Stefan Mayer Instruments

MK-1

Single Axis Magnetic Field

Compensation System

User’s Manual

– February 2018 –

Stefan Mayer Instruments GmbH & Co. KG

Wallstr. 7, D-46535 Dinslaken, Germany
Tel./Fax: +49 2064 479762/3
Contents
1 Safety precautions 2

2 Introduction 3

3 Main frame with power supply and amplifiers 4

3.1 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.2 Amplifier specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4 Preamplifier 5

5 Magnetometer 6
5.1 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5.2 Magnetometer specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6 Filter module 7
6.1 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
6.2 Filter specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7 Operation and adjustment 8

7.1 Gain adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8 Conversion of Measurement Units 9

1
1 Safety precautions
The following safety precautions should be observed before using this
instrument:
This product is intended for use by qualified personnel who are familiar
with the safety precautions required to avoid possible injury.
Read the operating information carefully before using the instrument.
The instrument must not be operated in explosive atmosphere.
The instrument should only be used in dry rooms.
The operation of the instrument is left at user’s risk.
The ventilation slots and heat sinks must not be covered. Provide suf-
ficient air flow for cooling. In critical cases an air fan should be used.
Before operating the instrument, make sure the line cord is connected
to a properly grounded power receptacle.
Before performing any maintenance, disconnect the line cord.
Replace blown fuses with same type and rating for continued protection
against fire hazard.
Do not exceed the electrical and thermal operating limits, as defined
in the specifications section. Disregard can cause destruction of the
instrument and consequential damages.
Stefan Mayer Instruments shall not be liable for any direct, indirect,
special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use of its
instruments.

The instrument and this manual may be subject to alterations without prior notice.

2
2 Introduction
The magnetic field compensation system MK-1 has been designed for single axis
compensation of magnetic field disturbances. The system reduces slow distur-
bances, e. g. caused by trams, elevators or vehicles, as well as magnetic noise
produced by power lines (typ. 16.7 Hz and 50 Hz) by establishing a compensation
field with the help of suitable compensation coils. The system is suitable for appli-
cations where the magnetic field sensors must be placed outside the compensation
coils so that feedback operation is not possible.
The instrument consists of a 19 inch main frame unit with power supply, an am-
plifier for direct connection of compensation coils, one up to three fluxgate magne-
tometers and filter units. The signals of up to three magnetometers can be mixed
and fed to the amplifier input. All electrical connectors and the power switch are
located at the rear panel. The outer conductors of the BNC connectors on the
front panels are all connected with the case which is grounded. This is important
to know when connecting any other device to these connectors.

Figure 1: Operating principle of the compensation system MK-1.

In the following section the individual components of the instrument, their spec-
ifications and operation is explained. After that the setup and adjustments are
explained.

3
3 Main frame with power supply and amplifiers

3.1 Description

The main frame contains on the right side a power supply unit of type Kniel low
emission CA 15.4 with automatic input range switching. The power line receptacle
with power switch and two fuses is located on the rear panel. Further fuses are
inside the power supply unit. The input power is 150 W.
Caution: The instrument must not be powered with any voltage other
than 216 to 240 V or 108 to 120 V, 50 to 60 Hz AC. The line cord must
be properly grounded.
The amplifier for the connection of compensation coils is located at the backside of
the instrument. It is configured as a voltage to current converter. The compensa-
tion coils must be connected to the removable clamp connector near the backside
heat sink.
Caution: Because of the amplifier’s differential output any load con-
nected to amplifier must be floating and must not be grounded.
The ventilation slots and heat sink must not be covered. Provide suf-
ficient air flow for cooling during operation. In critical cases an air fan
should be used.
The DC resistance of the connected compensation coils must be greater than
3.0 Ohms.

3.2 Amplifier specifications

Gain 0.5 A/V

Output current max. 2.5 A
Load amp. output ≥3.0 Ω
Compliance at 2.5 A typ. ±7 V
Operating temperature 0 to 40 ◦ C

4
4 Preamplifier
The preamplifier (module ”AMPLIFIER”) is located at the front panel near the
power supply unit. The magnetic field compensation system must not be operated
without inserted preamplifier module because the preamplifier also provides the
analog ground signal for of the system. The preamplifier’s gain can be selected
individually for X, Y, and Z in steps from 0 to 11. The analog display shows the
DC drive level of the amplifier. The output signal of the preamplifier is fed to the
BNC connector ”OUT”.

5
5 Magnetometer

5.1 Description

The fluxgate magnetic field sensor has a measurement range of ±199.9 µT. The
measurement direction is axial, pointing away from the cable. The sensor is labeled
with the series number and a letter A, B, or C. It must me connected to the
corresponding receptacle SENSOR A, SENSOR B, or SENSOR C on the system
rear panel. If more than one magnetometer module is inserted, then they must
not be interchanged.
The offset of the magnetometer is adjusted with the polarity selector ”+/0/−”
and with the 10-turn potentiometers ”COARSE” and ”FINE”. The adjustment
range is ±500 µT. The digital display shows the DC magnetic field in µT. The
display range can be changed between ±19.99 µT and ±199.9 µT with the switch
below the display.
The analog output signal at the BNC connector has a bandwidth of 1 kHz (−3 dB).
The scale factor is 3 V/100 µT.

5.2 Magnetometer specifications

Display 3 1 /2 digits LC display with sign

Measurement range ±19.99 µT and ±199.9 µT
Resolution 10 nT
Noise <0.7 nT RMS
Accuracy 0.5% ± 25 nT ± 1 Digit
Operating temperature 0 to 40 ◦ C
Zero tempco <0.1 nT/K
Scale tempco <40 ppm/K

Offset adjustment range ±500 µT coarse and fine

Tempco <40 ppm/K

Analog output 0.03 V/µT, short circuit protected,

BNC connector
Output voltage range −6 to +6 V
Bandwidth 0 to 1 kHz (–3 dB)

6
6 Filter module

6.1 Description

The filter module provides analog filtering of the magnetometer output signal. It
contains two parallel bandpass filter sections for 16.7 Hz and 50 Hz, a DC channel,
and a summing amplifier. The output signals of the individual filter sections can
be switched separately and with selectable polarity to the input of the summing
amplifier. The gain of the filter sections can be adjusted between 1 and 11 with
10-turn potentiometers. The phase of the bandpass filters is adjusted with the
trimmers ”Φ”.
The DC channel is filtered with a three pole 10 Hz Bessel low pass filter. Jumper
settings can be changed on the filter board in order to change further parameters.

Figure 2: Jumper settings on the filter board

6.2 Filter specifications

Bandpass filter type Biquad active filter, 2nd order

Bandwidth (−3 dB) ∼2.6 Hz
Center frequency 16.7 Hz and 50 Hz
Phase adjustment range −120 ◦ to +0 ◦ and −30 ◦ to +90 ◦

Channel separation >20 dB

Operating temperature 0 to 40 ◦ C

7
7 Operation and adjustment
Before the instrument is switched on with the rear side power switch, the sen-
sor(s) and compensation coils must be properly installed and connected to the
corresponding receptacles. When power is applied to the system, the background
lights of the digital and analog displays and the green power LED on the power
supply unit turn on.
After switching the instrument on, the offset(s) of the magnetometer(s) should be
adjusted to zero with the 10-turn offset potentiometers and polarity switches.

7.1 Gain adjustment

Gain adjustment can be performed with the help of an external magnetometer

as follows: First, the external magnetometer must be put at a place inside the
compensation coils, where maximum compensation is expected. If more than one
filter channel (DC, 16.7 Hz, or 50 Hz) has to be activated it is recommended to
start with the DC channel.
Activate a channel by switching the corresponding toggle switch to ”+” or ”−”.
Leave every channel activated while adjusting the next one. The 10-turn po-
tentiometers on the filter modules should be turned to center position (position
6.00). Then, the preamplifier gain is increased by turning the rotary switch on
the preamplifier panel clockwise until maximum compensation action is achieved
(when the signal changes of the external magnetometer are minimum). At least,
fine tuning of the gain is performed by changing the position of the filter 10-turn
potentiometers and phase trimmers.

8
8 Conversion of Measurement Units

Magnetic induction B
Unit 1 Tesla (1 T)
1 T = 104 Gauss = 1 kg s−2 A−1
1 µT = 10 mG

Magnetic field H
Unit 1 A/m
1 A/m = 4π × 10−3 Oersted

Connection between B and H

B = µ0 H for nonmagnetic environment
Vacuum permeability µ0 = 4π× 10−7 m kg s−2 A−2
Units:
1 A/m = 4π × 0.1 µT / µ0 ' 1.3 µT / µ0
1 µT ' 0.8 A/m × µ0
1 µT = 10 mOe × µ0 .