Testing of the OBO Bettermann Peak Current Sensor System for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

摘要

During summer 2004 we studied the reliability of the OBO Bettermann peak current sensor (PCS) monitoring system (1) credit card-type cards with magnetic strips and (2) a card reader. Three methods were used to generate current for testing the PCS system: (1) a Keytek current generator, (2) a capacitor discharge, and (3) rocket triggered lightning. The data obtained from the cards were compared with oscilloscope measurements of the generated currents. Additionally, we tested for nearby natural and nearby rocket triggered lightning by placing cards on an airport runway lighting system lightning-protection counterpoise, on power line grounds, and on the lightning-protection system of an explosive storage igloo at Camp Blanding Army National Guard Base. In all experiments exposed cards were read multiple times to test the consistency of the measurement. Each card read zero before each experiment.