Build Your Own Geiger Counter 2 - Geiger-Muller tubes 1
The critical component in a Geiger counter is the Geiger-Müller tube. It is a gas metal or conductive material lined tube that registers a voltage spike when a radioactive particle penetrates the tube and ionizes the gas inside. There are many companies that sell kits for the electronics of a Geiger counter. However, they leave it to the builder to purchase the Geiger-Muller tube separately. Geiger-Muller tubes come in a wide variety of designs at different prices. Aside from usual considerations of quality of materials, quality and precision of construction, different designs offer different levels of sensitivity for detecting radioactivity. High voltage power supplies, amplification circuits, and some sort of sound, flashing light, digital display or meter must be added to make a complete functional Geiger counter. Here is a list of sources for Geiger-Müller tubes.
Anything Radioactive is an English company that has a variety of Geiger-Müller tubes for sale. There are tubes from Russia, China and the USA. They are made of glass or metal and have different types of connectors. The working voltages are around 400 volts or 800 volts. They are primarily intended for the detection of gamma and beta radiation. The price range is from $55 to $110.
Surplus Sales of Nebraska has high quality used Geiger-Müller for sale. They are very sensitive but the price is $395.
Alrad is another British company that sells Geiger-Müller tubes manufactured by Centronic. Centronic has been manufacturing Geiger-Müller tubes since the Fifties and high quality tubes. Their gamma, beta and alpha detecting tubes use mica windows.
Saint-Gobain Crystals designs, manufacture and sells high quality rugged Geiger-Müller that can function in high temperatures.
Alibaba.com is a website that lists global manufacturers of Geiger-Müller tubes. This web page lists both Geiger counters and Geiger-Müller tubes. There are eight Geiger-Müller tubes listed. The listings contain the name of the manufacturers and contact information. Most of these tubes are made in mainland China.
eBay currently has nineteen listings for Geiger- Müller tubes. They come from a variety of sources. Some of these tubes are used and some are new. You can either bid on these tubes or you can buy them immediately for prices ranging from $7 to $114. As with any purchase from eBay, it would be wise to research the particulate type of tube and the vendor offering it before making a decision whether or not to buy.
These are only a few of the available sources for Geiger- Müller tubes. If you are not knowledgeable about radiation and you don't have skills in assembling electronics, you should probably purchase a commercial Geiger counter that meets your requirements and price range. On the other hand, if you have sufficient knowledge and skills, you can build or even design your own Geiger counter.
