Alpha Lab, Inc.
Originally the company manufactured various electronics, including the TriField Meter (which reads a combination of electromagnetic fields). Over the years, a number of other standard meters were added, as well as custom designs.
- 800-658-7030
801 487 9492 - 801-487-3877
- trifield@trifield.com
- 3005 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
United States
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product
High Resistance Meter
HR2
The Model HR2 meter measures resistance in nine ranges from 1 ohm to 1.9999 Tera ohms (1.9999x1012 ohms), and conductance in a single range of 0.00 to 199.99 pS (pico siemens, or pico mhos), all at low voltage of < 2 volts across the sample. Basic accuracy is +/- 2% of reading +/- 1 count. For resistance higher than 1.9999 Tera ohms, the conductance range can be used to measure conductance down to 0.01 pS (100 T ohms). The meter has a conductance range because samples with simultaneously high resistance and high capacitance settle faster to their final value on conductance (usually under one second), than on resistance (several seconds), and conductance is also capable of detecting higher resistance than the resistance ranges can. Note that resistance in units of T ohms is the inverse of conductance in pS, so that the resistance can be calculated from the conductance. For example, 100 pS is 0.01 T ohm (10 G ohm), and the highest readable conductance of 199.99 pS is essentially 5 G ohms.
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AC Electric Field Meter
This meter measures AC electric field in the vertical direction (same direction as the long axis of the meter). It has a wide frequency range (40 Hz - 20 KHz) and high accuracy (+/-2% of reading +/- 1 count) with an electric field strength range of 19 999 V/m and resolution of 1 V/m. The sensor is in the top 1/3 of the meter.
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Air Ion Counter
The Air Ion Counter is a handheld meter designed to measure ion density-- the number of ions per cubic centimeter (ions/cc) in air. It measures this number separately for positive and negative ions (+ and - ions are usually present simultaneously). This instrument is a true ion density meter, based on a Gerdien Tube (Gerdien Condenser) design, and it contains a fan which pulls air through the meter at a calibrated rate. The standard model measures up to 2 million ions/cc (for comparison, outdoor air typically has 100 to 1000 ions/cc, both + and -). The 2 million range is sufficient for almost all situations except for measuring very close to electric ionizers or strong radioactive sources.
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Air Shipment Milligauss Meter
Oersted Meter
The Air Shipment Milligauss Meter has been designed so that one person alone can be the tester, and do repackaging, if necessary, without moving from the area. The remote sensor, shown on the right side, is connected through a 15-foot cable to the control box (left). This control box is placed next to both the package and the tester (person) so the tester can manually rotate the shipment. The remote sensor is placed either 15 feet or 7 feet away, depending on which test is being done.
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Battery Impedance Meter
Operation is fast and simple. Just press the spring-loaded probes onto the two poles of the battery. After 1.5 seconds, the unit beeps (indicating good contact) and displays the battery voltage and either the number of siemens or milliohms, depending on the knob setting. The display continues to show these numbers after the probes are removed; it resets only when the probes are pressed onto the next battery. The impedance and voltage of any battery between 1.2 and 60 volts can be read. Because of the wide range of voltages, even single low-voltage cells, such as NiMH, can be measured. The manufacturers of some batteries specify impedance in milliohms while other specify in siemens (one divided by the resistance in ohms). This meter will display both types of impedance for any given battery. Accuracy is +/- 2% of the value.
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DC Gaussmeter
GM1-HS
The Model GM1-HS measures the strength and polarity of magnetic fields up to 799.99 gauss. The thin sensor is at the end of a 100 cm flexible cable. The sensor tip is also flexible and can be bent for a variety of situations. The sensor can be held against the surface of a steel part to check for residual magnetism, or it can be bent into an "L" shape to measure inside a DC Solenoid. This meter has a resolution of .01 gauss (1/50 of the Earth's typical field) which is finer resolution than the Model GM1-ST. It is also used to map fields from large magnets (If fields are over 800 gauss, use the Model GM1-ST). The meter has immediate turn-on and updates 4 times a second. There is no setup required, making this the fastest gaussmeter available.
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DC Gaussmeter
GM1-ST
The Model 1-ST measures strength and polarity of magnetic fields up to 19,999.9 gauss. The sensor can easily fit in a .060 inch (1.5 mm) gap and is at the end of a 100 cm flexible cable. The sensor end can be bent if required for a variety of situations. Place the sensor on a magnet face to measure the field. With a resolution of 0.1 gauss, it can measure any tiny variation from magnet to magnet or it can detect if a given magnet has lost even a little strength. Bend the sensor in to a "L" to measure inside a DC solenoid tube. The 5 digit display requires neither auto nor manual range change, making it easier to use than older style 3 or 4 digit meters. Turn on the meter and immediately begin reading fields (updates 4 times per second). There is no setup required, making this the fastest, easiest gaussmeter available.
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Earth Magnetometer
EM2
The Earth Magnetometer Model EM2 measures small variations from location to location in the Earth magnetic field associated with buried magnetic masses. Unlike metal detectors, a magnetometer signal is not attenuated by rock, dirt, mud or water, so targets can be detected at great depth. (If D is the diameter of a mass of magnetizable material, the EM2 can detect it as deep as 40 times the diameter D, whether the mass is specifically magnetized or not.) It is the lightest weight and lowest cost magnetometer available which can reliably measure differences down to 1 nT from point to point.
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Gaussmeter
GM2
The Model GM2 Measures the strength and polarity of magnetic field up to 30kG when using a standard probes, or 800 gauss (resolution 0.01 gauss) if an HS probe is used. Functions include DC, AC and peak hold along with a user-adjustable alarm which has three modes of operation. DC background field can be subtracted out either by pressing "Relative Zero" or by manually adjusting the offset. The meter includes battery, AC adapter analog output jack and calibration certificate. If a standard probe is used, resolution is 0.1 gauss up to 19,999.9 gauss, which is stronger than the field of any permanent magnet. This 5 digit display allows measurement of tiny difference in strong fields. Above 20kG the meter autoranges to a 30kG range.
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Surface DC Voltmeter
SVM2
The SVM2 has high sensitivity (resolution), and can detect even a 1 volt charge anywhere within its full range of +29,999 to -29,999 volts. Thus it is easy to measure whether a given process is increasing or decreasing the static electricity present, even if the increase or decrease is by a tiny fraction. The meter reads the actual static signal, but it also captures and stores the highest positive and highest negative signals that were experienced since the last time that the "Reset" button was pressed. These peak + and can be displayed at any later time. The peak function has a "window" time of 0.005 seconds (which is much faster than the display) so even very quick peaks are captured and stored. There is also a user-settable alarm. The alarm will sound if the signal (whether + or -) ever exceeds the value set by the user for at least 0.005 seconds. The alarm can be reset or muted at any time.
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Magnetoresistive Milligauss Meter
MR3
The MR3 Magnetoresistive Milligauss Meter measures and displays the three vectorcomponents (X, Y, Z) as well as the magnitude (M) of the static magnetic field. Update is two times per second. The three sensors are in a 25 mm (1") cube at the end of a flexible 100 cm (40") cable. It can be powered by 4 AA batteries (included) or a Worldwide AC adaptor (included). It can collect and store data (X, Y, Z and M) for later download or stream data live via USB connector. Both the instantaneous values of X, Y, Z and M, and their peak values, are displayed on the meter screen. "Peak" values are the highest values seen since the peak reset button was pressed. Maximum error of sensitivity is +/- 0.5 % of the reading, and the maximum error of the offset is +/- 0.50 milligauss. Range is +/- 1999.99 milligauss with resolution 0.01 milligauss (or 1 nT) over the full range, displayed simultaneously for X, Y, Z and M.
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Ultra Stable Surface DC Volt Meter
USSVM2
The meter measures the magnitude and polarity of static charge on objects or surfaces. The sensor is calibrated for measuring a surface at 1" from the end of the sensor. On metallic or conductive surfaces, the meter measures the voltage on the surface. (As with any electrostatic voltmeter, the displayed reading depends somewhat on the size of the object being measured and the distance between the object and the sensor.) On insulating surfaces, "voltage" is not a well-defined number. In this case, the meter reads a number proportional to the static charge present.
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Vector/Magnitude Gaussmeter
VGM
The Vector Gaussmeter displays the true magnitude of the field at any location as well as the X, Y, Z components of up to 800 gauss. Also separately displays peak values of X, Y, Z, and magnitude. There is a sound alarm that determines the locations where the field magnitude exceeds user-set threshold. Because magnitude is measured, the orientation of the sensor (E-W, N-S, and up-down) is not important; this is unlike a 1-axis gaussmeter. With the VGM the user can set the alarm to 15 gauss (for example) and it will sound (simultaneous with a red light) whenever the field exceeds 15 gauss for at least 5 milliseconds. Using the meter this way, it is easy to make a map of the 15 gauss line (or for whatever threshold is set) around a strong magnet. When using the alarm, of a steel part can be rapidly scanned to show if any areas exceed the set threshold. Then the "peak hold" function can be interrogated, showing the peak values of X, Y, Z (including polarity) and magnitude that occurred during the scan. Peak hold also has a 5 millisecond response time.
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Voltage Touch Monitor
The AlphaLab Voltage Touch Monitor enables personnel to identify voltage problems that usually remain hidden. The monitor reads the voltage on a finger (which is identical to the voltage at every other point on the body). It can detect as little as 1/10 volt in two modes: DC and AC/Spikes (ESD transients). In the DC mode, the displayed voltage is either positive or negative, and is usually very low if grounding is being worn and is functioning properly. Higher DC voltages (even while grounded) occur if a DC ionizer is blowing too close or if the person rubs against a high-static material or comes in contact with metal at a DC potential. If personal grounding is not being used, any DC signal can build up over time, and the DC mode continues to show the instantaneous body voltage as it changes. In the AC/Spikes mode, any transient voltage spike at least 1/2 millisecond long is temporarily displayed. If there are several consecutive spikes, only the highest is displayed, regardless of polarity. If the signal is a repetitive (AC) wave, the peak voltage is displayed, but always as a positive number. Even when proper grounding is worn, several tens of volts often occur with transients and AC. Maximum error for DC and AC is only 2% of the reading +/- 0.1 volt.
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Zero Gauss Chamber
ZGC
The model ZGC zero gauss chamber reduces the environmental magnetic field (Earth field) to near zero inside the chamber. Any gaussmeter probe which is less than 9.4 mm or 0.370" diameter can be placed inside. The meter is then "zeroed", which means that it will read zero whenever the probe is subsequently placed in zero field. By using a zero gauss chamber, any offset error is therefore eliminated. The model ZGC is unique in that it contains a degausser (demagnetizer). This is situated between the inner and outer mu-metal shields. When the degauss button is pressed, any accidental magnetization of the chamber, no matter how strong, is erased. Accidental magnetization is a major problem with most zero gauss chambers and it has limited their use. If a magnet comes too close, the chamber will become "permanently" magnetized and will have an internal field that is typically 0.2 to 0.5 gauss. The chamber must then be degaussed because the Earth field is also around 0.5 gauss, so a magnetized zero gauss chamber will not significantly reduce the field.
