ZGC Zero Gauss Chamber

ZGC Zero Gauss Chamber Description：

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.

Demagnetizing a zero gauss chamber with an external degausser is difficult, even if a degausser is available. Often an external degausser is not strong enough to erase the magnetism of the inner shield, and using a degausser (which is fairly large) is not convenient. When using the ZGC, a single press of the degauss button brings the internal field to less than 0.01 gauss (in all three axes) within a 5 mm wide x 9.4 mm diameter region in the center of the chamber. While the battery is connected, no power is consumed except when the degauss button is being pressed. Even then, a typical 9 volt battery (included) can power over 10 million degauss cycles. After degaussing, the field is < 0.01 gauss regardless of the orientation of the chamber (within the Earth field). If the long axis of the chamber (left-right direction in photo below) is specifically oriented east-west during the degauss, the internal field will be < 0.002 gauss, although most gaussmeters do not require that degree of precision.

The white cylindrical spacer (shown in hand below) is included. It is used as a “stop” to center most gaussmeter probes in the zero gauss region. It allows the end of a probe to be inserted 1.6 mm past the centerline of the chamber. This is the appropriate distance for exact centering of all AlphaLab gaussmeter probes, including axial, transverse, universal and 3-axis. The spacer can be inserted in either side (the chamber is symmetric).

AlphaLab Zero Gauss Chamber (ZGC) Instructions

The white plastic part (spacer) can be removed at any time, but it should be used if you want to center a gaussmeter probe inside the chamber. When placed in either end, this white spacer will allow the end of a probe to be inserted exactly 1.6 mm past the center of the chamber. Therefore the actual sensor for AlphaLab models VGM, GM-2, GM-3, 1-ST and 1-HS will be properly centered in the chamber. The zero gauss region has diameter 9.4 mm (0.370”) and occupies the center 5 mm (0.197”) within the chamber. (The chamber dimension in its long axis is 36 mm, or 1.42”). In the center 5 mm, the magnetic field is < 0.01 gauss after pressing the black degauss button, regardless of the orientation of the chamber. It will remain < 0.01 gauss as long as the chamber is not rotated more than 30 degrees from its orientation when degaussed. (Note that this specification is valid if the field outside is < 0.6 gauss, which is characteristic of the Earth field.) Insert the gaussmeter probe as shown below and zero the gaussmeter.

The field inside the chamber can be reduced to < 0.002 gauss (2 milligauss) if the long axis is oriented the east-west direction when the degauss button is pressed, and if the chamber is kept in that orientation. However, 0.002 gauss accuracy is not necessary for most gaussmeters, which generally read down to 0.01 or 0.1 gauss.

As with any zero gauss chamber, exposure to a magnet or strong field (> 5 gauss) will “permanently” magnetize the chamber. For the model ZGC, this permanent internal field can be as high as 0.2 gauss after being exposed to a strong field. Any such chamber will then have to be degaussed to erase this effect. The ZGC has a built-in degausser, which will reduce the field as specified above. For fields above 0.6 gauss, 1.5% of the field component parallel to the long axis of the chamber will leak into the chamber. For the other two axes (perpendicular to the long axis), magnetic field leakage is < 0.2%. For comparison, the Earth field is between 0.2 and 0.6 gauss. The ZGC will only remagnetize if it is exposed to a magnet again. To degauss, snap a 9 volt battery to the case and press and hold the small button for at least 1/4 second. For the lowest possible internal field, the long axis be pointing east-west (or in a direction with low field: less than 0.05 gauss) during degaussing.

The battery can remain connected because it draws no power unless the button is being held down. Even while the button is pressed, current consumption is about 0.05 ma, and the battery can last over 6 months at that load. The steel case of most 9 volt batteries may be unwanted in a low-gauss area, so the battery is easily disconnected. Standard batteries, if magnetized, may allow as much as an extra 0.001 gauss to leak inside the ZGC. If very low field is required, attach the battery for at least 2 seconds to charge the internal one microfarad degaussing capacitor. Then remove the battery to degauss. All of the energy for one degauss cycle is stored in the capacitor and the capacitor will remain charged for >10 minutes. Degaussing is complete (and the capacitor becomes completely discharged) within 1/10 second after pressing the degauss button.

To get a very low field, it was mentioned above that the ZGC should be degaussed while the long axis of the chamber (left-right direction of the label text) is pointed east-west so that the field in that direction is < 0.05 gauss. To verify that the east-west direction is < 0.05 gauss, or to find a direction that is low-field, select a direction and measure the field in that direction with a gaussmeter. The meter does not need to be correctly zeroed. For 3-axis gaussmeters such as the VGM or GM-3, examine only a single axis, such as Z, and point that axis of the probe toward the selected direction. Then point the probe in the opposite direction: 180° away, and remeasure. If you have chosen a low-field direction, these two numbers should be the same, or at least within 0.1 gauss of each other.

The proper functioning of the chamber (i.e., whether it is approximately true zero) can be independently verified with a gaussmeter even if the gaussmeter is not zeroed. To verify zero in the long axis of the chamber, examine the Z field with a VGM or GM-3 meter, or use an axial probe with a single-axis gaussmeter model. (With single-axis models, verifying the long-axis zero is irrelevant if your probe is either transverse or universal). Degauss and orient the ZGC east-west as above. Use the white plastic spacer as a stop; insert the probe and measure. Then without moving the ZGC, interchange the probe with the spacer and measure again. These numbers should be the same within the gaussmeter’s stability. To verify zero gauss in the perpendicular direction, either examine X with a VGM or GM-3 meter, or use a transverse probe or a universal probe which is not bent to an angle when verifying with a single-axis gaussmeter model. Rotate the probe 360° inside the hole. The displayed number should not change during the rotation.

ZGC Zero Gauss Chamber Specification：

Additional information：