Nuclear Pioneer MCA RIID Multichannel Analyzer with NaI(Tl) scintillation probe

Nuclear Pioneer MCA for Gamma Spectroscopy and Scintillation Counter. MCA unit with 63x63mm NaI(Tl) scintillation probe and heavy duty protection case. Typical resolution <9% at 662keV.
 
The MCA can work as a robust Gamma Spectrometer and as a Scintillation Counter Survey Meter. It has high count rate performance for spectrum mode and for scintillation search mode.
The board has regulated high voltage circuit with adjustable output of 600V-1000V postive polarity that allows to connect a NaI(Tl) probe with BNC cable. Probes with high impedance divider of ~50Meg-120Meg are supported. The pulse pre-amplifier set for an optimal gain, however you can re-adjust it if required.
The MCA can detect Gaussian shape peaks in real-time. It has small library of radionuclides for hobby Gamma Spectroscopy.
The counter calculate energy compensated doserate or can subtract previously saved background data file from the spectrum in real-time during spectrum acquisition. 
 
Nuclear Pioneer MCA can work with small and big volume NaI(Tl) crystals probes. You may need to re-adjust high voltage with small screwdriver after connecting the probe to set the total gain of the analog circuit. Pulse pre-amplifier circuit is set for optimal pulse shape and gain, however in some circumstance you may need to re-adjust the pre-amplifier gain ratio (manual is included).
Channel-to-Energy scale polynomial calibration can be done with selecting a scheme from the menu and simple picking 3-points on spectrum. Automatic calibration of CPS standard deviation for scintillation mode can be triggered from the menu. Other software settings are changed through serial port commands in UART-USB terminal. The MCA has full speed 12MBit/sec USB port for calibration or spectrum data download.
Any further firmware updates can be done with friendly Arduino Teensy bootloader by connecting USB cable and selecting ready hex file to upload.
The board has additional 400V high voltage circuit for supporting internally installed tiny Geiger Counter. The GM sensor CPS readings can be used in scintillation mode during prospecting in high radiation areas. 
The MCA unit comes with internally installed CR2032 RTC battery for date/hour keeping and with LiPo 3.7V 2000mAh rechargable battery. Battery can be charged with USB cable 5V input. Full charge time is about 7 hours, The MCA consumes 250mA-350mA current, depending on LCD backlight level settings.
 
MCA ver.4 specifications:
ARM Cortex-M4 microprocessor
12-bit 4096 channels ADC
TFT LCD 3.5” 480x320 with adjustable backlight level
Rotary Encoder for controls
600V-1000V adjustable high voltage for photomultiplier probe positive polarity
400V high voltage for an internal Geiger Counter
Include tiny internal Geiger Counter sensor
Adjustable gain & pulse shape pre-amplifier for an external photomultiplier probe
Gamma Spectrometer Mode (tested up to 10.000 CPS)
Scintillation Counter Mode with PMT and GM Sensor
Easy Channel to Energy calibration with selectable scheme and channels pick
Real time background subtract mode for gamma spectrometer
Real time gaussian peak detection
Real time activity calculation (beta since 4.07 firmware)
Linear or Logarithmic spectrum viewer
Energy compensated dose rate
0.30 uSv/h doserate alert and 2-sigma CPS alert in scint.mode
CPS standard deviation calibration for scint.mode
Mute / Alert / Clicking in scint.mode
Spectrum LCD zoom 512-4096 channels
Micro SD card for data storage, include SD card
RTC (include installed CR2032 battery for date and time keeping)
Internal temperature sensor
Bluetooth BLE module
12Mbit USB port for programming, calibration or data transfer
Easy firmware update via USB and friendly bootloader
Power supply: 3.7V LiPo battery, battery current consumption 250mA-350mA, LiPo included
3.7V LiPo battery USB charger, software low battery alert
UPC number: 634154871201
SKU: RH-MCA-4-probe
 
Menu description:
RETURN – return from menu to current working mode display
RESTART – restart a new spectrum
SAVE SPECTRUM – will safe CSV file to uSD card with name XXXXXXXX.CSV, For example, 19051207.CSV file from 19 May 12:07 local time
VIEW SPECTRUM – load CSV file from uSD card
LCD ZOOM X – change LCD spectrum zoom 512-4096 channels
LCD DRAW MODE – toggle between line and bar draw mode
BACKGROUND – set or turn on/off background subtract mode
UNLOCK CALIBRATION – allows to unlock 3-points channel-to-energy calibration and to select calibration scheme
SPECTRUM TIME – set time in seconds for spectrum acquisition
BACKLIGHT – change LCD backlight level
RIID f(x) - identification tolerance menu
BLE icon (on/off) – power on/off internal Bluetooth module
SIGMA icon (on/off) – activate CPS standard deviation calibration for scintillation mode
LAMDA icon (on/off) - activate activity menu since 4.07 firmware
MCA icon – toggle gamma spectrometer mode
SCI icon – toggle scintillation counter mode
GM Tube icon – toggle internal Geiger Counter circuit (active in SCI mode only)
 
DOWNLOAD FIRMWARE FILES and PDF MANUAL
You can read about the latest firmware updates and download new or previous firmware files from software page.