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Registered Member #2563
Joined: Mon Dec 21 2009, 10:17AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 280
How does one know or tell how worthy a GM counter or tube is going to be, or does it require learning from personal experience and trying different ones. as i'm looking to buy a GM tube and make my own circuit. or buy a kit. or just a complete counter for now. Would this type be any good or have any major drawbacks?
Registered Member #15
Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068
Just keep in mind the power (voltage) requirements for these tend to be pretty hokey, so for a portable powered unit, you either have to use some strange array of batteries or some sort of power conversion circuit.
Registered Member #2893
Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242
I say get a lionel, anton or victoreen cdv-700, then put a 5797 mica windowed tube on it. It's what i use and is perfect if you're not measuring anything super-radioactive.
You could also put a scintillator on that counter as well. Or you could just keep it stock. Either way it's better than that kit.
Registered Member #1806
Joined: Sun Nov 09 2008, 04:58AM
Location: USA
Posts: 136
Teravolt Labs; I think the most pertinent question here is what are you doing and what do you need the radiation detection equipment to do for you relative to what you're doing.
Registered Member #96
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061
i have homemade a counter using one of those "personal alarm" pcbs with a simple zener based regulator. worked fine for testing the tube, draws too much current for constant use though.
one idea i came up with is to use an HV825 (supertex EL driver) running on 1.5V and a simple two stage doubler on its output to the resistive divider. Works well and is relatively unaffected by battery voltage.
Registered Member #2893
Joined: Tue Jun 01 2010, 09:25PM
Location: Cali-forn. i. a.
Posts: 2242
3l3ctrici7y wrote ...
Teravolt Labs; I think the most pertinent question here is what are you doing and what do you need the radiation detection equipment to do for you relative to what you're doing.
Why does he need a reason? What reason does one need a NST? Just for fun is the reason :)
Registered Member #2563
Joined: Mon Dec 21 2009, 10:17AM
Location: Australia
Posts: 280
Grenadier wrote ...
3l3ctrici7y wrote ...
Teravolt Labs; I think the most pertinent question here is what are you doing and what do you need the radiation detection equipment to do for you relative to what you're doing.
Why does he need a reason? What reason does one need a NST? Just for fun is the reason :)
Registered Member #1806
Joined: Sun Nov 09 2008, 04:58AM
Location: USA
Posts: 136
For instruments that measure invisible and lethal things.. then yes, it is quite important. If just for fun... then sure, whatever is fine. If doing personal safety of any kind... I'd say get better equipment.
I'm not trying to get OP to justify anything. I am merely getting at the fact that the goldmine-elec GM is not suitable for all radiation detection jobs. Since life and health is on the line, it is a pertinent question; not one that we have to answer, but one that the OP has to answer and be confident that the radiation sensing equipment is suitable for the task at hand.
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GM counters.. worthwhile?
