Geiger Counter Comparison

Radiation Detection

Geiger Counters Compared - Popular Models

Below, I present a comparison of some nuclear radiation detection devices.
Are you planning to buy a Geiger Counter or ionizing radiation detector? Here are a few Geiger Counter performance data that I have measured.

1. Nuclear Radiation Detection Summary - for general information
2. Geiger Counters Summary - for descriptions and pricing
3. Geiger Counter Data Compared - for sensitivity comparisons
          1. Geiger Counter Performance Data Compared
          2. Probe Sensitivity
          3. Radiation Detection Scales
          4. Geiger Counters Tested - Photos
4. Ludlum Radiation Product Summary - detection devices and probes
5. Victoreen CDV-700 6B Detector Summary - True Geiger Counter (antique)
6. Victoreen CDV-715 1A Detector Summary - Ion chamber detector (antique)
7. Victoreen CD V-750 5B Dosimeter Charger - Charges CD quartz dosimeters
8. Uranium Ore Summary - common types of radioactive ore

1. Geiger Counter Performance Data Compared - My Measurements

Model #

Measured Radiation Rates - Increasing ----->

Background
(radon, cosmic)

Removed
Smoke
Detector
Element
(0.9 µCuries americium)

Uranium
Marbles
(Vaseline glass)

CDV-700
Test
Source
(a + beta)

Daily Human Limit Rate

Old
Coleman
Mantle
(thorium)

Old Red
Fiestaware Plate
(uranium)

Uraninite in
Pitchblende
(uranium)

Uranophane
Gummite
(uranium)

CPM

µR/h

CPM

µR/h

CPM

µR/h

CPM

mR/h

CPM

mR/h

CPM

mR/h

CPM

mR/h

CPM

mR/h

CPM

mR/h

Bicron 50 (end)

25K

37K

120

144

1.2K

2.4K

4.5K

3.8

24K

240K

200

Bicron 2000 (side)

300

360K

120

144

1.2K

2.4K

1.8K

1.5

18K

240K

200

Eberline 120
(pancake probe)

35K

42K

100

120

2.4K

10K

8.3

12K

60K
(max)

Kv DRSB-01

30 CPM
Green LED

140 CPM
Green LED

80 CPM
Green LED

Fast
Clicking
RED LED

Kv DRSB-88

0 CPM
No light

100 CPM
Flashing
Light

12 CPM
Flashing
light

Fast
clicking
Flashing
Light

CD V-700

250

300

1.2K

1.5K

2.5

2.5K

30K

20K

CD V-715
CD V-720

Useless
Useless

Mine must be broken

Farthest Detection Distance for noticably increased clicks above background

Infinity

Pancake
1/4" = 35K
1/2" = 5K
1" = 1K
2" = 160
Alpha
Weak gamma

0.5 inches
All gamma -thru metal shield

6 inches beta,

A + beta
(bismuth 210 & lead 210)

6 inches
Gamma
+ beta
(stacking these increases the count dramatically)

12 inches
Gamma
+ beta

24 inches
Gamma
+ beta

36 inches
Gamma
+ beta

(measurable at 12" thru two 1/5" thick led pigs)

160

ALL the above data has been measured by me. The Eberline 120 is modified, with a built-in LND 8767 pancake mica-window detector, which is very sensitive to alpha radiation. The Bicron 50 with the "End Window" is also sensitive to alpha.

Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors contain Americium 241, which emits Alpha particles. This substance must never be ingested. Americium 241 has a half-life of 432 years. Notice the change in CPM when moving from 1/4" away to 1/2" away. Imagine what the count is at zero inches away, which is why you don't ever want to swallow Americium. The high Alpha readings can only be observed with the tin shield removed.

Radioactive Red Fiestaware
Several colors of Fiestaware were manufactured, which were coated with a glaze containing uranium. The most notable is the "Radioactive Red" color, which is what I measured above, on a 7" plate. You are exposed to Gamma radiation if you are near the plate, Beta radiation if you touch the plate, and Alpha radiation if you eat acidic foods off the plate - three modes of exposure.

Radioactive Lantern Mantles
I measured 3 different old Coleman lantern mantles, 1 old Primus lantern mantle, and 1 old Thermos lantern mantle. They were all about equally hot, but the small Coleman Silk Lite mantle Type 21A two-pack produced the highest count (like the kind we all used for years). They are detectable from 12", with a half-life of 75,000 years.

Remember when you were changing the mantles, and you reached in there and had to work the tie string off with your fingers, and then you BLEW LIKE HECK, to clean all the previous mantle ash dust out of the lantern, and onto everything else? Measuring these mantles now has given me the willies.

They were still using thorium into the 90's, I believe. What was the reason they were allowed to use thorium for so long?
"They had been doing it for so long" was the justification. Therefore, they should continue to be allowed to do it.
Incredibly cavalier logic, at the public's expense. Everybody knew it was there, but had no concept of the risk .
All this stuff is on the net, and Google will easily find it for you. Just type in various combinations of applicable key words.

Uranium Ore
The uranophane is pretty hot stuff - little tiny pieces produce very high counts - this stuff stays WAY outside, in my lead pig within a lead pig. Playing with this uranium ore for a few hours could exceed my suggested maximum annual dose. The uranophane is in plastic bags, and stays in the pig, except when I am testing. I limit exposure time to a minimum, and maintain a 10 foot distance, during most of the testing.

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2. Probe Sensitivity - GM Tube
	CPM vs. mR/hour
Sensitivity	x0.01 Range		x0.1 Range		x1 Range		x10 Range		x100 Range		Notes
Sensitivity	CPM	µR/h	CPM	µR/h	CPM	mR/h	CPM	mR/h	CPM	mR/h
600/mR/hour	6	10	60	100	600	1	6K	10	60K	100	Low sensitivity
1.2k/mR/hour	12	10	120	100	1,200	1	12K	10	120K	100	Bicron 2000
2.4k/mR/hour	24	10	240	100	2,400	1	24K	10	240K	100	Ludlum 5
3.3k/mR/hour	33	10	330	100	3,300	1	33K	10	330K	100	High sensitivity
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3. Radiation Detection Rate - Sensitivity Scales
Meter Full Scale	Measured Rems/Hour	Sieverts/Hour	Danger Level After 1 Hour
50 µR 500 µR 5 mR 50 mR 500 mR 5 Rem 50 Rem 500 Rem	10 µRems 100 µRems 1 mRems 10 mRems 100 mRems 1 Rem 10 Rems 100 Rems	0.1 µSv 1 µSv 10 µSv 100 µSv 1 mSv 10 mSv 100 mSv 1 Sv	Background radiation Low level radiation Daily human limit RATE Do not stay here CDV-715 lowest scale Extreme danger 50% chance of death CDV-715 highest scale
	For years, we were told that low-level radiation won't hurt us. Most scientists now concede that ANY amount of radiation CAN be harmful. Radiation damage is accumulative. Reduce your total exposure. top of page

4. Geiger Counters and Dosimeters Tested - Photos

Approximately Actual Size
Victoreen CDV-715 1A
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DISCLAIMER

Although the author has tried to be as accurate as possible, errors are possible. Prices are continually changing, based upon varying supply and demand.

I could not find a Geiger counter summary, and radioactive substance comparison, like the above. So, I made this ionizing radiation detector comparison chart, to help myself understand nuclear radiation dose rates, and the measurement technology available. I hope that it helps you.

I am an electronics engineer by trade, who knows little about nuclear radiation.

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This Vaughns eBay Geiger Counter Information summary web page was updated on 2007-05-30.