KICKER problems / what to do ???

[David W Hertzog <hertzog@uiuc.edu>]

Dear Kicker Team,
    Many of you have read the elogs or phoned or are here but 
principally we need to now reach to Mike and/or Gary as we have 
encountered a new kind of problem.

    To summarize briefly, the kicker is tripping after about 1 -2 hours 
of operation at nominal conditions (27 us cycle, 12.5 kV on the 
plates).  In all but one instance that we noticed, the cards seem to 
remain protected, meaning, the red and yellow lights remain functional 
and we can reset and go again.  But, after 2 or 3 of these failure 
yesterday (the first ever for these I believe), this morning Peter 
Winter noted a bad card in MV1 and another in MV2.  He replaced the MV1 
card and that cabinet has been fine all day.  He had to swap about 4 
cards into the bad slot of MV2 to get any to go.  Eventually he left for 
a planned weekend wedding and I took over the onboard work.  Having 
tested all the a spares by now, I used the MV2 flattop card instead, 
swapping it with one of the spare cards that, when inserted, did not 
show a red light.  This swap worked and that is the situation we are now 
in. 
    But, since then, we have had about 3 or 4 more failures and we are 
obviously worried -- and, paralyzed in terms of trying to advance the 
measurement / beam program.

    The current on the stacks normal mode was 107 ma for 12.5 kv.  The 
trip is set at 120 mA. 

    The feeling might be that a careful grating measurement is required 
AND an interpretation of this measurement.  I would not be surprised 
that by swapping cards, we now have bad timing and this will lead 
(eventually) to a breakdown of some sort. 

    What else?  Well, it's very hot up here these days.  Otherwise, the 
kicker had run for several months for MuCap from April to mid June.  
Then it was off for about 4-5 weeks until we fired it up again.  It was 
running for days before this happened.

    Possibilities.  1) we figure out how to adjust something (what?).  
2) We configure for 2 cabinet mode (see 2004 effort), 3) ??

    Here is how we can be reached:   011 41 56 310 5997 (counting room). 

    Francoise sent me lots of numbers to reach her.  Since she is our 
leading collaboration expert, I pass these on to Mike and Gary in case 
they want to talk directly to her for offering advice.  Francoise called 
today and said she could "possibly" come rescue us on Sunday.  This is 
looking to be rather important.  A couple Danemark awaits.

    Regards. I am now off to sleep. 
    Dave

   

Dear Dave,

Here is an exhaustive list of phone numbers

Vienna Flat: + 43 1 532 2566
Vienna Work: + 43 1 2600 21753

Cell phone: + 41 78 794 8889
Fribourg Flat: + 41 26 322 1124

This week-end, essentially saturday, I will be in my mother's home:
+41 26 424 0739

Best regards and good luck

Francoise