This is a complex question. The GCA-07W can detect alpha, beta, x-ray and gamma radiation.
Checking fish or food for radioactive contamination is a little difficult and Geiger counters, (from us or any other manufacturer) is not the ideal instrument to do so, here's why. The GCA-07W Geiger counter can detect alpha radiation. However if the fish (or food) being tested has a alpha radiation emitter internally, the food itself will block the alpha radiation and stop it from being detected. If the alpha radiation contamination is on the surface of the fish (unlikely), it can be detected.
Similarly, if the fish has a beta radiation contamination internally, let's say a SR-90 contamination, the water in the flesh of the fish will effectively block the beta radiation from being detected. Again if the beta contamination is on the surface of the fish (unlikely), it can be detected.
With gamma radiation the situation changes. Gamma radiation can penetrate the flesh of the fish to be detected. The problem arises is that low level contamination gamma radiation from let's say a CS-137 contamination will be indistinguishable from normal background radiation. So to test for this contamination , one method a laboratory may perform is a gamma spectroscopy (scintillation detector) to determine the source of the radiation.
In the case of testing for alpha and beta radiation mentioned before, a lab might incinerate the food or fish in question down to ash. Without the water blocking radiation it becomes easier to test the material for beta and alpha contamination.
On the Images website we have a number of nuclear experiments and articles. We have an article on testing food for radioactive contamination that goes into greater detail than I can here.
I hope this information helps.
The wand has an open end that exposes the mica window of the GM tube for the detection of alpha particles. In the photograph the wand has a plastic end cap on it that I recommend you keep on unless you are specifically trying to detect alpha particles. The mica window of the GM tube is thin and easily damaged.
The GCA-07W is sensitive to x-ray radiation, so you can detect and log x-ray radiation. There is free Geiger graphing software available on the Images Co website.
https://www.imagesco.com/geiger/geiger-graph.html
Or you can purchase the full version on Amazon.Com
Geiger Counter Graphing Software for PC with USB to 3.5 mm TTL cable for GCA-07, GCA-06 and GCA-03 series of Digital Geiger Counters and other compatible Geiger counters with a TTL serial data output.
Keep in mind the GCA-07W is calibrated using a CS-137, so the best accuracy is obtained when detecting and measuring radiation from that radiation source.
The GCA-07W and the GCA-06W are very similar. The GCA-07W has an added 3 second averaging function to its reading. So in Averaging Mode, the reading for the running average for three seconds are added and divided by 3 to give an average reading for both CPS and radiation level. The main difference between the GCA-03W and both the GCA-06W and GCA-07W is that the GCA-03W is not sensitive to alpha radiation, so it can not detect alpha radiation. The GM tube in the GCA-03W can detect beta, x-ray and gamma radiation. While the GM Tube used in the GCA-07W and GCA-06W can detect alpha radiation, beta, x-ray and gamma radiation
Yes. The GCA-07W digital Geiger counter can detect and measure alpha, beta, x-ray and gamma radiation. Spec are as follows:
. Detector Sensitivity
. Alpha above 3.0 MeV
. Beta above 50 KeV
. x-ray and Gamma above 7 KeV
The CT scanner uses x-rays which are detectable by the GCA-07W. If the scanner is leaking x-radiation you ought to be able to detect the leakage using the GCA-07W.
The GCA-07W is assembled and built in the United States.
Yes, you must have it NRC certified after you have purchased the GCA-07W. NRC certification cost $125.00 plus shipping and takes approximately two-three weeks to ship to laboratory and have it returned certified. NRC certification is good for one year.
The cpm to mr/hr is not a straight line graph. The graph of the response line for cpm to mr/hr is logarithmic. In the beginning it is 0.05 mr/hr per 1 cps or 0.0008 mr/hr per 1 cpm. This approximation changes as the radiation field increases.
The GCA-07W does not have a built in alarm. However the full version of the PC software for the GCA-07W does. This alarm may be used when using the PC software to monitor radiation levels. The alarm may be set using either CPS value or a mR/hr value.
I'm not sure what you mean by test strip. If you mean does it have a calibration certificate, yes, it has a factory calibration certificate. If you are asking if it has a radioactive check source, then the answer is no.
We sell uranium ore that you can use as a check source.
Alpha particles...2 protons and 2 neutrons bound together.
Beta particles...energetic electrons and positrons.
X-rays...gamma rays consisting of photonsr
This uses a standard style GM tube.
No there is no scintillator detector option for the GCA-07W.
First alpha particles only travel a few inches in open air. So unless you are measuring a radioactive source within a few inches of the sensor, you are not detecting alpha radiation. The uranium ore samples we sell emit a high percentage of alpha particles that may be blocked with a sheet of paper.
The second question I think you are asking is how to separate out background radiation from a radiation reading. What I would do is take an hour's worth (60) of one minute readings. This is the CPM (counts per minute) mode on the GCA-07W. With this data collected. I would add the 60 readings together. I would then take that total and divide it by 60 to get an average CPM reading. Next I would look through the 60 CPM readings and mark down the highest count CPM reading, and the lowest count CPM reading. Those two CPM numbers are your Max and Min. With this information you take a radiation reading off an object. You can first determine if the radiation reading(s) are greater than you MAX CPM number. If the readings are consistently greater, you can make a logical assumption that there is an increase in radiation due to the object you are testing.
In some cases you would also subtract the average CPM number from your reading to see what the increase in radiation is on average. Much depends upon what you are actually attempting to do and read.
You could also average a much larger number than 60 samples to obtain the average CPM, Min CPM and Max CPM. In general the greater the number of samples the greater the level of confidence.
Yes, you can purchase a replacement wand from the manufacturer. However, each wand and Geiger counter are tuned together to obtain a high degree of accuracy. By just replacing the wand you will get a functional Geiger Counter. To obtain the accuracy of the instrument you will need to return the unit to Images SI Inc., and have the wand factory calibrated to the instrument.
Yes.
This Geiger counter may be used in those applications. The advantages of our GCA-07W is that it may be NRC certified to its accuracy. While many Geiger counter manufacturers claim high accuracy for their Geiger counter, it simply is not true. Fortunately the United States Government has a license standard for Geiger Counter accuracy. This is a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) certification for accuracy. NRC certification can only be performed by a nuclear laboratory licensed by the United States Government to perform such certifications. Without this certification, you can not be sure of any claim that a Geiger Counter accuracy is valid. The Geiger Counter itself has a one-year warranty for manufacturing defects. The GM tube in the wand however is not covered by the warranty. The mica window on the front of the GM tube that allows the Geiger Counter to detect alpha radiation is very delicate and if mishandled will break.
The operating range and resolution is:
RADIATION RESOLUTION AND RANGE: 0.001 mR/hr resolution / 1000 mR/hr Range (Imperial measurements); 0.01 uSv/hr resolution - 10 mSv/hr range (Metric)
The operating temperature range is approximately 0 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yes. The serial CPS data is sent out, once every second, as a two byte number (most significant byte first) with the following specifications: 9600 Baud, Inverted, 8 data bits, no parity and one stop bit.
Count Per Second (CPS) = (High Byte * 256) + Low Byte.
The raw serial signal from the Geiger counter is TTL logic +5V and 0V.
Yes. Deplete Uranium (DU) is slightly radioactive and according to the spec sheets I've read emit mostly alpha particles. The GCA-07W can detect radioactivity over background radiation. Although DU is not available to either test or make measurements.
The independent laboratory we use for testing and calibrating our GCA-07W can only test up to 1000 mr/hr or 1 RAD or radiation. That is the limit this lab can test and at this radiation level the GCA-07W does not saturate. I do not know how much greater a radiation level the GCA-07W can detect before going into saturation.
No. You are purchasing a single Geiger counter with wand, no accessories are included.
By Images SI Inc
It comes with base unit, wand, connecting wire, instruction manual, CD and ethernet cable. I can not remember if it comes with batteries and recharger or if we put in off the shelf batteries. Either way I had it up and running in 15 minutes. The only draw back to it is that if you want a counts per minute, you have to wait a full minute. More fancy units that a scrap yard would use to scan shipment can sample in a few seconds and scale to full minute. But for a few hundred dollars, it did what we needed it to do.
By Dustin L. Sullivan
Yes, I used it to monitor the air for cs-137 overnight from the window silt. I worked very well.
Amazon Customer
Sort of. If a device is calibrated by a certified technician it is certified for commercial use.
By James Woodiwiss.
The NRC requires that our Geiger counters be certified yearly by a company that is licensed to do so, at that time accuracy and if needed calibration is done. http://www.imagesco.com/geiger/certification.html This website has a good explantation.
By Nancy L..