cycles have been completed. After 60 seconds have passed, the SVR will have completed ten separate 5-second batches of velocity measurements. The display will indicate the average of these measurements. Press the MODE button if you want to change the display resolution. The speed can be displayed in either 10ths or 100ths. If the user pulls the trigger once the speed measurement cycles have finished, the reading will be canceled and SVR is now ready to take a new measurement. To recall the reading press the RCL button. Figure 6.2 The average of all 10 measurements (Display is set to show in 10ths). 25

26 SVR User s Manual NOTE If there are fluctuations of more than 0.5 to 0.8 f/s (0.15 to 0.24 m/s) during a measurement interval, it is advised to review the final value. Consistent readings confirm the validity of the result, so we recommend taking the measurement more than once. Because the SVR measures the Doppler effect from the water surface, the SVR requires a certain amount of return energy. (See section 9.1 How Radar Works.) Particulate material and/or floating debris (seeding) on the surface and surface water roughness provide this effect. The SVR easily measures the velocity at which the particulate material moves in high-flow conditions. This provides the accuracy of the surface flow. For velocities of more than 1 to 2 f/s (0.30 to 0.60 m/s), floating debris and particulate material provide an ample return signal to the radar gun for measurement. Water roughness also gives a good signal return. Ripples and crosscurrents produce velocities in all directions. During a measurement, the SVR reads all the velocities and averages them into a resulting single value, based on the amount of signal return to the antenna. 7. Angle Compensation Because surface velocity readings must be taken from a stationary, dry position, often a river bank or bridge, readings are necessarily affected by angle between the radar's beam and direction of water flow (see the section on Angular Interference). The SVR compensates for this effect, referred to as cosine angle, both horizontally with user-programmable yaw correction and vertically with an automatic internal tilt sensor 26

27 7.1 Vertical Angle Compensation SVR User s Manual Figure 7.1 The SVR tilted pitch-down at 60º vertical angle The SVR's internal tilt sensor automatically compensates for the vertical angle at which you aim the gun to the target, up to 60. You do not need to manually set the tilt sensor. However, you must hold the gun still at a constant vertical angle while taking a velocity measurement. The SVR indicates when the pitch-down angle exceeds 60 by displaying "tilt". While "tilt" appears in the display window, the radar gun does not record velocity measurements. To continue taking water surface velocity measurements, tilt the gun to an angle less than 60 until the "tilt" indicator no longer appears. 27

28 SVR User s Manual Figure 7.1 The display when the vertical (pitch-down) angle exceeds 60º The vertical cosine angle will always be calibrated at the factory and should never need calibration in the field. However, the vertical angle of the SVR can be verified as being correct at any time. To do so refer to the section Display Function A Vertical Angle Display 7.2 Horizontal Angle Compensation Aiming the radar gun at the target at a horizontal angle greater than 10 creates a cosine error, which results in the radar displaying a spurious reading. To eliminate or greatly reduce this error, set the horizontal angle compensation option to the angle that you plan to aim the radar gun to the target. Then aim and hold the gun at this set angle during the entire velocity measurement. To set the horizontal angle compensation option, press the MENU button until COS (cosine) appears in the display. Then press the SELECT button. 28 Each time you press the SELECT button 00, 05, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 appears, representing the horizontal angle degrees in which you plan to hold the gun. Select the angle by displaying the number until the radar gun times out.

29 Now the gun is set at this angle selection and remains in this mode until you change it. This setting will appear the next time you enter this menu option. SVR User s Manual Figure 7.2 The horizontal angle setting for 5º 8. Serial Output The SVR has an RS232 communications port on the bottom of the handle. Using a custom RS232 communications cable, you can connect the radar and transmit data to display signs and PCs for recording and analyzing speed data. Figure 8 illustrates the location. Figure 8 Port location. 29

30 SVR User s Manual The serial communication of the RS232 communications port has the following characteristics (8:n:1) and is transmit only: One (1) start bit Eight (8) data bits No parity One (1) stop bit Transmission at 1200 baud The unit transmits data as ASCII symbols in the following digit sequence: ASCII [hundreds][tens][ones] Carriage return<cr> (<CR> = ASCII decimal value 13) The radar unit sends the data in this sequence when the TARGET speed display changes. When you press the LOCK button, the radar transmits the following digital sequence: [hundreds][tens][ones]<cr> (<CR> = ASCII decimal value 13) 30

31 9. Performance Tips Understanding potential radar interference and what to do when it occurs can greatly increase the radar s performance. 9.1 How Radar Works Determining a velocity begins with the radar gun transmitting and directing a beam of microwave energy (radio waves) at an approaching (or receding) target. When energy from this beam strikes the target, a small amount of energy from this beam is reflected back to the antenna in the radar device. The reflected signal frequency shifts by an amount proportional to the velocity of the target. This is known as the Doppler effect. The radar device then determines the target velocity from the difference in frequency between the transmitted and reflected signal. When the antenna transmits the beam of radio waves, the beam forms an elliptical pattern on the target area. The beam s size depends on the distance between the antenna and the target. The horizontal beam width is 12. The detection area becomes larger as it becomes farther away from the antenna. SVR User s Manual Figure 9.1 Radar beam detection area When you point the SVR about 10 feet (3 meters) from the water surface, it measures an elliptical beam pattern of 2 feet (61 cm) in diameter. Keep this in mind when making measurements of a stream width. Take several readings to completely cover the full width of the stream. 31

32 SVR User s Manual 9.2 Interference Sources and Remedies When properly installed and operated, Doppler radar technology is extremely accurate and reliable. However, variations in the environment can cause situations and circumstances, which can cause spurious (erratic and unusually low or high) velocities to display. Signs that a velocity is spurious can include the following characteristics: a reading appears when no target is in the operational range of the antenna a target entering the operational range overrides the interference signal, causing the display velocity to change suddenly interference is irregular and does not provide a valid target history Angular Interference (Cosine Effect) The cosine effect causes the radar device to display a velocity which is lower than the actual water surface velocity. This condition exists whenever the target's path (the water flow direction) is not parallel with the radar gun s antenna. As the horizontal (yaw) angle between the antenna and the target's directions of travel increases, the displayed velocity decreases. Ideally, an angle of zero (0 ) is best. 32 Figure An angular error occurs when the target's path is not parallel to the radar antenna.

33 Small angles (less than 10 ) have little effect on accuracy. As the angle increases, the displayed target velocity erroneously decreases, as the following table, Table 9.2.1, shows. At 90, the target velocity is 0 grossly incorrect. You will see numbers such as these if you do not set the horizontal angle compensation option in the software menu. (For how, see Section 7.2 Horizontal Angle Compensation.) SVR User s Manual Actual velocity in f/s Horizontal Angle Degrees 0 1º 3º 5º 10º 15º 20º 30º 45º 60º 90º Displayed speed: Table Actual and displayed velocities at antenna-to-target angles Table shows the actual velocities (in the left column) and the velocity that displays (columns on the right) if you have not adjusted the radar gun for the horizontal (yaw) angle. Note that for angles less than 10, the cosine error effect on the velocity is minimal. Also, note that the table reflects only the cosine error from the horizontal angle. When you introduce a horizontal (yaw) angle and a vertical (pitch-down) angle into a measurement, both angles affect the final calculated display velocity. 33

34 SVR User s Manual NOTE The vertical (pitch-down) angles that are less than 60 are automatically compensated for by the tilt sensor Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) While operating, electric motors can produce EMI. EMI can produce spurious (erratic and unusually low or high) target velocities. To correct the interference, simply turn off the source of interference Feedback Interference When you direct the radar beam at computer screens, streetlights, and other electronic devices, it can display spurious (erratic and unusually low or high) velocities. To correct the interference, move the radar gun s antenna away from the source of the interference Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) The radar gun can inadvertently process radio energy as Doppler velocities, including that from police radios, airport radar, microwave transmission towers, CB radio transmitters, and AM/FM transmission towers. For this type of interference to occur, the radar gun must be operating very close to the radio transmitter Scanning The SVR is designed for use while attached to a solid mount or hand held in a steady position. Moving or "scanning" the antenna past stationary objects can cause the system to detect motion. Obtaining a velocity reading by scanning will not happen when you properly use the radar Environmental Factors: Wind, Rain, & Snow Wind moving across a water surface can produce waves, which result in movement differing from the main direction of the water flow. In high-velocity water flow, this effect is minimal or non-existent and does not affect the measurement. 34

35 However, in low water surface flow, such as conditions below 1 to 2 f/s (0.30 to 0.60 m/s), the wind s effect is dominant, so the measurement might not reflect the actual velocity movement. In wind, position the SVR toward a target area where wind does not affect or minimally disturbs the water surface, such as under a bridge or in a sheltered area. SVR User s Manual Rain and snow can influence the accuracy of measurements. In slow water flow conditions, the vertical velocity component of rain or snow is dominant. Rain droplets passing in front of the measuring plane of the antenna and water surface roughness produced by rain droplets contacting the water surface cause this effect. However, in conditions of rapid water flow, these effects are minimal. The dominant effect is the surface water flow following the direction of the main open channel. In these conditions, take measurements under a bridge, structure, or covered area where rain and snow do not dominate the measurement. Take measurements where the main channel flow is dominant. This eliminates the potential for errors from environmental factors. 10. Care, Cleaning, and Storage Avoid spilling food, beverages, and other liquids and substances on the radar device. When you are not using or transporting the device, store it in its original packaging. To clean the radar device, use a soft clean cloth, which is free of cleaning solutions. 35

36 SVR User s Manual 11. Specifications 11.1 Measurement Specifications Minimum Velocity 0.3 fps (0.3 m/s) Maximum Velocity 30 fps (9.1 m/s) Measurement Accuracy 5% of Reading Units of measure can be set to read in feet per second (fps) or meters per second (m/s) Factory Default Settings Units M/S (meters-per-second) Horizontal Cosine 0 Sensitivity Antenna Parameters Type Nominal Transmission Frequency Nominal Horizontal Beamwidth 12 K-Band, IACP Type III Ghz Polarization Nominal Microwave Power Output Maximum Aperture PowerDensity Circular 7 mw <1 mw/cm Environment Ambient Temperatures -22 F to +158 F, -30 C to +70 C Maximum Humidity 90% relative humidity at 99 F (37 C) non-condensing Water resistance meets International Robustness Standard IEC 529:1989 and European Community Standard EN Classification IP

37 11.5 Voltages Supply Voltage Range Power Supply Frequency Low Voltage Threshold 8.5VDC 16.5VDC replaceable NiMH batteries 6.1VDC (battery) 8.5VDC (cord) SVR User s Manual 11.6 Power Consumption Standby Antenna ON no target displayed Antenna ON anything displayed Antenna OFF segment check "888" Antenna ON segment check "888".105 ampres.170 ampres.172 ampres.116 ampres.180 ampres All currents measured at 13.8VDC with backlight on. 37

38 SVR User s Manual 12. Legal Requirements 12.1 Documents FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C GRANT OF EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION Certification Decatur Electronics Inc Date of Grant: 02/28/ Bright Street Decatur,IL Application Dated: 12/21/1999 Attention: Randall Sanner NOT TRANSFERABLE EQUIPMENT AUTHORIZATION is hereby issued to the named GRANTEE, and is VALID ONLY for the equipment identified hereon for use under the Commission s Rules and Regulations listed below. FCC IDENTIFIER HTRCR-1KD Name of Grantee Decatur Electronics Inc Equipment Class: Part 15 Field Disturbance Sensor Notes: Traffic Safety Radar Frequency Output Frequency Emission Grant Notes FCC Rule Parts Range (MHZ) Watts Tolerance Designator % Mail To: EA

39 13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q. My surface velocity measurement reading is much higher than the last time I took a reading. A. If the water surface is smooth with very little or no roughness, the SVR is possibly not receiving enough returning radar energy from it. Try to make your measurement closer to the water or in a region where some water surface turbulence, roughness, or even floating material is on the water. SVR User s Manual Q. I just completed making a measurement and moved to a different spot on the river. Now my measurements seem off. A. Check to make sure you have adjusted the horizontal (yaw) angle compensation. In high flow conditions, an incorrect or improper angle input can yield a significant difference in velocity readings. Q. The water has some good roughness and waves on the surface, but the radar gun still seems to give me a higher and/or much lower reading than I expect. A. Make sure you are not too far away from the water surface when making a measurement. This distance is sometimes difficult to determine, because the measurement is a function of the amount of returning signal to the radar gun. The returning signal directly relates to the distance from the water surface and the water surface roughness. The radar gun makes the best measurements, even for very low velocities, when it is as close to the water surface as possible. You need to make several measurements pointing at the same spot. Try to minimize the horizontal (yaw) angle in the measurement. Also, make several measurements at different vertical (pitch-down) angles to determine a consistency in the readings. Make sure you hold the gun steady and at only one angle when making a measurement. Q. I am trying to make a velocity measurement that appears to be lower than 2 fps (.60 m/s), but my readings show a higher velocity. 39

40 SVR User s Manual A. Check for wind effect occurring on the water surface. Wind can affect the measurement of low velocities, as example below 2 fps (.60 m/s). If possible, make the measurement in two directions, one of the water flowing toward the gun and one away from the gun. Try to make the measurement by pointing at the same spot. Q. I m making a measurement during a flooding condition. The water is flowing very fast and is very turbulent and rough with a lot of debris and floating material. Is the gun giving me a good measurement? A. YES, turbulent water with floating material on the surface provides a good return signal to the radar. Note that in these conditions, the radar gun reads many different velocities occurring in numerous directions. The radar gun measures all these velocities and provides one averaged velocity value. Q. While making a measurement, the value is changing every 5 seconds. A. The radar gun measures the velocity in 60-second intervals. When the first measurement value appears on the display, it is a result of the radar gun sampling the surface velocity numerous times. (The radar gun puts the data values in a type of first-in, first-out memory buffer.) As the radar gun continues to take samples, it discards and replaces the older velocity values with newer samples then averages the values again. The sampling process takes place every 5 seconds within this 60-second period. This is because the hydraulics of the water can change. The radar samples the surface water and provides ten averaged values of surface velocity, each sampled in a 5-second period. After 60 seconds, the radar gun averages the ten values together to provide a final velocity value. Q. When I make measurements, the readings seem to change from high to low velocities to high velocities, etc. 40 A. Make sure you hold the gun steady when you take a measurement. The tilt sensor that compensates for vertical (pitch-down) cosine error in velocity is very sensitive. Vibration or jerky movements of the gun cause incorrect angle readings.

41 14. Warranty TWO-YEAR RADAR WARRANTY Decatur Electronics, Inc. guarantees the radar to be free from defects in workmanship and material and to operate within specifications for a period of two years. During this period, Decatur Electronics will repair or replace, at its option, any component (excluding batteries) found to be defective, without cost to the owner, providing you return the unit to the factory or to a Decatur authorized warranty service center. SVR User s Manual The full warranty on parts and workmanship does not include normal wear and tear, crushing, dropping, fire, impact, immersion, over-tightening of screws or damage from attempted repair or modifications by unauthorized service agents. For repairs, simply return the unit (transportation prepaid) directly to the factory or to a Decatur authorized warranty service center. Refer to section 14 Service Return Procedure. TWO-YEAR WARRANTY EXCEPTION If you purchased the unit under a special buying program, such as a state purchase contract, etc., the above warranty may not apply. Please refer to the buying program contract for the appropriate warranty terms or contact Decatur Electronics. If you are interested in an extended warranty contact your sales representative to discuss options. 41

42 SVR User s Manual 15. Service Return Procedure If you have questions, want a quick problem diagnosis, or need to return your radar unit to the factory: Call Decatur Electronics Customer Service and ask to speak with a Customer Service Representative. Have the serial number of the radar unit ready. Phone: Fax: If you need to return your radar unit to Decatur Electronics: Ask to arrange for a Return Authorization Number. You will need to give the serial number of the radar that is to be serviced. The serial number is located on the bottom of the handle. Return ALL of the radar's parts in the original packaging (transportation prepaid). If so directed, include a note describing the problem and/or the incident that resulted in the problem. Failure to do so can delay the return of your radar device. Based on the information that you have given, the Customer Service Representative will issue you a return authorization (RA) number. Write the RA number on your note and shipping label. Return the system to: Decatur Electronics Europe, Inc. Auratie Kokkola, Finland RA# XXXXXX The customer is responsible for the shipping charges to send the system to Decatur Electronics Europe, Inc. 42

43 The customer is responsible for the shipping charges to send the system to Decatur Electronics Europe. If we receive a system from a customer COD that is still under warranty, we will charge the customer for the amount of COD freight charges plus an additional 10% for handling after we repair the system. Also, we will add COD and a 10% handling fee to the repair bill for out-of-warranty repairs. SVR User s Manual The customer is responsible for all shipping charges to the Decatur service location. Decatur does not accept incoming COD shipments. Decatur Electronics will pay the freight (up to 10.00) for shipping the system from the repair facility to the customer, providing the system is still under warranty. We will charge the customer for any shipping charges above the initial If you want to ship your package express or next day air, we will invoice you for these freight charges. If your radar is out of warranty and you would like to know the cost of repair prior to the actual repair work being performed, Decatur would be happy to give you a repair estimate. To obtain an estimate, request it either on the paperwork you submit with the radar when you send it in for service or when you obtain a Return Authorization (RA) number. Decatur provides estimates only upon request. There is a charge for an estimate if your unit is not under warranty, plus the return shipping and handling fees. (Check with Decatur regarding current estimate fees). If, after reviewing the estimate cost, you decide not to have it repaired, you will be invoiced for the estimate plus the return shipping costs. 43

44 SVR User s Manual 16. How to Order Additional Products You can order upgrades to the SVR (when available) as well as cases, battery packs, and tripods. To see product descriptions or order products, see the Decatur Electronics Web site at www. DecaturEurope.com or call the sales office at

45 17. User Notes: SVR User s Manual 45

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48 Decatur Electronics Europe, Inc. Auratie 9, 67600, Kokkola, Finland Tel Fax