Geiger Counter

General

Based on this DiY-GCC2.0 kit (eBay Shop): a small Mega 328P based microcontroller (Arduino compatible) which drives a 16x2 TC1602A-01T LCD display and an RS232 output. See also useful information here for alternative kit/resources.

Hardware

• Assembly Instructions
• Schematics
• Additional MAX232 serial interface

The board is similar to an Arduino Uno with a 10 MHz crystal. Optiboot bootloader for 10 MHz crystal with default serial parameters: 115200 8N1. Install new board definition from this.

GM Tube

• GM Tube Comparisons

Actual Tube used: CBT-11A

• Voltage of start of counting: 260 - 320 V
• Operating Current each section: 0.5 - 1.1 uA
• Recommended Operating Voltage: 400 V
• Own background: 0.6 c/s
• Plateau Length/Inclination - 80 V/0.5 %/V

Test Sources

• Am 241: 37 kBq mainly alpha source

Software (Stock)

• Firmware
• Firmware Description
• Rad Logger Interface

Software (Custom)

• Adding to Arduino Dev Environment

Notes

Power On: Hold down MODE button to do reset Mode Press: CLear alarm Mode Double Press: Toggle Backlight Mode Long Press: N/A

Tone Zero Press: Reset base level for tone Tone Zero Double Press: Speaker mute Tone Zero Long Press: N/A