Geiger Counter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 04:57:17 pm
content: I've been looking into building myself a geiger counter as the ones already on the market are very expensive.I did a lot of research into schematics but I'm having trouble finding something simple enough. I can probably sort out the HV Circuitry myself, but I'm still trying to work out a circuit for registering the pulses.Any help would be greatly appreciated,Thanks.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 05:07:28 pm
content: on my web site (address below) you have plenty of free schematics.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 05:22:46 pm
content: Great, thanks KriptonI'm having a little trouble understanding the russian schematic though, sorry if I'm being dumb, I just can't quite get my head around it...

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 11:05:13 pm
content: I'm assuming that you looked at this one? He has several kit options (with or without the tube, bare pcb only, etc.)http://mightyohm.com/blog/products/geiger-counter/

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2013, 11:08:58 pm
content: Quote from: Jon86 on April 30, 2013, 05:22:46 pmIt's really, really terribly drawn, like somebody just scattered components and drew lines between them. Try redrawing it.It also uses at least one incorrect symbol (the 2N7000 MOSFET drawn as a JFET) and makes it really hard to figure out what's going on because the component values aren't with the components.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 06:22:41 am
content: Quote from: w2aew on April 30, 2013, 11:05:13 pmNo I haven't seen this one before, I looked at the schematic and it makes a lot more sense.Thank you for the help guys.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 06:49:28 am
content: Most expensive part is the tube, the rest is either cheap or easily gotten.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 06:58:24 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on May 01, 2013, 06:49:28 amIndeed, but even the tubes can be quite cheap on Ebay.I wonder why pre-built ones cost so much? Is it just that so few people want one?

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 07:00:15 am
content: You may find bunnie's design log interesting:http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=2218

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 07:35:34 am
content: Wow!If only I had the skill and tools to make something like that...

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 11:02:36 pm
content: For what it's worth: The June 2011 issue of Elektor had a radiation measuring project that used a cheap diode.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 11:09:34 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on May 01, 2013, 11:02:36 pmI can't think of any application for a Geiger counter where it's acceptable and safe to half-ass it with a diode.

author: Guppzor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2013, 11:54:42 pm
content: Another good source:https://sites.google.com/site/diygeigercounter/homeHe provides kits, schematics, firmware, and other useful bits of info such as tube types and sensitivity.I actually just received a kit from him this morning. Now I just have to find some spare time (and my workbench) to assemble it

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2013, 12:31:21 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 01, 2013, 11:09:34 pmSchool project, science fair, weather balloon payload...Jon86 didn't say what he wanted it for, but I assumed it wasn't for building a time machine out of a Delorean.

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2013, 07:10:34 am
content: Thanks, I'll look into the diode oneAnd actually it's just for myself, I wanted to give it a go for fun and maybe learn something along the way

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2013, 10:06:37 am
content: Electronic goldmine have a selection of geiger tubes for salehttp://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/products.asp?dept=1473Make sure you know what type of geiger counter you want to build.They vary in terms of the particles they detect and their sensitivity.eg, If you want to detect background radiation you want a sensitive tube.

author: penfold
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2013, 09:08:04 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on May 01, 2013, 11:09:34 pmThere are a range of dosimeters on the market that use photodiodes, they seemed pretty nice, and detection characteristics were consistent,With the diode based system you can perform some gamma spectroscopy, get some information about the energy levels of the gamma and make a reasonable guess at what isotopes are emitting them. The diode is certainly the cheapest option of doing that and its just not possible with a geiger tube.It seems generally that demand for geiger based measurement systems has dropped off in recent years in favour of ion chamber and solid state detectors. Ion chambers are nice detectors, well worth considering unless you're after a portable personal dosimeter style detector.Dan

author: belasajgo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 11:08:49 pm
content: I made a geiger counter using the MightyOhm board as a detector, and to process the data (to count the pulses) and display the value I used the Xilinx Spartan 3E FPGA development board.I actually decided to buy the MightyOhm geiger counter board and not make the detector circuit from scratch, because I had no possibility to buy all the needed components from the local stores. And the MightyOhm board has a pulse output, so it has all I needed.I also own a professional geiger counter, but making one myself using my FPGA development board was fun...

author: Jon86
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 11:34:21 pm
content: Wow, I'd love an FPGA development board but those suckers cost a bloody fortune! Ah well, maybe one day...

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2013, 11:57:13 pm
content: Quote from: Jon86 on November 24, 2013, 11:34:21 pmWell you could start with a CPLD dev board. Dangerous Prototypes has 3 different ones for $15 each.

author: belasajgo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2013, 10:41:25 pm
content: Quote from: Jon86 on November 24, 2013, 11:34:21 pmThere are various low-cost FPGA development boards from Xilinx and Altera, which do not cost very much. As example the Xilinx Basys 2 or the Altera DE0-Nano. Each board costs less than 100 $, and if you are a student, then you can get them even cheaper.

author: vtkkorhanjoh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 12:59:16 am
content: If you are still concidering using a diode, try looking into the Teviso rd2014 sensors. Awesome little devices, but kind of hard to get and cost about 80 euros. However, you don't have to mess about with HV stuff, And are Quite sensitive for their small size and technology. They are just slightly bigger than the footprint of my thumb! Would probably be a cost-effective and highly integratable alternative to using a Geiger-Müeller tube. A bit more modern, too!Good luck!

author: Stonent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2013, 03:38:32 am
content: As soon as I can get the cap off of my 2N3055 I'm going to test it with alpha radiation.There's also a way to detect ionizing radiation with a NPN Darlington with a long base pin going through a metal can (without touching)

author: nomadtronics
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 02, 2016, 10:21:41 am
content: Quote from: Stonent on November 26, 2013, 03:38:32 amHi Stonent Could you please elaborate on this ? maybe a link to more info ?? it sounds interesting.

author: jpittner
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 02, 2016, 11:06:55 am
content: I made one some time ago, with ATmega MCU, seehttp://www.pittnerovi.com/jiri/hobby/electronics/geiger/for schematics and open source firmware.