Nelson

Does anyone in #Philly have a #radioactive source that produces X-ray/gamma or beta #radiation, or know where I can visit / borrow one?

I bought a geiger counter alternative on Kickstarter, and I have no idea if it works. I could buy radioactive test material, but then I would be intentionally creating the situation I am trying to avoid: radiation in my house.

So I want to find a gamma or beta radiation source not in my house, to test my radiation detector, but I don't want to keep it.

Jun 30, 2023 at 9:17pmWeb
Show threadsharpJun 30, 2023
@skyfaller how sensitive is it? Use a bannana?
Show threadNelsonJun 30, 2023
@sharp It does not appear to be sensitive enough to pick up a banana, or a fully assembled smoke detector. But I could be using it incorrectly, which is why I want a stronger source to help me figure out anything I'm doing wrong.
Show threadDoug WebbJun 30, 2023
@skyfaller oh go on, tell about about the radioactivity concern! Should we be too?
Show threadNelsonJul 1, 2023
@douginamug I do not know of any current radiation threat. But this timeline is wild, it feels like anything could happen.
Show threadDoug WebbJul 1, 2023
@skyfaller fair. Link the the counter?
Show threadI am Jack's Lost 404Jun 30, 2023

@skyfaller

Do you have a link to the Geiger counter?

I'm looking for a low cost hobbyist level one (that's still reliable) ie. for investigating potential places to live and/or vintage electronics, etc...

Show threadNelsonJun 30, 2023

@float13 I'll give you the link, but you have to understand: I'm posting about it because I'm not sure if it works! It might be a scam! I have one, so they succeeded in shipping a physical object, but it may not function as advertised.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bettergeiger/better-geiger-radiation-detector

Better Geiger Radiation Detector

Low cost, easy to use, high performance, rugged radiation detector. Like a Geiger counter but better.

Kickstarter
Show threadCarl JohnsonJun 30, 2023

@skyfaller I get that you want a reference source, but in case the thing actually works, you might be able to trigger it at an antiques store that handles Fiesta ware and the like:
https://mightyohm.com/blog/2012/02/feed-your-geiger-readily-available-radioactive-test-sources/

If you know anyone in surveying, some old surveyors' kits have (or at least had) a radioactive source, and a potent one.

Feed your Geiger: Cheap and Readily Available Radioactive Test Sources

Want to check if your freshly-assembled MightyOhm Geiger Counter kit is working? You’ll need something radioactive! But why pay over $100 for a professional test source when there are plenty …

MightyOhm
Show threadMike JackminJul 1, 2023

@skyfaller

Have you tried your smoke detector?

Show threadArlo James BarnesJul 1, 2023

edit: when I composed this message my client hadn't loaded all the comments giving near-identical statements... 😅️

some smoke detectors, some camera lenses, and some gas lantern mantles contain radioactive materials. mostly alpha particles, but I've wrapped an orange fiestaware plate in multiple layers of aluminium foil and still got clicks, so beta emitters exist 'in the wild' too.

Show threadTheriacJul 1, 2023
@skyfaller
bananas are a legally obtainable source of radiation. You just need about 1,000 to get the same output as an x-ray machine.
Show threadacmJul 5, 2023
@skyfaller Molecular biology labs and/or Chemistry labs usually have something around. Naturally occuring uranium salts don't even require containment (much to the distress of my lab mate who found out that our alphabetically organized chemicals had put a bottle over his desk for years!). But beta and gamma emitters are common, and while nobody would lend you a sample, they would let you put your counter next to theirs while pointing at it!