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 2.GQ Geiger Muller Counter
 GMC 600+ minimum and maximum heat?
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EndreasAndu651

Estonia
6 Posts

Posted - 10/03/2022 :  08:09:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Like the title says. What's the minimum and maximum heat it can endure?
On winter days i want to sometimes use the geiger counter but I am not sure if it is safe. By the way what happens when little snow crystals get on/into the geiger counter?

Andreas
Reply #1

EmfDev

2132 Posts

Posted - 10/03/2022 :  14:00:28  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It is not good to let snow crystals or anything wet into the device.

The LND7317 sensor operating temp range is:
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE °C -40 to +75
Main unit: 0 - 40 °C
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Reply #2

EndreasAndu651

Estonia
6 Posts

Posted - 10/04/2022 :  08:24:30  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by EmfDev

It is not good to let snow crystals or anything wet into the device.

The LND7317 sensor operating temp range is:
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE °C -40 to +75
Main unit: 0 - 40 °C



What do you mean the main unit? The geiger counter itself without the sensor? If the geiger counter can't become lower than 0 degrees celsius then does it mean i can't go out in winter days with it?

Andreas

Edited by - EndreasAndu651 on 10/04/2022 08:45:05
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Reply #3

EmfDev

2132 Posts

Posted - 10/04/2022 :  14:52:18  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi EndreasAndu651, according to support, the LCD is the only part that has lower limit of 0. They also tested with -10 deg C and said they can barely see the display. Other parts of the unit should be ok including the data logging.
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Reply #4

ullix

Germany
1107 Posts

Posted - 10/05/2022 :  01:22:23  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
The LND7317 sensor operating temp range is:
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE °C -40 to +75
Main unit: 0 - 40 °C

Thus the main unit - aka the complete counter - is limited to only 40°C max?

This is an awfully low upper limit, even for a consumer device!

I did run some temperature tests and I did indeed see count rate collapsing when 40°C was reached (and relocated the counter immediately). Counter was sitting on a window sill.

It is rather easy to reach that limit, think of windows at home, in cars, glove boxes, sunny places, etc. Be sure to not hold the counter when you have a fever!

@Emfdev: at what temperature will the counter be permanently damaged?


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Reply #5

EmfDev

2132 Posts

Posted - 10/05/2022 :  12:47:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Over 100 °C will permanently damage the plastic casing.
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Reply #6

ullix

Germany
1107 Posts

Posted - 10/06/2022 :  00:58:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Case in point: I ran a temperature experiment, got called away, and when I returned saw that the counter had crashed. I shut down the heat source (a lamp), and this resulted:

The GMC-500+ counters CPM data are in blue (left scale), the temperature in °C is in red (right scale).



The counter seems to "reliably" crash when its temperature reaches 39°C. This is 102 F! Even stranger, it also recovers at the very same temperature.

Even more urgent than before : don't touch the counter when you have a fever. That temperature is enough to crash it ;-))

How did I run this result: I took advantage of the abilities of my newly released GeigerLog 1.4.0. A counter GMC-500+ was connected to a Raspberry Pi (Raspi 4), and the Raspi also got an I2C sensor for temperature and for light intensity. The Raspi ran GLWiFiServer.py and acted as a WiFiServer (in GeigerLog lingo), sending data by WiFi to the main computer running GeigerLog. Some earlier work on a similar setup is here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/geigerlog/files/Raspi/Using%20Raspi%20as%20a%20GeigerLog%20WiFiServer%20Device-v2.0.zip/download

All was put into a dark-box to avoid light impact. The light sensor reported exact zero (< 4 Lux) thoughout the run.
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Reply #7

EmfDev

2132 Posts

Posted - 10/06/2022 :  14:35:05  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Just did a simple test and all the current version counters still work above 40°C. Unless you get extremely high fever, it's ok to touch the counter.

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Reply #8

ullix

Germany
1107 Posts

Posted - 10/06/2022 :  22:10:29  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
@Emfdev: Sure, there may be deviation to higher temperatures. But then there will also be deviations to even lower temperature!

May I quote you again (see your Reply #1):
quote:
The LND7317 sensor operating temp range is:
OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE °C -40 to +75
Main unit: 0 - 40 °C

It is you who states a maximum of 40°C. And I stumbled over exactly this limit.

So, it is valid. Or not and my counter is defect? On what is this specification based?

Edited by - ullix on 10/06/2022 22:12:21
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