Timer to shut off portable air samplers.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Monitoring
• Instrumentation Engineering

Background:

• Portable air samplers at Los Alamos National Laboratory generate significant noise.
• High noise levels impede educational activities like classes and tours near the samplers.
• Manually shutting down samplers risks incomplete monitoring and failure to detect airborne contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a timer for portable air samplers.
• To enable temporary silencing of air samplers for clear communication during tours and classes.
• To ensure automatic restart of air samplers after a set duration.

Main Methods:

• Development of a custom timer circuit.
• Integration of the timer with existing portable air sampler systems.
• Inclusion of a schematic and parts list for the timer construction.

Main Results:

• A functional timer was designed and constructed.
• The timer allows for short, fixed-duration shutdowns of air samplers.
• Automatic restart functionality ensures continuous air monitoring capability.

Conclusions:

• The developed timer effectively addresses the noise issue of portable air samplers.
• This solution facilitates uninterrupted educational activities without compromising air monitoring.
• The device enhances operational flexibility and safety in environments requiring both monitoring and communication.