K40 BORG Almond SBT-11A Geiger Counterby 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. Allinfo to create this kit is available on the website below so if you want you can create your own. Schematicand very detailed instructions are available at that site. This is more of a kit for someone who knows a bitabout electronics but doesn't have the time or patience to build it. It was not built in a lab but by me person-ally, so there are some imperfections to it, although minimal. The components are all new, except the GeigerTube 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 (FTDIdriver required) and also used for programming and customizing the unit within Arduino. I am including a CDwith all the necessary software, drivers and the sketch used to program it as it is. YOU will be able to take thesketch and change it to however you want. You can put your name on the screen, It just takes a little pro-gramming skill but all can be learned from the developers website listed above.

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 sureand 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 thealarm 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 abar graphic representative of the level of Radiation occuring by the second. The CPM and uSv portion is updatedevery 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 thefirst time it will start the timer process where it will give you average counts in a 1 minute and 10 minute period. Untilit reaches 1 minute or 10 minutes it will show current total counts. After it reaches those points it will show the uSvconversion 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, butboth 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 RADOSX. You can also use this port to plug a set of headphones to do silent RAD scanning. Or use the includedstereo cable to plug into this port and into your MAC or PC’s microphone input to run RAD logging softwaressuch 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 hearthe clicks even with the event beep switch off. Or you can use the audio male to male cable to hook up di-rectly 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 asthat will be where you go to save your sketch everytime you make a change to it.

 

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

 

 

ARDUINO SETTINGS:1. Open Arduino2. 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 por t 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

HARDWARE1. 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. Whilecharging, the LED light will be RED, and when it is done, the light will go off.

A. You can power the Geiger several different ways1. 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 CARE-FUL AND USE SOFT TORQUE AS YOU ARE SCREWING INTO PLASTIC AND TOO MUCHFORCE 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 USBb. 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 forlong periods.

d. For long usage of geiger counter (constant on for long periods) the preferred way to power itwould be with power switch OFF and USB cable powering from right side, but turn off thebacklight, and use care while operating this way.

PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE POSITION OF THE USB PLUGS, AND INSERT THE PLUG INTO THE HOLETHE 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

Chargerhttps://www.sparkfun.com/products/10401

5V POWER BOOSThttp://www.pololu.com/catalog/product/798

Russian Geiger TUBE Counter SBT-11ANew, old stockFor alpha, beta and gamma

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONSVoltage of start of counting 260-320 VOperating Current each section (uA) 0.5-1.1Recommended Operating Voltage 400 VPlateau Length/ Inclination 80V/0.5%/VOwn Background (Pulses/s) 0,6Length 55 mmWidth 29 mm

http://www.sovtube.com/product.php?id_product=610

ENCLOSURESerpac H75AALength Width Height182.880 mm 92.710 mm 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 pig4. CD with software, photos, docs5. Extra faceplate labels and free stickers6. ABS Grill7. Galvanized steel mesh grill8. Geiger Counter with wrist lanyard

9. 3.5mm stereo cable to plug in Upper left port and into PC for mic input.