Jack Plug Geiger Counter for iOS & Android - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: osiixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:06:40 pm
content: Has anybody came across with this gadget(and have some professional opinion about it)?https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Newest-Geiger-Counter-Nuclear-Checker-to-detect-X-ray-Nuclear-Radiation-Gamma-Works-with-Smart-Phone/32297459661.htmlI do not know but I can see some potential in it.(Maybe I would give it a try with a Raspberry Pi Zeroor what the hack probably even a esp8266 is enoughto count and there you have it an IOT Geiger Counter)

author: crazyguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:23:35 pm
content: mentioned in the product description it cannot measure background radiation, not so sensitive, it is just a toybackground radiation ~ 0.2uSv/hr

author: osiixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:24:47 pm
content: I am an idiot.Thanks.

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:36:14 pm
content: An actual working Geiger detector kit is sold, for example, by Cooking Hacks. It works with Arduino or, using a "shield" to "hat" adapter card, with Raspberry Pi.But it's much more expensive than the Aliexpress toy.The Cooking Hacks circuit works, it measures background radiation and I have tried it with several radioactive sources (Thoriated TIG electrodes, pieces of Fiestaware pottery, an old light mantle...) and it indeed reacts

author: crazyguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:40:25 pm
content: Quote from: borjam on March 13, 2017, 02:36:14 pmyou need a known source such as Cs-137 with certificate and proper set-up to calibrate the GM kit, otherwise the reading is meaningless.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:50:23 pm
content: It says "Geiger" but I'm pretty sure it will actually be using a PIN diode. Much simpler and cheaper but also lower sensitivity and would mean it's only useful for gamma radiation and x-rays.

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 02:55:38 pm
content: Quote from: crazyguy on March 13, 2017, 02:40:25 pmIndeed. The calibration is a complex issue and it depends on the purpose for which you are doing it in the first place. I think thatthis kind of kits should not display any purported measurement unit like µS/h, just counts per minute. So you know that a piece of pottery gives a much higher CPM count than the usual background level you see, but there's no potentially misleading µS/h value.What I mean is that the detector works (not that using a Geiger tube is rocket science), it shows a roughly meaninfgful value for background radiation, and it indeed reacts when you place a radioactive source (beta or gamma) close to the tube.The tube included with the circuit does not detect alpha particles, but they give you instructions to try different tubes. I have purchased a SBM-9 which should detect alphas as well. I'll try it one of these days.

author: Emo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 03:00:47 pm
content: It would be interesting to know what kind of detector they are actually using. From the same companyhttp://www.ebay.nl/itm/Smart-Geiger-Pro-SGP-001-Nuclear-Radiation-Detector-Counter-For-Smartphone-iOS-/381593861398?hash=item58d8c43d16:g:Uk0AAOSwSzdXBVAZIt says ten times more sensitive. Probably just a little bit.....

author: crazyguy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 03:09:43 pm
content: Quote from: Emo on March 13, 2017, 03:00:47 pmnot GM-tube with scintillation detector, the spec already said it is semiconductor type detector

author: osiixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 03:12:20 pm
content: Yeah, a kit or this would be better:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Geiger-Counter-Radiation-Dosimeter-Nuclear-Radiation-Checker-Check-the-backgroup-radiation-free-shipping/32550304596.html

author: osiixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 03:18:47 pm
content: Quote from: borjam on March 13, 2017, 02:55:38 pmSorry SBM-9 or SBT-9?I am only able to find infos for later one.http://www.pocketmagic.net/tube-sbt-9-end-window-geiger-tube/

author: borjam
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 13, 2017, 03:23:07 pm
content: Quote from: osiixy on March 13, 2017, 03:18:47 pmSilly me, sorry!It's a SBT-9.I somewhat mixed up SBT-9 and SBM-20.

author: osiixy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2017, 05:57:52 am
content: https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14209http://www.radiation-watch.org/2011/05/professional.html#embFor $69.95 seems promising.https://youtu.be/OPVvBvlg6bI