Operation of the EpeèCAM is simple and intuitive, requiring no specialized knowledge. Pressing the ON button turns the unit on and monitoring begins immediately. Nothing else is required of the user. Other controls available include volume controls for the speaker and the alarm acknowledge button. The status of the instrument is displayed through the illumination of the alarm, normal or trouble LEDs located on the top and front panels. Voice output of dose and status changes through the EpeèCAM speaker or included ear bud allows for hands-free monitoring, permitting the instrument to be worn on the inside of protective garments. With the 802.3 Ethernet RadNet Output or the Wireless 802.11g RadNet Output Option installed, multiple EpeèCAMs report their status and readings to a local area network where a local laptop or PC workstation running Bladewerx RadNet Client software or other RadNet compliant client software provides remote supervisory monitoring, in real-time, of up to ten instruments.

Key to the powerful data analysis capabilities of the EpeèCAM is the state-of-the-art alpha peak shape fitting, which is used to separate the spectrum into the contributions from its constituent nuclides and quantify the spectrum counts from radon progeny and the user-defined isotope-of-interest. Alpha peak shape fitting is a technique that uses the profiles of multiple alpha isotope peaks to create a composite curve which best fits the actual spectrum. Because the individual nuclide peaks are independently determined, the separation of nuclides is impervious to radon equilibrium changes and allows the beta channel reading to be compensated for the background radon interference. These capabilities contribute to a very low probability of false alarms. Precise fitting of the ²¹⁸Po tail results in excellent sensitivity—superior, in many cases, to instruments sampling at 40 LPM. To learn more about Bladewerx' Alpha Peak Shape Fitting - click here.

The EpeèCAM may be factory-configured for a ‘Radon Mode’ where the instrument will monitor the potential-alpha-energy-concentration (PAEC) of airborne radon and thoron progeny. Because the alpha peak-fitting algorithm separates out the individual activities of ²¹⁸Po, ²¹⁴Po and ²¹²Po, the ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹²Bi beta contributions to PAEC can be determined. This allows for an exact solution for PAEC since all the individual activities of the alpha and beta decay products are known. The display units can be configured for either units of milli-Working Levels (mWL) and WL-h, or SI units of μJ/m³ and μJ-h/m³. Because the individual progeny concentrations are known, the effective (dis)equilibrium ratio of radon progeny can be determined and displayed. This feature can provide useful insights into the ‘age’ of the air sampled. Further, the beta channel is used to determine the RaB (²¹⁴Pb) contribution to the PAEC, making this an extremely accurate radon monitor with a sensitivity of under 1 mWL.

The sensitivity of the EpeèCAM for measuring and alarming on specific isotopes of interest in the presence of a radon background is dependent on several factors including the radon background, dust loading, sample flow rate, count time settings, and, of course, the energy of the isotope of interest. The count data are analyzed simultaneously with two different user-settable count times, the shorter one referred to as “Acute” and the longer referred to as “Chronic”. In a radon background of ~2 pCi/L, a minimum detectable dose (MDD) of less than 2 DAC-h is achievable with Chronic count time of 4-hours. A simultaneously running Acute count time of 2 minutes achieves an MDD of less than 100 DAC-h.

The EpeèCAM creates log files of both the Acute (from 5- to 30-second detail) and Chronic (1-minute detail) readings, along with spectrum log files at a user-defined interval of 1 to 30 minutes. These log files are stored for later retrieval and review. The log files use the comma-separated-variable (*.csv) format, recognized by most spreadsheet and database software.

PART NUMBER: BIN-EPEE-CAM

Detector: Solid-state ion-implanted silicon (450 mm² active area, 300 μm depletion)

Pump: diaphragm-type, 6.0 LPM (typical), flow rate is adjustable

Filter: 37 mm Speclon™ 1.5 μm PTFE membrane or compatible 37mm PTFE filter (25 mm collection area)

MCA: 256 channel spectrum

Peak-fitting algorithm for ²¹⁴Po, ²¹⁸Po, ²¹²Po and one or two additional radionuclide (e.g. ²³⁹Pu)

Acute (120 sec window) and Chronic (240 min window) sensitivities, plus net count rate alarm

Processor: Windows, 520 MHz Intel X-Scale processor

Max Count Rate: 300,000 cpm

Source Response Check diagnostic

Calibration: Electro-plated stainless steel source required for efficiency calibration. 37mm diameter with 25mm active area. ²⁴¹Am or ²³⁹Pu recommended.

Alpha Energy Range: 1.0 - 10 MeV

Beta Energy Range: 150 KeV - 2 MeV

Battery powered: 7.4 V Li-Ion, 4.1 Ah (8 Hr run-time, 4-hour charge time)

Weight: 2.1 lb (1 kg)

Dimensions: 4.75 x 5.5 x 3 in. (12 x 14 x 7.6 cm) (W x H x D)

Temperature: 0 to 122 °F (-20 to 50°C)

Humidity: 5 to 100% (non-condensing)

● 4100 mA-h Li-Ion battery: BPT-LION-4100

● 6 LPM pump (SKC): BSP-PUMP-5LS

● Epeè A board: BSP-EMCA-A

● Epeè B board: BSP-EMCA-B

● Processor board: BPT-IFT4-EP

● Epeè preamp board: BSP-PAMP-E1

● Detector, 450 mm²: BPT-DETC-EP450

● Ear bud: BPT-EARB-M1

● AC adapter/charger (U.S.): BPT-ACADP-1222