Omikron Listening System

User Manual
Issue 2
September 1999

Primayer Limited
Euclid House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP England.
Telephone: +44 (0)23 9225 2228 Fax: +44 (0)23 9225 2235
Email: sales@primayer.co.uk Web page: www.primayer.co.uk
UK Office:

Primayer Limited
Euclid House Parklands Business Park Denmead Hampshire PO7 6XP England.
Telephone: +44 (0)23 9225 2228 Fax: +44 (0)23 9225 2235
Email: sales@primayer.co.uk Web page: www.primayer.co.uk

Representative Office:

Primayer Limited
23 Jalan TPP, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, Section 6, 47100 Puchong, Selangor Darul
Ehsan, Malaysia
Telephone: +60 (0)3 8060 5225 Fax: +60 (0)3 8060 5252

Primayer Limited reserves the right to amend any specification without notice. Primayer
will not be responsible for any consequential damages arising from such changes, or from
errors contained in any publication.

Copyright © Primayer Limited 1999

Document Number: OUD 0111

All trademarks are acknowledged

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Contents
System Description ............................................................4
System components ......................................................................................... 4

Omikron Alpha.....................................................................5

Omikron Beta ......................................................................8

Omikron Gamma................................................................10
Filters .................................................................................................................12

Omikron Alpha + Gamma..................................................13

Operation...........................................................................14

Specification......................................................................16

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System Description
Omikron is a modular electronic listening system for leak location in buried
pipes. Omikron detects the noise produced by the escaping water.

The a (alpha) system is an electronic listening probe. It detects the leak

noise directly at hydrants, valves and other pipe fittings. A miniature belt-
mounted amplifier processes the noise detected by a handheld probe and
passes the signal to headphones.

The b (beta) system consists of a ground microphone (instead of a listening

probe) for surface leak listening above the suspected leak position.

The g (gamma) system is a ground microphone where the 'belt' amplifier is

replaced by a main amplifier with sophisticated filters. It incorporates numeric
and analogue displays of noise level.

The a+g (alpha plus gamma) system provides the complete range of
listening equipment, incorporating the alpha and the gamma systems in one kit.

System components
The number of '®' symbols shows the number of pieces of each component
supplied with a system

Component a b g a+g
Hand probe ® ®
Ground microphone ® ® ®
'Belt' amplifier ® ®
Main amplifier ® ®
Headphones ® ® ® ®
Extension rod ®® ®® ®® ®®®®
Ground microphone handle ® ® ®
Ground microphone cable ® ® ®
Carry bag ®
Ruggedised carry case ® ® ®

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Omikron Alpha

Omikron Alpha system

Omikron Alpha detects noise generated by leaks by direct listening at valves,
hydrants and other surface pipe fittings. Omikron is an electronic ‘listening stick’
providing high sensitivity and wide band amplification of leak noise particularly at
lower frequencies.

The hand probe is connected to the BNC socket on the Belt Amplifier where the
leak signal is amplified. The Belt Amplifier is attached to the operator’s belt, or
in some other convenient location. The Belt Amplifier unit is designed using low
power, ultra low noise analogue signal processing circuitry for optimum
performance.
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Plugging in the headphones acts as the ‘on’ switch (and conversely removal of
the headphones switches the Belt Amplifier ‘off’). A headphone volume control
is incorporated. The operator listens only whilst the yellow push button is
depressed. This provides easier comparison of leak noise amplitude while at
the same time maximising battery life.

'Belt' Amplifier
The hand probe may be extended by screwing in one or both of the extension
rods provided.

Power is provided by a single non-rechargeable PP3 alkaline battery. Battery

replacement is easily carried out on-site by removal of the cover on the
underside (under the serial number label). When installing the new battery care
must be taken not to trap the battery wires under the battery. The cover is closed
by sliding towards the ‘belt clip.’

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The Omikron electronic listening probe is supplied with a small flexible carry
bag.

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Omikron Beta

Omikron Beta system

Omikron Beta ground microphone detects the noise, generated by leaks in
buried pipes, reaching the ground surface. The Omikron ground microphone
has a special high sensitivity sensor mounted in a unique suspension system,
giving maximum isolation from external noise interference.

The Beta system comprises a ground microphone, handle, Belt Amplifier,

connection cable and headphones.

The handle is assembled by screwing together the two stainless steel rods and
plastic handle piece, and assembling into the top of the ground microphone.
The ground microphone output signal is connected to the Belt Amplifier using
the cable provided.

Plugging in the headphones into the Belt Amplifier acts as the ‘on’ switch (and
conversely removal of the headphones switches the Belt Amplifier ‘off’). A

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headphone volume control is incorporated. The operator listens only whilst the
yellow push button is depressed. This provides easier comparison of leak
noise amplitude whilst at the same time maximising battery life.

Power is provided by a single non-rechargeable PP3 alkaline battery. Battery

replacement is easily carried out on-site by removal of the cover on the
underside (under the serial number label). When installing the new battery care
must be taken not to trap the battery wires under the battery. The cover is closed
by sliding towards the ‘belt clip.’

The Beta system is housed in a ruggedised transport case. This case is fully
waterproof when the black valve, located to the left of the carry handle, is closed,
i.e. fully screwed in. CAUTION: If the Omikron system is to be airfreighted this
valve must be opened (screwed out) to allow equalisation of air pressure.

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Omikron Gamma

Omikron Gamma system

Omikron Gamma ground microphone detects the noise, generated by leaks in
buried pipes, reaching the ground surface. The Omikron ground microphone
has a special high sensitivity sensor mounted in a unique suspension system,
giving maximum isolation from external noise interference.

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The Gamma system comprises a ground microphone, handle, Main Amplifier,

connection cable and headphones.

The handle is assembled by screwing together the two stainless steel rods and
plastic handle piece, and assembling into the top of the ground microphone.
The ground microphone output signal is connected to the Main Amplifier using
the cable provided.

The Main Amplifier unit is an advanced design with variable filters and a notch
filter to eliminate electrical mains interference. The sensor input and
headphone sockets are located on the rear of the unit.

Switch the amplifier on by rotating the FILTER switch from the 'off' position and
select one of the filter settings (see Filters following). The red LED at the right of
the bar display will illuminate.

Gamma main amplifier

A digital signal strength meter displays relative leak noise level at a position on
the ground. This display is independent of the volume control setting. The
display may be ‘frozen’ to give accurate comparisons between microphone
positions by pressing the ‘Hold’ switch to the right. Movement of this switch to
the left activates the back-light.

A headphone volume control is incorporated. The operator listens only whilst the
‘Listen’ switch is moved left or right. Switching to the right activates listening only
whilst the switch is held.

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The bar-graph displays the signal level dependent upon the setting of the
volume gain control. This display is useful to give operator confidence.

Power is provided by two non-rechargeable alkaline ‘C’ cells. A low battery

warning is given by a single red-LED illumination in the ‘number 9’ position, i.e.
one LED from maximum. This is accompanied by the ‘bar’ volume display being
replaced by a single LED representation of noise level.

Battery replacement is easily carried out on-site by unscrewing the cover on the
back of the Main Amplifier. The replacement cells should be installed with the
positive end towards the battery compartment cover.

The Gamma system is housed in a ruggedised transport case. This case is

fully waterproof when the black valve, located to the left of the carry handle, is
closed, i.e. fully screwed in. CAUTION: If the Omikron system is to be
airfreighted this valve must be opened (screwed out) to allow equalisation of air
pressure.

Filters
The filter values have been selected to give the best possible detection of leak
noise in the presence of other interference. There is, for example, a permanent
notch filter which rejects mains -frequency interference.

The WIDE setting passes the entire bandwidth of the system (apart from mains
frequencies, as noted above). This is the least discriminatory setting, but it may
be used where background noise is low and the leak noise levels are also low.
It can also be used for a general survey.

The LOW setting is designed principally for working with plastic pipes. This
setting removes high frequency noise, and so eliminates this type of
interference.

The MID setting is preferred for working with concrete, lead and asbestos
cement pipes. This setting remove s some low frequency interference.

The HIGH setting is principally for use on iron and steel pipes. This setting
eliminates all low frequency noise.

These settings should be taken as a guide only; it is usually necessary to

experiment with the filter settings to produce the optimum performance.

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Omikron Alpha + Gamma

Omikron Alpha + Gamma system in case

This system is a combination of the Alpha and Gamma systems and is based
upon the Main Amplifier. Full operation is covered separately in the Alpha and
Gamma sections described earlier in this manual.

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Operation
The principle of leak noise detection is to find the location where the leak noise
is greatest.

It is essential that the path of the pipeline being checked is known, and that other
potential sources of interfering noise are recognised.

As sound travels much better through a pipe than through the ground, the first
step in locating a leak is normally to listen directly at each accessible fitting (eg
valve, hydrant, etc) along the length of the pipe, using the hand probe. This
should enable the operator to identify the section (ie the length of pipe between
two fittings) where the leak noise is greatest.

The next step is to use the ground microphone to listen to the leak noise being
transmitted through the ground, and to make measurements at regular intervals
at the ground surface above the selected section of the pipe. This methodical
survey should enable the operator to identify successive points where the noise
is greatest.

The final step is to re-survey the pipe route between the identified points,
reducing the distance between listening points until the leak location is defined
as precisely as possible.

The filter settings may be used to reduce the effects of interfering noise, and to
maximise the reception of leak noise. Generally speaking, the harder the
material the higher the noise frequency and the better the transmission of
sound. Accordingly, iron and steel pipes together with paved surfaces tend to
generate higher frequencies (and higher levels of noise) than do plastic pipes
and soft ground. If the pipe material is known the initial filter selection can be
made to suit.

The signal strength display allows precise noise measurements to be made,

although care must taken that the conditions are the same. For example, if
successive measurements are made on different ground surfaces then a higher
reading may be expected from compacted or paved surfaces than from soft
surfaces.

It can be equally as difficult to pinpoint a noisy leak from a steel pipe in hard
ground as to do the same for a less noisy leak from a plastic pipe, but for
different reasons. High noise combined with good transmission causes a large
area to produce similar noise readings, so it can be very difficult to detect any
difference. A low level of noise and poor transmission tends to make the leak
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noise difficult to detect, as other noise sources which are normally relatively
quiet now intrude on the detection process.
It must be recognised that the precision of location is totally dependent upon
many variable conditions. Examples of such variables are the pipe material, the
nature of the leakage, the ground material around the pipe and the nature of
interfering noise sources. Accordingly, it is not possible to give precise
instructions; as with any subjective process, experience is the best guide.

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Specification
Main amplifier
Filters Wide: 20 – 3500 Hz
Low: 20 – 625 Hz
Medium: 150 – 3500 Hz
High: 340 - 3500 Hz

Mains filter 50 - 60Hz notch

Controls Filter selection + ON/OFF

Volume control
3 position switch: Backlight on/off/hold reading +
backlight
3 position switch: listen/silent/listen (momentary)
Sensor input socket
Headphone socket

Displays Sound level: 3½digit 10mm LCD

Headphone signal level: 10 segment red LED bargraph

Battery 2 alkaline 'C' cells

Operating life Without backlight: 30 hours continuous, typical

With backlight: 24 hours continuous, typical

Mounting Detachable shoulder strap

Dimensions 175 x 128 x 53 mm

'Belt' amplifier
Filters Wide band 20 – 3500 Hz

Controls Sensor input socket

Headphones (incorporates ON/OFF)

Battery 9V PP3 alkaline

Operating time 30 hours continuous typical

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Dimensions 117 x 60 x 38 mm

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