Quick Radon Hut User Manual

• How to start the system in default mode
• How to stop and shut down the system
• More radon hut notes and links

1. Turn on all modules in the blue electronics rack (if they're not powered yet).
   • The GPS receiver, NIM crate and laptop / PC should be running.
   
   electronics rack and control panel

2. Turn the power switch / doorhandle of the grey control panel to ON position - with panel door closed.
   • If you hear any of the CO monitors buzzing, ignore them. This is normal for the first couple of initialization minutes.

3. Check if the cooling fans are running
   • One fan is hanging next to the control panel to keep the 3kV 460/110V transformer cooled.
   • The second fan is located in front of the de-humidifier / heat exchanger unit (next to the regeneration blower) to keep the refrigeration compressor cool.

4. Confirm that the PC / laptop is running in terminal mode
   • If "kermit" (simple terminal program) is not running, then reset the PC again. The laptop has a power/reset button hidden at the rear near the serial port connectors. After resetting, "kermit" should start automatically.
   • Set the lower switch on the "Who-is-in-control" box to left position (PC/Laptop in full control)
   • Type d and hit the Return key. You should see a new status message from the control computer in the control panel with a fresh time stamp, e.g.

     ======== SuperK Dome Fresh-Air System Status (Software Version 5.6) ======== 11-MAY-1998 13:00:00 Status= 0 State= Standby_C RunTime= 0. Mode= 2 Freq= 0. FreqAdj= auto Water= noflow WPump= disab. HPump= disab. RegMode= disabled CO_A= 0 CO_Out= 0 CO_W= 0 CO_Tun= 0 PB= -8. POut= -4.1 FlowOut= 0. PRB= 7.4 TA= 16.8 TTun= 11.8 RHA= 67. RHOut= 43. THut= 22.5 TWater= 14. TWPump= 33.2 THPump= 23. TSB= 53.4 TDew= 20.8 TDry= 19.8 TOut= 24.1 RLABq= 40 RLWBq= 72 RLOutBq= 29 RLTest= 55.1 SB-Time= 23.7 ------ Safety Countdown = -1 minutes ------ D9T 11-05-1998 13:00:00 -1 1 0 0 0. -8. -4.1 7.4 67. 43. 22.5 33.2 24.7 23.8 24.7 20.9 14. 20.8 19.8 24.1 55.1 40 72 29 16.8 23. 0. 0 0. 0 4.8 2.2 0 1 53.4 11.8 5/11 12:57: Went to standby state Stopped>

   • Set the lower switch on the "Who-is-in-control" box back to right position (default: sukslc in control, PC/Laptop in listening mode).

5. Push the green RUN button on the dark-grey "GE Drive" box next to the control panel, behind the blue electronics rack.

   There are red labels pointing to the GE Drive's keypad if you don't know where to find the RUN button. After pushing the RUN button, the numeric display should stop blinking. Then the unit is ready for operations. If the display is still blinking (e.g. showing 'OU2' error after short power outage), push the RESET button, then the RUN button again.

   GE Drive

6. Go quickly through the shift check list to see if everything is OK.
   • E.g. can you see oil in both oil-level windows of the service blower?
   • Can you see green fluids in both fluid reservoirs of the de-humidifier unit (heat exchanger)?
   • Do you smell or hear anything unusual inside the radon hut?

   Service Blower

   fluid reservoirs for de-humidifier

7. If everything is OK push the START button on the control panel.
   • The system will start up in "Filter-without-Regeneration" mode, i.e. the "F" mode lamp on the control panel, 2nd below the MODE button, should be on. This is the default mode after powerup. Please don't change the mode, unless you know what you're doing.
   • You'll hear a short sequence of beeps above the control panel, followed by clicking noises of relays and valves.
   • The water pump will turn on, producing some hissing noises from pressurized water flowing through the pipes.
   • The service blower will slowly turn on. It'll reach its full speed after approx. 10-15 seconds.

8. Please wait for about 5-10 minutes to see that everything is OK and the system does not shut down.
   • While you're waiting you might use one of the head sets provided in the hut (on top of the electronics rack or behind it) to protect yourself from the loud noises, especially from the service blower, once it's reaching its full power.

1. Press the STOP button on the control panel.
   • First you'll hear loud warning beeps for approx. 20 seconds. Best if you use hearing protection devices.
   • On the laptop, you'll see "STOP switch pressed. Stopping system" (or similar).
   • The service blower will ramp down its speed slowly until it completely stops after approx. 10-15 seconds.
   • In the next sequence, all valves will go in "open" position for a few seconds to relieve any pressures from the pipes and filter tanks.
   • It is possible, that the air compressor in the attic will suddenly start recharging the high-pressure lines to the "butterfly" valves (e.g. the yellow unit behind you when you're facing the laptop). Don't worry, this is normal.
   • Finally, after a few more seconds, the system is quiet.
     Exception: the cooling fans will keep on running.

   If you only want to stop the system, without shutting down, then you're done here.
   Otherwise, if you need to completely shut down everything (e.g. for scheduled power outage) then continue with the next steps.

2. Wait until you see the "Stopped>" prompt on the laptop / PC.

3. On the grey control panel, turn the large power switch / door handle to the OFF position.

4. Turn off the laptop / PC.
   • The power switch / reset button is on the rear side of the laptop, above the serial port connectors.

5. Turn off the NIM crate electronics

• Current Radon Hut System Performance Logs, updated automatically every 1/2 hour. (use your www-sk login and password; same as needed for dormitory reservation in Mozumi).

• Interactive Radon System Log Sheet for shift in SK control room.

• Radon Hut Check Sheet for re-print: postscript or MS Word format.
  For people in the control room, you can also print directly from sukwat:/home1/shift/radon/radonhutcheck.ps

• Regular Maintenance Check Instructions for the Radon Hut.
  Regular maintenance is currently taken care of by an employee of the Kamioka Mining and Smelting company (Mr. Mizuhata) at intervals of approx. 40 days. If you like to get in touch with him and you can't speak Japanese, please contact Kiyoko (kiyokoh@po3.nsknet.or.jp). She will be happy to help you.

• For historical details about the radon hut, see Peter Halverson's manuals.
  Be advised that some of the information you find there might be outdated. E.g. the "regeneration" mode will no longer be activated - period.

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• back to Radon Hut Notes   (www.phys.washington.edu/~berns/SUPERK/RADON/).
• back to US SuperK On-Site Home Page   (www-ussk.icrr.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~superk/).