Geiger Counter Dosimeter Nuclear Radiation Detector DIY Kit with Free Windows Logging Software released

The kit is released today. Now it available for purchase. I offer free shipping to Japan. For more technical details please visit product page:

Buy DIY Geiger Kit

The kit is supplied without Geiger Tube, TTL Module and without USB Cables. This items should be purchased separately. The PCB allow SBM-20 / STS-5 tube installation. Maybe J305B tube will also fit into the clips size, I still not received J305B tubes for test, but the PCB dimensions allow it regards J305 datasheet.

I also posted PIC16F628A source asm file, so if you are familiar with PIC's you can modify conversion factor,  alert threshold or calibrate it for your tube. The dafault filmware will be OK for most users, but if you need some special values please contact me before you buy.

Windows software can be downloaded for free. It monitor CPM readings and plot graphs. "Radiation Logger" is COM Terminal program that was written for dosimeters with UART communication. Connection settings are configurable. It was tested with my kit, but you can use it with other similar devices. 

Updates about new Geiger Counter Kit

Here is some updates about my new Geiger Counter kit. The pcb boards are ready and I'm going to test it soon. The boards are good quality thanks to my Chinese friend Qiumin! 

My colleague Dima works on Windows application for the dosimeter. The PC software is still in beta-testing, but at this point I'm happy with the results. It's receive CPM readings from the dosimeter, calculate radiation dose with any conversion factor you need. It can write logs files and do some graphs. Probably we'll add alarm threshold too. 

The dosimeter can communicate with PC through FTDI FT232, PL2303 or CP2102 virtual COM port USB IC's. Of course it will do through a native COM port also, but you'll need MAX232 TTL converter chip.

On the photo above I use FTDI module for communication with prototype.
I still cannot say when the DIY kit will be available for sale, because here is many work I need to complete. If you interested please follow my updates.

Geiger Counter Prototype with PIC16F628A MCU

I wish to share some photos of my new prototype for Geiger Counter DIY project. It can be powered from 4x AA Ni-MH batteries, USB or USB-UART adapter. High Voltage circuit section stay same like in my previously Radiation Detector DIY Kit.
PIC16F628A microcontroller part count events from tube cathode. Then it calculate CPM (counts per minute) and radiation dose.

 

How to convert CPM to radiation dose? (Thanks to cooking-hacks.com about all conversion information)

Let's check first the SBM20 datasheet. It tell that the tube has Gamma Sensitivity for Ra226 29 cps/mR/hr and for Co60 is 22cps/mR/hr. I used arithmetic average of 25.5 cps/mR/hr because I do not have radioactive calibration sources.

1. Convert cps to cpm:

    25.5 x 60 = 1530 cpm/mR/hr

2. Divide to absorption constant to convert from mR to uSv:

    1530 / 8.77 = 174.46 cmp/uSv/hr

3. Calculate the tube Conversion Factor:

    1 cpm = 1 / 174.46 = 0.0057

4. Now you just need to multiply your CPM reading to Conversion Factor. The picture above shows 8.344 uSv/hr for 1464 cpm:

   1464 x 0.0057 = 8.344

The program code can be changed and calibrated to any other Geiger tube type, just required to change conversion factor in source file.
Microcontroller send CPM readings via UART. It can be used with COM port or FTDI USB module for communication with PC.
DIY Kit for this project is expected to be produced soon. Please follow our updates!

Radiation Detector DIY Kit with MCU

Is it possible to use Radiation Detector DIY Kit from www.radiohobbystore.com with MCU Project?
Definitely yes! You can connect the kit board to your MCU project. Configure the MCU to count high-low-high interrupts. Also remember about pull-up resistor from kit board to the MCU port.

Radiation Detector DIY Kit

Geiger Counter DIY Kit

Our new DIY kit - Radiation Detector Module. Designed for STS-5, SBM20 or SI3-BG Geiger tubes, but also support external connection to any Geiger Tube with anode voltage 350-450V. The kit provide visual and sound indication of beta and gamma ionization radiation. Can be used as detector of dangerous radiation levels or radioactive materials. 

http://radiohobbystore.com/diy-kits/radiation-detector-geiger-counter-diy-kit.html

The PCB include high voltage converter from 5V to 400V adjustable. The module consume about 6.5mA from 9V battery.

The calibration of high voltage is very easy, now you do not need to build any external high impedance voltage dividers because it already included on the PCB. 

The kit has manual with assembling instruction. It can be downloaded from product page description.

Take note: purchase do not include Geiger Tube and 9V battery! 

For more information please visit our store!

Capacitance Inductance Meter DIY Kit

LC Meter DIY Kit

Want to solder you own LC Meter for your hobby? Here is our new DIY kit project - Capacitance and Inductance Meter. Based on famous open source LC Meter of Phil Rice. Can measure capacitors from 0.1pF up to 470nF, and coils from 0.01uH up to 20mH. The device require calibration with precision 1% capacitor. 

http://radiohobbystore.com/diy-kits/accurate-lc-meter-phil-rice-vk3bhr-diy-kit.html

The package photo:

You'll receive all components, LCD and PCB for soldering the project. English user manual with assembling instruction can be downloaded at our website in product description page.

Payment Method Update

During last month, several of our customers had problems with Moneybookers Payment System. Some transactions failed because of technical problem that we are going to investigate with Moneybookers. Because of this circumstances we decided for temporary to disable Moneybookers payment gate. Now you can pay only with PayPal system. PayPal accept all major credit cards online. You can pay with or without creating PayPal account. Please follow our "How to Buy" guide at
http://radiohobbystore.com/how-to-buy-paypal-moneybookers
Please refer paragraph I / screenshot 14b

Another important update: Now you can check a total stock quantity of every product that available for sell. Please enter a product page description and look under a title:

Availability: In stock

Only XXX left

If the quantity in stock is less than 100 pcs, you'll see the exact items stock we have right now. If you need large quantities please contact or re-check stock later because sometime we update items quantities.