where does one buy a radon gas sensor - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 10:09:52 am
content: I was interested in solving a problem and need a radon gas sensor. But I find them impossible to find as just the sensor component rather than a whole unit. These units can be quite expensive, I don't know if this is the sensor or just what they charge for the functionality that I would not be using.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 11:10:07 am
content: https://ozon.ru/t/bX7QdAp

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 02:18:02 pm
content: not sure if this will be able to ship from russia to UK nowadays...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 02:38:20 pm
content: Since it seems most detectors are based on alpha particle detection, I would probably buy the cheapest and scavenge its detector. That would be an expensive disappointment if its detector was just a photodiode as described in this DIY project:https://scoollab.web.cern.ch/diy-particle-detectorConsidering the spare parts you probably have, it should not cost much to make.Edit: One might experiment with other decapped silicon devices. Maybe a CCD detector?

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 03:33:10 pm
content: A basic ionization chamber, open to airflow?EDIT: after a quick search using 'radon ionization chamber'...https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/36/010/36010924.pdfhttps://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/33/016/33016255.pdfhttps://www.instructables.com/Measuring-the-Half-life-of-Radon-220-With-a-Simple/http://techlib.com/science/ionchamber.htm

author: liaifat85
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2023, 06:30:31 am
content: Here is one in Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Corentium-Detector-Airthings-223-Lightweight/dp/B00H2VOSP8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=radon+detector&qid=1694240978&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 09, 2023, 10:19:18 pm
content: Quote from: liaifat85 on September 09, 2023, 06:30:31 amI suggest you read the original post

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2023, 08:07:09 am
content: I suspect that the reason you can't find standalone sensors is that they may be made of multiple bits of bent tin and insulators, air wired to a high impedance IC pin on the detector PCB. Just like an ionization type smoke detector, but without the Americium-241 Alpha source. That's my guess anyway.

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2023, 09:34:12 pm
content: Apparently the PM04 is available at Amazon and Aliexpress.https://www.amazon.com/Detector-Detection-Sensitivity-Quality-Monitor/dp/B0BZ9K8C8FCan't find documentation.RD200Mhttps://github.com/Foxi352/radonsensor/blob/master/datasheet_RD200M_v1.2_eng.pdfThis one doesn't make sensehttps://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004912541931.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_groupList.8148356.1.5e2d65e36Hos19&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%21C%24%20195.16%21C%24%20195.16%21%21%21%21%21%402101f49616943811977924286e408d%2112000030995647422%21sh%21CA%210The description says ammonia gas. You'd have to inquire about . Sometimes the translation can get messed up along the lineThose are the only 2 I could find.Not sure if this is what your looking for. Good luck.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2023, 10:26:35 pm
content: @Simon,If you want a radon detector (sensu stricto) vs. an alpha particle detector please let us know, You have provided nothing meaningful in that discrimination.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 12, 2023, 01:21:18 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on September 10, 2023, 10:26:35 pmI don't know. I was interested in sensing radon gas, I don't know the intricacies of how that works and it feels like something that I'd hope to find off the shelf. What do all the manufacturers of the commercial sensors use? or are they all rolling their own or is this down to not detecting the gas directly but something else that is know to be linked to it?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2023, 01:13:51 pm
content: This is interesting - capturing ambient radon decay products