A Portable Fast-Response Transient-Voltage Counter

A battery-powered solid-state 6-channel transient-voltage counter was developed which can detect transient voltages with durations as short as 20ns. This counter is sensitive to transient voltages of both polarities and has threshold levels from 50 to 300 volts, which can be altered by either internal biasing or external attenuators. It weighs about 13.5 pounds, and its dimensions are 15 by 6 by 7 inches. The counter has been extensively used wherever it has been possible to reproduce the switching of locomotive and rapid transit car control systems. It has also been utilized in detecting transients generated in the rapid transit systems in New York.