K40 BORG Almond SBT-11A Geiger Counter

by Atomic.dave
Atomic.Dave@yahoo.com This custom hand-made geiger counter built by Atomic Dave is based on a kit from DIY Geiger Counter. All info to create this kit is available on the website below so if you want you can create your own. Schematic and very detailed instructions are available at that site. This is more of a kit for someone who knows a bit about electronics but doesn't have the time or patience to build it. It was not built in a lab but by me personally, so there are some imperfections to it, although minimal. The components are all new, except the Geiger Tube which is Russian made tested New Old Stock. http://www.sites.google.com/site/diygeigercounter/ It has a mini USB port on the top right side that is used for data logging with Free arduino software (FTDI driver required) and also used for programming and customizing the unit within Arduino. I am including a CD with all the necessary software, drivers and the sketch used to program it as it is. YOU will be able to take the sketch and change it to however you want. You can put your name on the screen, It just takes a little programming skill but all can be learned from the developers website listed above.

Select options

Select Geiger Counter Select Custom GM Tube

Adjust Conversion factor to your tube: 360 for LND7317 100 for LND712 175 for SBM-20 Select I/O Settings

Auto Adjust OFF (you may need to play with this setting) RMS Window 1 Delay Window 30 Volume Thresh 20000

Ultrafast Rates ON

GEIGER BOT HOOKUP PORT (Lower left port) It also has a 3.5mm output on the UPPER left side for Geiger Bot hookup with the included cable. Make sure and plug the 4 conductor plug into the iphone and the 3 conductor into the geiger counter. http://sites.google.com/site/geigerbot/ NEW MENU MODE SWITCH: 1. When you first turn on the unit, it will prompt you to set the Alarm. If you have not set it yet, it will say Alarm OFF. However if you hold the mode button down the alarm set amount will climb in increments of 10 cpm till it gets to 100, then it climbs in sets of 50 until it reaches a max of 600 cpm, until you let go, and once you let go, that is what the alarm threshold will be until you reset it. As long as you don't reset it, that is the amount it will remain at. 2. The first display that comes up is the current CPM and below it is the level of uSv/hr. To the right of the CPM is a bar graphic representative of the level of Radiation occuring by the second. The CPM and uSv portion is updated every 4 seconds. 3. Press the mode button and a new display will come up. It is like a stopwatch and as soon as you press it for the first time it will start the timer process where it will give you average counts in a 1 minute and 10 minute period. Until it reaches 1 minute or 10 minutes it will show current total counts. After it reaches those points it will show the uSv conversion on the right column. 4. Press the mode button again and it will go back to the first menu. ALARM Speaker and LED: The alarm has its own red LED, speaker, and mute switch. You can mute the event piezo and you will still hear the Alarm piezo if the threshold is met, unless you mute it. You can mute both the event speaker and alarm speaker, but both LEDs will flash accordingly, with the Red alarm LED shining solid till the level goes back down below the set alarm threshold. NEW 3.5MM OUTPUT FOR TTL-RS232 on Upper left port (cable not included) This new option allows the geiger counter to output data to software programs like Geiger Graph and RAD OSX. You can also use this port to plug a set of headphones to do silent RAD scanning. Or use the included stereo cable to plug into this port and into your MAC or PCs microphone input to run RAD logging softwares such as RAD OSX. To purchase optional TTL-RS232 serial cable go to: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/FTDI/TTL-232R-3V3-AJ/?qs=Xb8IjHhkxj6MWaLhwTpkXw%2bfeNsBA0WO Another thing you can do with this port is use it for an audio output with headphones you will be able to hear the clicks even with the event beep switch off. Or you can use the audio male to male cable to hook up directly to a mac or pc to pick up the clicks in Audacity, or other sound based data logging software. Software and Serial-USB connection information: ON the cd you will find the FTDI driver and Arduino program version 1. Install both and restart your mac. Copy the Geiger Sketch folder to the same folder as your Arduino program is and remember where that is as that will be where you go to save your sketch everytime you make a change to it.

ARDUINO SETTINGS: 1. Open Arduino 2. Open the saved sketch .ino file, connect your Geiger counter to the USB with power switch off. 3. Verify the file by clicking the little check mark icon. 4. Click TOOLS, and Select Board type as Arduino UNO, and select serial port as the top tty choice. 5. Click Serial Monitor (top right looking glass icon). Set Baud rate to 9600 and you should see the CPM, uSv and geiger counter voltage data coming up once per minute. For more info go to website under Software section on the DIY geiger counter website. Or go to Arduino.cc HARDWARE 1. Power System by 1 Seeedstudio 3.7v, 3000mah LIPO battery (please charge the unit for minimum 3 hours before use). On the lower RIGHT side is a mini USB Charger port (cable included) with Status LED. While charging, the LED light will be RED, and when it is done, the light will go off. A. You can power the Geiger several different ways 1. With included rechargeable LIPO battery (to replace battery, you need to open the back of the unit with the 6 screws.) (CAUTION- WHEN REPLACING THE SCREWS, PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL AND USE SOFT TORQUE AS YOU ARE SCREWING INTO PLASTIC AND TOO MUCH FORCE WILL STRIP THE SCEW HOLE) or you can also run the geiger while it is charging. 2. With USB cable plugged into mini USB port on UPPER RIGHT side of geiger then plugged into: a. Computer or laptop USB b. Standard 5v USB Cigarette adapter (not included) c. To power and operate the unit this way make sure POWER SWITCH IS IN OFF POSITION - Its ok to have switch on for a little while, but DAMAGE WILL OCCUR if left this way for long periods. d. For long usage of geiger counter (constant on for long periods) the preferred way to power it would be with power switch OFF and USB cable powering from right side, but turn off the backlight, and use care while operating this way. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE POSITION OF THE USB PLUGS, AND INSERT THE PLUG INTO THE HOLE THE APPROPRIATE WAY. LIST OF POWER SYSTEM ITEMS: Batttery: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lithium-ion-polymer-battery-pack-3a-p-588.html?cPath=178_183 Charger https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10401 5V POWER BOOST http://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/798 Russian Geiger TUBE Counter SBT-11A New, old stock For alpha, beta and gamma GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS Voltage of start of counting Operating Current each section (uA) Recommended Operating Voltage Plateau Length/ Inclination Own Background (Pulses/s) Length Width 260-320 V 0.5-1.1 400 V 80V/0.5%/V 0,6 55 mm 29 mm

http://www.sovtube.com/product.php?id_product=610 ENCLOSURE Serpac H75AA Length 182.880 mm

Width 92.710 mm

Height 30.480 mm

http://www.serpac.com/h75AA.aspx OTHER SOFTWARE wLINKS: http://www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/download.html http://www.imagesco.com/geiger/geiger-graph.html Package contents: 1. Mini USB cable for UPPER right side FTDI connection and arduino programming. 2. 3.5mm 3 conductor to 4 conductor Geiger Bot Cable. 4 conductor goes into iphone or ipad. 3. Samples in a Lead, aluminum and paper lined pig 4. CD with software, photos, docs 5. Extra faceplate labels and free stickers 6. ABS Grill 7. Galvanized steel mesh grill 8. Geiger Counter with wrist lanyard 9. 3.5mm stereo cable to plug in Upper left port and into PC for mic input.