Geiger dosimeter counter kit assembled /w STS-5 tube iR Arduino IDE compatible

Description

important note: As of mid September 2017 eBay started enforcing its policy to restrict linking to proprietary and social media sites inside listings like this one.
Subsequently it became more difficult to present different aspects of the product directly in the listing. Therefore please feel free to ask by messaging me if you have questions.
---
! some  news related to this listing - if you have a 3D printer you can print yourself an
enclosure
for
the
electronics
of
this
kit
it is on thingiverse (thing number is1934646 for use with STS-5)
(if you need one please contact. I can print one for you for 19 USD)
above picture isfor reference only (not part of this listing)
You are bidding for the new
recently upgraded
hardware, fully assembled,  microprocessor-based ionizing radiation counter with
Black-on-Green
LCD.
and and STS-5 tube
This listing is
without
TTLSerial<>USB adapter,
and
battery
.
Currently I also have the following tubes in stock (please inquire by message):
SBT-9 (alpha beta and gamma)
SI-29BG (beta and gamma)
SBT11 (alpha beta and gamma)
SI8B (alpha beta and gamma)
SBT10 (alpha beta and gamma)
While retaining all the previous features and functions of the previous design,
-  new version is much more compact and is mainly based on SMD components;
- has a tone mode for search of the radioactive source (like in a metal detector)  switchable On or Off with an installed microswitch;
- LCD backlight is now switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "MODE" button;
- sound is now also switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "TONE-ZEROING" button;
- switching between the "Primary" and "Secondary" conversion rates is now done by long-pressing the "TONE-ZEROING" button with an few seconds indication of which rate is chosen on the LCD;
- additional potentiometer is installed to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight (which provides essential battery power savings);
- High Voltage is now adjustable from < 100 to >1KV (1000V) which allows reliable use of high working voltage Geiger-Müller tubes;
- JTAG, i2C, TTL level Serial and battery power headers are provided for extension and connectivity purposes
---
The device is fully assembled and calibrated and ready to use. The tube comes already attached by wires to the the device.
Upon receiving you just need to connect a 9V battery (battery is not a part of this listing)
This device is
preloaded with a
newly
feature - amended  geiger kit sketch
(
v.11.0.2
)
sketch is a free software and is available through my blog (can't give a link here because as of September 2017  eBay started to prevent linking to proprietary sites, but you can search
arduino-geiger-pcb
and find it in my blog).
The schematics of the device is also available but as links can no longer be given here try to look for impexeris on GitHub
(please read more about features of
v.11.0.2
below on this page)
This device has an integrated IR receiver and a menu system controllable with  Sony
(preset as default)
or
NEC
type IR TV remote.
(note: IR TV remote is not a part of the listing)
Besides control of other parameters this feature allows changing CPM>uSv or uR ratio for tubes through the menu without a need to reprogram the firmware.
IR remote control pictured below is a part of this listing.
note: You can choose either
Black-on-Green
(default) or
White-on-Blue
LCD display.
a limited number of
Black-on-Green
with
Black-on-Orange when backlit
displays are available for extra 8.8 USD.
Please contact me by a message if you want a display other than Black-on-Green
---
Some videos (for reference only - not a part of this listing)
---
Schematics takes its origins from a  Geiger counter schematics publicly available on the Internet - on DIYGeigerCounter page and is further advanced with the final schematics freely available
(as by eBay policies enforced on September 2017, proprietary links can no longer be given in listings, try to look for impexeris on GitHub)
This device is preloaded with adapted GeigerKit sketch (v.11.0.2). Sketch
is a free software and is available
(can't give a link here because as of September 2017  eBay started to prevent linking to proprietary sites, but you can search
arduino-geiger-pcb and find it in my blog).
DESCRITPION
Counter:
can detect α, β and γ ionizing radiation.
simultaneously displays the Count Per Minute (CPM) and equivalent dose rate of radiation in μSv/h on the LCD display.
indicates detection of ionizing particles with clicking sound and flashes of the yellow LED. (has a jumper for disconnecting-muting the buzzer);
has a TTL-serial connector for connection to a computer (more information on connection to computer - below);
when connected to computer counter outputs CPM, μSv/h and power voltage data in one minute intervals;
a threshold LED  lights up when preprogrammed threshold in Counts Per Minute (CPM) are exceeded.
"mpde" Push-button is used for initial threshold value setup and change of the display modes (screens) - please reed more about that below in the Software functionality description section.
Geiger–Müller tube
The included military standard  СTC-5 (STS-5) Geiger–Müller tube is usually used in the professional radiometric and dosimetry equipment. Specifications are given in below table:
parameter
CTC-5(STS-5)
Recommended Operating Voltage (volts)
400
Operating Voltage Range (volts)
360-440
Initial voltage (volts)
280-330
Plateau length (volts)
180
Maximum Plateau Slope (%/1volts)
0.125
Minimum Dead Time (at U=400V, micro sec)
190
Working range (mkR/s)
0.004-40
Recommended CPM to μSv/h ratio
220
Inherent counter background (cps)
0.45
Length including contacts(mm)
111,5
Diameter (mm)
10
The counter is pre-calibrated both for the optimal operating voltage for the particular
STS-5
tube as well the CPM to μSv/h ratio is adjusted by comparing measurements to the measurements of the industrial counter used in nuclear industry.
Use of other tubes
This counter circuit is well suited for use with any other Geiger–Müller tubes wether
produced for just γ just 𝜶 or combined β+γ or universal  𝜶+β+γ detection.
When using other tubes it is important that:
- tube is specified to reliably operate in the voltage interval of up to 1KV.(1000V)
- specified tube anode resistor value is around 5.1 MΩ (note: some other - usually energy compensated 𝜶+β+γ tubes could require a different anode resistor value but changing this resistor is not a big issue).
LCD display
LCD display is a 2 Line x 16 character backlit display. You can choose either
Black-on-Green
(default) or
White-on-Blue
LCD display.  Please contact me by message is you prefer White-on-Blue  LCD installed.
Black-on-Green
with
Black-on-Orange when backlit
displays are available for extra 2 USD
Powering the Geiger
Counter is designed to be powered from 9V battery when not connected to the computer.
It is recommended to buy a quality 6LR61 type battery.
If one desires, the whole circuit can be powered also from a 3 AA or 3 AAA batteries connected in series or 4 rechargeable batteries (rechargeable batteries are 1.2V) as circuit is actually operating at ~ 5V and there is a voltage regulator which steps down the voltage from 9 V to 5.
If you want to power the kit with lower voltage batteries 1,2 to 4,8 V please inquire. I have some step-up converters in stock.
Or if you would like a rechargeable Li-Ion solution you might be interested in this post on my blog
(can't give a link here because as of September 2017  eBay started to prevent linking to proprietary sites, but you can search
arduino-geiger-pcb. Then on the blog look for the article called "
Cheap but "All-INCLUSIVE ★★★★★" :) solution how to power 5V circuits from rechargeable 18650 battery"
).
Here's the video (for reference only - not a part of this listing)
When connected to computer (TTLSerial<>USB converter which is not a part of this listing is needed), counter can be powered throughout the TTL-Serial header and draw power from the computer.
Power consumption
With the LCD backlight being Off device draws 15 mA from the 9V battery. With LCD backlight fully ON total current drawn is around 44mA however with the 10K LCD brightness trimmer power draw can be reduced up to 18mA.
When using Tone mode, power draw can peak to 75 - 100 mA.
Connecting to a computer
Circuit has a TTL-serial connector (the 90 degree bent header) this is a serial connector, however it operates at Transistor to Transistor Voltage levels and can be connected to the computer through appropriate ttl-com port or ttl-usb adapter (TTLSerial<>USB converter which is not a part of this listing is needed). When connected to computer Counter can be a) powered from the computer b) simultaneously outputs to the standard serial terminal CPM, μSv/h and power voltage data in one minute intervals.
Software
The Software for the Counter is open-source (please ask if you need/want it in the file), developed in Arduino.cc Integrated Development Environment (IDE), which is very easy to grasp even for non-pros compared to programming in C. Therefore this counter is also good opportunity to learn about micro-controllers and change the software to your taste.
Version v.11.0.2 features:
Alarm threshold settable at power-on (retained in eeprom). Eeprom can be reset to default values by holding the "Mode" button during boot.
Alternate display (by press of the button)
A "quick response" bar graph (search aid)
Tone mode (radioactive source search aid)
Alarm (optional): When the CPM exceeds a preset value, the red threshold LED shall be lit.When the CPM drops back under the initially preset alarm threshold the LED whale go off.
The alarm threshold is configured during power up. After the first few screens you will see a "Set Alarm" prompt. To preset the alarm you have to use a push button or simply let the preset function time out (in 3 sec. of inactivity) to keep the then current setting.
Pushing the button point shall start a list of alarm settings. Push the button (or hold it down) until you find the desired setting, then release the button to set that last value. After the 600 CPM setting, the choices repeat. The possible settings increment by 10 until 100 CPM and then by 50 until the 600 CPM setting. There is also a "No Alarm" setting. The chosen setting is retained in eeprom so it does not need to be set each time.
Second Screen:
The same push button used to set the alarm is used to turn on or off the second screen. The chosen screen stays on until the button is pushed again. The first time the screen is entered, the totals will begin to accumulate from zero. After accumulation has started, reentering the mode will display the totals that have accumulated.
The second screen shows values for 1 minute and 10 minute periods. While the period is in progress (time not reached) the accumulated counts for the period are displayed. (On the 10 minute line, the elapsed time is also shown on the right side.) When a given period is complete, the format of the display changes . It then becomes the running average of CPM and uSv/h for the last 1 minute and 10 minute periods. The second screen  is updated every 5 seconds.
Bar Graph:
The bar graph on the first screen shows quick changes in counts to make it easier to spot trends when surveying. It has a sample rate of 1/20 of a second.
by default Output is configured for Radiation logger software. Please see the adaptation notes on my blog
(can't give a link here because as of September 2017  eBay started to prevent linking to proprietary sites, but you can search
arduino-geiger-pcb. Then on the blog look for the article called "
How to prepare using Radiation logger
"
).
TTLSerial<>USB converter  is  a part of this listing.
Convenience features:
- LCD backlight is now switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "MODE" button;
- sound is now also switchable On or Off by double-clicking the "TONE-ZEROING" button;
- switching between the "Primary" and "Secondary" conversion rates is now done by long-pressing the "TONE-ZEROING" button with an few seconds indication of which rate is chosen on the LCD;
- additional potentiometer is installed to reduce the brightness of the LCD backlight (which provides essential battery power savings);
This adapted firmware version contains multiple other features present in original v.11.0.1  Please refer to the
DIYGeigerCounter site
for details.
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Dimensions
PCB 42.5mm(1.673in) x 92.9mm(3.658in) x 21.7mm(0.854in)
LCD 35.6mm(1.4in) x 78.7mm(3.1in) x 10.2mm(0.4in)
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I shall accept paypal only and shall attempt sending the board within one working day after the receipt of the payment. You shall have to bear any customs or other duties and taxes of your country whatsoever. I shall ship the item from Europe Worldwide as a Standard Int`l package. Please allow enough time for a shipment to arrive especially if item is sent between continents. I usually receive packages from Europe within 1-1,5 weeks and from USA or Asia 2 to 3 weeks.
Happy bidding!
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other items I am selling on eBay
Thank you for reading!