You are bidding for the new recently upgraded hardware, fully assembled, microprocessor-based ionizing radiation counter with Black-on-Green LCD (by default). Three more backlight colors are available see below.
Ask for your preferred colour while purchasing.
- has a tone mode for search of the radioactive source (like in a metal detector) switchable On or Off with an installed microswitch;
- LCD backlight is switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "MODE" button;
- sound is switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "TONE-ZEROING" button;
- switching between the "Primary" and "Secondary" conversion rates is now done by long-pressing the "TONE-ZEROING" button with an few seconds indication of which rate is chosen on the LCD;
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This listing includes an SBT-10A Radiometer, TTLSerial<>USB adapter and NEC system mini iR remote
The device is fully assembled and calibrated and ready to use.
Upon receiving you just need to connect a good quality 9V 6LR61 battery (battery is not a part of this listing)
This device is preloaded with a newly feature - amended geiger kit sketch (v.11.0.2) sketch is a free software and is available through my blog (can't give a link here because as of September 2017 eBay started to prevent linking to proprietary sites, but you can search arduino-geiger-pcb and find it in my blog).
The schematics of the device is also available but as links can no longer be given here try to look for impexeris on GitHub.
This device has an integrated IR receiver and a menu system controllable with NEC, or type IR remote (it is included).
note: You can choose either Black-on-Green (default) , White-on-Blue, Black-on-Green,Orange when backlit or Black-on-White,White when backlit LCD display.
Please contact me by a message if you want a display other than Black-on-Green
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Counter:
can detect α, β and γ ionizing radiation.
simultaneously displays the Count Per Minute (CPM) and equivalent dose rate of radiation in μSv/h on the LCD display.
indicates detection of ionizing particles with clicking sound and flashes of the yellow LED. (has a jumper for disconnecting-muting the buzzer);
has a TTL-serial connector for connection to a computer (more information on connection to computer - below);
when connected to computer counter outputs CPM, μSv/h and power voltage data in one minute intervals;
a threshold LED lights up when preprogrammed threshold in Counts Per Minute (CPM) are exceeded.
"MODE" Push-button is used for initial threshold value setup and change of the display modes (screens) - please reed more about that below in the Software functionality description section.
Geiger–Müller tube
The included military standard СБТ10А(SBT10A) Geiger–Müller tube, which is usually used in the professional radiometric and dosimetry equipment is by comparison superior by its sensitivity to most other popular russian-made and western tubes:
parameter | СБТ10A(SBT10A) |
Recommended Operating Voltage (volts) | 390 |
Count Start Voltage Range (volts) | 260-320 |
Plateau length (volts) | 80 |
Maximum Plateau Slope (%/1 volt) | 0.3 |
Range of current value per section μA | min.0.3 - max1.5 |
Inherent background pulse/s at (T=55℃ ± 3℃) | 2.17 |
Sensitivity (pulse/μR) to Cs137 at (P=4μR/s) | 322.5 - 402.3 |
Amplitude of pulses V | 5 |
Isolation of the enclosure Ω | 10^10 |
Effectiveness of the registration of β particles | 35% |
Box dimensions | 90mm(3.543in) x 70mm(2.756in) x 40mm(1.575in) |
All tubes are new in terms that they were never used and come from the long term reserve storage (New Old Stock). All tubes are throughly tested towards performance and mechanical properties.
The counter is pre-calibrated both for the optimal operating voltage for the particular СБТ10A(SBT10A) tube as well the CPM to μSv/h ratio is adjusted by comparing measurements to the measurements of the industrial counter used in nuclear industry.
Use of other tubes
LCD display
LCD display is a 2 Line x 16 character backlit display. You can choose either Black-on-Green (default) , White-on-Blue, Black-on-Orange when backlit or Black-on-White,White when backlit LCD display.
Powering the Geiger
Counter is designed to be powered from 9V battery or from a USB adapter, when connected to the computer.
It is recommended to buy a quality 6LR61 type battery of well known brand.
Power consumption
With the LCD backlight being Off device draws 15 mA from the 9V battery. With LCD backlight fully ON total current drawn is around 44mA.
When using Tone mode, power draw can peak to 75 - 100 mA.
Connecting to a computer
When connected to the computer Counter can be a) powered from the computer b) simultaneously outputs to the standard serial terminal averaged CPM (Counts Per Minute) in one minute intervals.
Period can be adjusted through the menu, using the iR remote.
Software
The Software for the Counter is open-source (please ask if you need/want it in the file), developed in Arduino.cc Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is very easy to grasp even for non-pros. Therefore this counter is also good opportunity to learn about micro-controllers and change the software to your taste.
Version v.11.0.2 features:
Alarm threshold settable at power-on (retained in eeprom). Eeprom can be reset to default values by holding the "Mode" button during boot.
Alternate display (by press of the button)
A "quick response" bar graph (search aid)
Tone mode (radioactive source search aid)
Alarm (optional): When the CPM exceeds a preset value, the red threshold LED shall be lit.When the CPM drops back under the initially preset alarm threshold the LED whale go off.
The alarm threshold is configured during power up. After the first few screens you will see a "Set Alarm" prompt. To preset the alarm you have to use a push button or simply let the preset function time out (in 3 sec. of inactivity) to keep the then current setting.
Pushing the button point shall start a list of alarm settings. Push the button (or hold it down) until you find the desired setting, then release the button to set that last value. There is also a "No Alarm" setting. The chosen setting is retained in eeprom so it does not need to be set each time.
Second Screen:
The same push button used to set the alarm is used to turn on or off the second screen. The chosen screen stays on until the button is pushed again. The first time the screen is entered, the totals will begin to accumulate from zero. After accumulation has started, reentering the mode will display the totals that have accumulated.
The second screen shows values for 1 minute and 10 minute periods. While the period is in progress (time not reached) the accumulated counts for the period are displayed. (On the 10 minute line, the elapsed time is also shown on the right side.) When a given period is complete, the format of the display changes . It then becomes the running average of CPM and uSv/h for the last 1 minute and 10 minute periods. The second screen is updated every 5 seconds.
Dose accummulation (dosimeter) function:
This second screen can be configured to perform a dose accummulation (dosimeter). It is configured through the iR menu with the iR remote by setting "SCALER PER (MIN) value to sumbol "∞" which appears after 1 when decreasing value with left arrow button. Dosimeter function first calculates one minute averages and then starts to accummulate the dose. This process terminates and dose is zeroed (not retained), when the device is switched off.
Bar Graph:
The bar graph on the first screen shows quick changes in counts to make it easier to spot trends when surveying. It has a sample rate of 1/20 of a second.
This adapted firmware version contains multiple other features present in original v.11.0.1 Please refer to the DIYGeigerCounter site for details.
Convenience features:
- LCD backlight is switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "MODE" button;
- sound is switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "TONE-ZEROING" button;
- switching between the "Primary" and "Secondary" conversion rates is done by long-pressing the "TONE-ZEROING" button with an few seconds indication of which rate is chosen on the LCD;