Gamma Radiation Detector, Testing

By the name it sounds like one of those yellow boxes for CD work. I bought two and could never get them to work right. Well one had a busted meter movment.

I measure 2 MR right at the clock face of by old Baby Ben, thats with the alpha shield removed. I measure a higher reading, forget exactly, of my Pentax 50 mm lens on the backside, since it has a Uranium based oxide coating. The radiation source on the side of the meter I'm using also has a similar reading as the clock face. The clock face has a plastic cover and would be a higher reading without it. There is more Gamma comming from my camera lens, cause shielding has less effect as the clock face. I don't know what the reading might be inside a smoke detector, but I could not measure it through the case probably indicating an alpha source.

greg

smokes are alpha, americium 241. I cant think of any convenient gamma sources, other than a nuke reactor, if you ever go near one on your travels.

NT

Years ago Colmen Lantern mantels were radioactive

I have a water pitcher that is over 60 years old, orange glaze, that reads 1000 counts per min. urainium oxide.

Uranium is the beast choice for gamma. I think with those yellow meters, some kind of deflection should be seen if they go to .005 R.

On a side note, The house across the street was billed as the first family fallout shelter home, with an integral underground shelter, and extra strong house construction. They actually called it a bomb shelter. Ever see that movie where the son came out after so many years Wasn't me.

greg .

Yes, the tiny particle does emit radiation that a 700 Victoreen detector will pick up. I can't remember the activity, but it does read something. Does your counter not have a source on one side of the housing? Old coleman lantern mantles have a pretty strong output. I have some uranium marbles purchased for a few dollars on the bay, they are only mildly radioactive, but do give an indication. Hope this helps, Tom