Introduction

This report is about the TRIUMF data acquisition CAMAC system, and a program which tests basic CAMAC hardware. Its purpose is to help new experimenters familiarize themselves with the CAMAC system and a method of trouble-shooting the system.

This report is written because the hardware breaks down frequently. The Data Acquisition Software Group has people who can help when problems arise, but there are often so many problems that the people in the group are always busy helping experimenters, and have no time to do their own work. Also, when the Data Acquisition Software Group is not available, experimenters have trouble finding help. The intention of this report is to help experimenters learn to solve minor problems themselves.

This report covers the bare minimum knowledge needed to use and diagnose a basic CAMAC system. There is no intention to cover anything not used in TRIUMF data acquisition. The report also covers the basic purpose and structure of the diagnostic program.