The Simplest DIY Gieger Counter

In this video, I show you how to build a very simple Geiger counter. It can be built very cheaply. Good luck building!

[@sagartzoli]

You will kill the tube quickly this way, I am afraid. The current should be limited by an 5MOhm serious resistance at the anode. The piezo has relatively high capacitance (~100pF), therefore the current will be very high during the discharge. I used a MOSFET 2N7000 + 220kOhm on the cathode side to drive a 8 ohm miniatuer speaker (and 5,1Mhohm with short wire of course on the anode side).

[@TannerTech]

I will have to try that. Thanks for the advice. That is probably why this counter no longer works. Haha

[@ercost60]

"serious resistance at the anode"... Serious resistance is futile!

[@vishalanandprabu4373]

We are tryna build this

[@unfamiliartitties]

Goddamn impressive, kid. Don't stop doing what you do. You're gonna go places without a doubt

[@jean-simondesjardins2819]

Awesome video ! I'll probably be throwing this into my Pip-Boy sometime into the future !

[@ralcogaming7674]

I'm working on some metro esque stuff so I needed a small one to go on my bracer

[@joagj1978]

I was thinking the exact same thing in mind. Hehehe. Perfect lil thing to put in a 3D printed DIY project :D

[@aheriady]

Bravoo Russia, from Jakarta, Indonesia 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@supersonictumbleweed]

Shame this guy here gets less publicity than some vacuumheads. While this isn't news it's exactly what I was looking for presented in the clearest and most concise way possible (probably). Thanks!

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

A nice simple circuit, I like it, and I appreciate the hand drawn schematic and the explanation. And I agree, a 4.7m ohm resistor would probably be a good idea to preserve the life of the tube.

[@gmanhernan2775]

actually the schematic says 47k not 4.7k, if this is not correct it should be stated clearly in the schematic

[@acromatfpv894]

Nice job! Clean looking board assembly too. 👌

[@TannerTech]

Glad you like it!

[@samscreativefarm]

Good job, I think I will make a version of this myself. I think you could make it much nicer if you incorporate an amplifier, you could use a volume pot and a tone pot or resistor to block the high pitch tone of the transformer or a filter cap might be good.

[@acershund1]

Love the explanation

[@JamesReedy]

Nice, that said you should get some uranium ore. That Americium is an alpha emitter and the glass of the tube itself is probably an impediment to much getting in. Those tubes are generally for Beta/Gamma sources, alpha is typically measured with a pancake style detector.

[@bhole17]

Nice job. good luck

[@viridianroad]

Nice work.

[@Maskawanian]

Very nice video!

[@Ender.wigginn]

Cool build. I have 4 questions though. You said the device uses very little current, is that because very little current is lost as heat inside of the transformer and circuit, or because current only flows when radiation ionizes the inert gas inside the geiger tube? Second, is the ringing sound coming from the transformer itself or is the ocelation of the current due to the transformer causing the piezo (not sure if I spelt that correctly) speaker to buzz, and if so is there a way to filter the signal to make it more quiet? Third, is there a way to boost the audible clicks made by the piezo speaker? Finally, is there a way to replace the piezo speaker with some digitizing sensor to integrate the circuit into something like an arduino (giving one the ability to measure instanranious dose, cumulative dose, intensity, and other such data products) utilizing the same basic circuit design and components?

[@mcdonaldscashier1813]

My geiger tube is flashing every time when it detects, is that a problem?

[@electriczone576]

Nope thats the gas inside the tube getting ionized

[@DeandreSteven]

"tick tick tickity tick means get your ass out of there and pop a few rad-x for good measure"

[@psycronizer]

it probably means that your voltage is a little too high, use a variable resistor on the primary side of your transformer to find the lowest voltage where it will still get a click, without lighting up your tube....I would imagine that leaving it like this MIGHT shorten the life of your tube..or it's sensitivity...they are not meant to do that.

[@ixlr82go99]

If you were to take your device to Fukushima Japan what different radioactive elements would it detect? Could you put a visual counter on the device and have it show whatever emitting element it was? Very cool design. Thanks!

[@sonyxperiasmk]

The tube is sensitive to beta and gamma radiation, prinicpally it can detect almost all radioactive isotopes. Most alpha emitters (like the shown americium 241) also emitt gamma radiation. A Geiger-Muller tube however can not tell you what isotope the rays come from because it gives an equal pulse for every detection event. To differentiate isotopes the signal pulse would have to be related to the initial energy of the particular photon. There are other types of detectors that show this relative signal (certain szintillators like NaI or semiconductors, proportional tubes) . Of course, the necessary electronics for that are a bit more complex.

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

Are there other kinds of mosfet that can be used ? And where did you get your transformer? Thanks

[@parallax-1]

Any npn mosfet of at least 2 amps 10 volts will work.

[@Mrsunrisezero]

This tube is very inactive. Better and tested is SM-20.(more expensive 15- 20 dollars ) I have manufactured many types of GM but better performance has SM-20. Try it.

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

Also, where on the circuit does the power supply connect. Thanks

[@gorilla_with_jetpack4102]

These videos rock!

[@joagj1978]

So cool!!!

[@ixlr82go99]

If you were to take your device to Fukushima Japan what different radioactive elements would it detect? Could you put a visual counter on the device and have it show whatever emitting element it was? Very cool design. Thanks.

[@stephenkubica9829]

Thank you!!

[@giedriusbruzas6542]

3:37 "so right here is the geiger tube which i got from russia..." almost spat my tea out laughin

[@Bravo4Whiskey]

new old stock really isn't that shitty

[@giedriusbruzas6542]

@@Bravo4Whiskey Its not about that. Its just funny. In between the lines of "So i got this uranium 235 of ebay for really cheap" xd

[@Bravo4Whiskey]

@@giedriusbruzas6542 Okay, I was missing that, sorry. I thought you were talking about the tube. Yes, that's a bit Doc Brown style (picking up some Uranium at the drugstore)

[@Bobman279]

cool video

[@ivanthestrange4348]

Thats really cool! The thing about your recording device is that it didnt record clicks, but recorded a high pitched noise that can be heard from an old box shaped television.

[@ivanthestrange4348]

The bad thing about me is that i dont understand the circet (first time spelling) he drew

[@among-us-99999]

You could hear some clicks.

[@ivanthestrange4348]

Oh, your right. Didn't hear it the first time.

[@among-us-99999]

you’re welcome

[@sanjayjogdand9102]

Thanks for sensitive enough to provide circuit diagram.!🌷💗

[@MrDVMedvedeFF]

Привет) Классно получилось, только датчик СИ-3БГ измеряет такие дозы излучения, при которых жить уже не очень хочется) Без переделки схемы поставь другой счётчик: СБМ-20 (он немного побольше)

[@edg6779]

I got an СИ-3БГ and СБМ-20, pretty good

[@aaronmurphy5060]

I read down the line you got the transformer from a radio. Was it intended to provide a couple hundred volts originally? Or was your pulse timing adjusted to set the output before setting right at 400v with zener stack? Basically could any small transformer do that?

[@fanman421]

A step down transformer…. Like 220 to 5v may work using it in reverse…. 😉

[@ripstephenhawking8787]

Remember Tanner that you must current limit the tube. Current spikes will occur as the tube conducts and can be destructive.

[@TannerTech]

Yes, that is what the series resistors are for. The voltage across the circuit divided by the resistance in series with the tube gives the max current that can flow through it, which is lower than its max rating. The current spikes translate to voltage fluctuations across the series resistor which is how the tube is measured.

[@ripstephenhawking8787]

@@TannerTech In your circuit diagram, on the right side of the diagram after the transformer (high voltage side) you don't have any resistors. You have the doubler (By the way,, good usage of a doubler here to get the high voltage, there are other ways but the doubler keeps is sweetly simple!). So on the HI V side of the circuit you have a doubler, a series string of zeners to regulate, the Geiger-Mueller tube and the piezo buzzer. I'm not seeing any series resistors.

[@ripstephenhawking8787]

@@TannerTech The piezo is basically a capacitor and will add its energy to the voltage spikes when the tube conducts. Since you have the tube and the piezo in series, the zener string will not be of any help either. A quick guess would be to add a series of 3 or 4, 1Mohm resistors on the tubes anode and it should be close to right on. I've found with my geiger counters that driving the tube 10-15 volts below its max rated voltage and never above max, increases tube life noticeably. I use surplus Russian tubes as well. This is a great circuit for those looking to build a first Geiger counter. If I were you Tanner, I would think of ideas to amplify the clicks audiowise, substantially, and maybe include a LED branch that will flash with every click as well. All in all I like the circuit and it would be done full justice if you were to make a short part two "with upgrades," video and link it to this one. Even if you don't actually build the circuit, just an updated circuit diagram and brief explanation would be sweet. I am going to use your circuit with those small changes to let my 11yr old nephew put together his first Geiger. He's been occasionally bugging me about starting on one since the war started in Ukraine with talks of possible nuclear war etc.... I reminded him that it will probably be AWHILE before any Russian surplus electronics are on the market direct from Russia! Makes me wish I had stockpiled 10 or so of the SBM-20 tubes which I've used in the past. I just might have one in an old project I can scavenge. (If it's any good!) I blew so many of those tubes experimenting..... hell if you bump the things even softly, the wrong way, they can fail.... Anyways, it's always enjoyable to watch your content. That MIT shirt looks daaamn good on you buddy! Keep up the good work! -Rex

[@jeffhuyler9531]

@@ripstephenhawking8787 I agree with your observation about the need for series resistors. I suggest they be placed between the Geiger tube and the Zener diode string, as you mentioned several mega Ohms. I think there should also be some current limiting resistance in series between the transformer and the Zener diode string to limit the current that can flow through the diodes also.

[@joshuadrazek9490]

Hey, I got that same MIT shirt!

[@ACraftsToday]

Good job! Is it possible to amplify the clicking sound somehow?

[@rmd2387]

adam co op amps with an npn transistor would to the trick

[@poptartmcjelly7054]

You could very easily do so with an NPN transistor. If you connected the base of the transistor to the negative side of the geiger tube and the emitter to ground you could then hook up a speaker between the collector and the 9V supply to give sound. Doing it this way won't work with a piezo, but any speaker that has a coil in it will give sound.

[@adam7868]

Poptart McJelly will the base of the transisto be able to handle 400 volts

[@EnderMalcolm]

If you wanted to go crazy, you could replace the piezo with an optocoupler and then connect the other side to a low voltage op-amp circuit to run it through a set of speakers. It may not be as good quality though. Setting it up for headphones might be better.

[@Captain_Char]

its a nice simple design, Im wondering if you could get away with using a small analog meter instead of your speaker, say from like a moisture meter or something

[@potassiumcyanide3857]

building a thorium micro reactor this thing is very useful to evade meltdown

[@clintwilde1048]

You mention neon as an inert gas, but what about the common neon lamp that fires at 90 volts or less? Instead of a Geiger tube and 400 volts, is it possible to make one of these using a common neon lamp and running it just below the point it fires, using a volt, milliammeter or maybe an o'scope to monitor the variations in signal in the presence of a radioactive source?

[@ronen124]

thats as simple as it gets, very nice explication yet I would have amplify the piezo sound a bit (-:

[@thepersonwhoisperson1931]

Hey this is suuuper cool but if the circuit is completed with the ionisation of the inert gas (due to radiation as you explained) then why do you need anything other than the transformer, output (LED, buzzer, etc.) and the Geiger tube? With the addition of a battery this would be significantly more compact, and I'm guessing that a large amount of circuitry wouldn't have been added without reason. Can the transformer only be driven by the MOSFET and the squarewave? ​Another question is could you omit the voltage increaser if you wound your own transformer to the correct voltage, or would that have too much of an effect on the current (is there even a functional requisite current for the Geiger tube, or is it just for the buzzer?) Sorry for being 6 years late, but I would really appreciate you getting back to be on a (probably pretty stupid) question.

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

What is the name / specifications of the transformer.

[@WaspLife]

What is the model of voltage doubler you used?

[@zenthrosrion9147]

Really educational and informative! Have some smoke detector parts left over from some neutron gun experiments (that I eventually upgraded) to hopefully make it!

[@mk6315]

Scorch mark I’d like to hear about this neutron gun idea.

[@Beedostudios3721]

Basically it is just a beam of radiation or neutrons. It is used to make an item that is not radioactive, radioactive.

[@RicardoRodriguez-mh7my]

Where would the positive and the negative connect to? or does both the negative and the positive connect to the same wire?

[@androbolaareospace9602]

Ok, i can use camera flash curuit ,but can i use xenon flash bulb from camera as my geiger tube

[@annelieseocallaghan801]

Where does the negative of the 9 volts go ? And the positive ?

[@SlickTwigDotWAVfile]

if you don't understand the circuit drawing, this project might not be for you...

[@jarret9438]

What transformer did you use?

[@sirloin6856]

Came here from Dr. stone 🙏

[@vusiliyK]

You spelled "Geiger" wrong in the title. Also, I might be wrong, but that looks like a regular 120V -> 12V transformer. If that's true, then you would only be getting 180V at the Geiger tube.

[@ash0787]

400v .... could you use nixie tube driver ?

[@spriteninja345]

Do you know the part number for the zener diodes?

[@ohmslaw2209]

Can I use a big zapper circuit of would the not work

[@roostercogburn3771]

Can a Geiger counter be used to check for Radon?

[@pauljanssen7594]

Unfortunately a 9-volt battery doesn't carry enough amperage to run that circuit efficiently

[@fanman421]

Then use 4 of them in parallel.

[@TheDrakanMaster124]

What are the specifications for the transformer

[@DerkVedelaar]

Where did you get the transformer from?

[@TannerTech]

+Derk Vedelaar A small radio.

[@muratoztrgt7625]

Thank .

[@uru4123]

time to make my homemade hev suit

[@mijaelrojas578]

Una consulta quería saber que tipo de corriente vota los sensores y voltaje

[@noimnotarobotcanubeleiveit7024]

you dont need the 555. add a tickle winding to the transformer and the fet will self oscilate

[@alptekinakturk4185]

This is fckng amazing

[@MrMicraphone]

I gave you a thumbs up for going through all the work on this video but there is a easier way with a battery powered handheld blacklight .. same speaker and just two resistors

[@TannerTech]

What do you mean by backlight? That would be interesting to try out!

[@jeffhuyler9531]

@@TannerTech WHen I first saw the thumbnail for the video I was thinking... 'that tube looks like a small germicidal Hg vapor tube.' Your discussion in the video and the close ups show that it is quite different from a small germicidal (blacklight) tube.

[@egeayvala1799]

day 25 in the pandemic im having a feeling my country is hiding a nuclear reactor meltdown :D

[@Alphasmike]

Hi, you need resistor between HV generator and GM Tube. You need filtering capacitor in you high voltage. The tube cannot drive any speaker, you kill the tube ! Use a classic NPN to drive the speaker.

[@dmitriy7222]

this is dont sensetivity tube, you need a SBM-20 or si-7g(i have this) or sts-5 or chineese J305 gayger counter tube for use in home, but this tube what you have can be used in very place infected with radiation, and use detector on cd4011 , work is very well, with this circuit i have clear and loud click

[@totoff92]

a geiger counter doesnt measure the intensity of the electrical current that passes through the tube when its ionised : a each ionisation there is a very small voltage pulse and thats what the geiger counter actually "counts". The device that measure the current created by ionisation inside the tube is called an ionisation chamber . These are 2 diffferent devices that are used to measure and quantify ionisation radiations.

[@tanimationchannel4951]

I'm curious if there's a way to replace the Geiger tubes with something more common. Idk, I've been watching too many Fallout videos Cool Institute shirt btw.

[@itsevilbert]

You mean like using a neon bulb, but lowering the voltage below the conduction threshold. electronicdesign.com/site-files/electronicdesign.com/files/archive/electronicdesign.com/files/29/1634/figure_01.gif en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_lamp

[@tanimationchannel4951]

Bert Isevil Sweet, thanks

[@itsevilbert]

I should probably add that it is not going to be very good when compared to a properly designed Geiger tube because the glass is so thick that it will block 100% of all alpha, a very large percentage of the beta will also be blocked and it is going to be mostly sensitive to gamma. It is not totally useless but it is not going to be optimal. But you could pick up 100-200 red neon bulbs from China (Rice cooker indicators) for like about $10.

[@itsevilbert]

I've been reading more and there is some radioactive material in almost all neon lamps to reduce the trigger voltage (either in the gas or more often in the electrodes). So scrap that idea, they will be self triggering.

[@tanimationchannel4951]

Bert Isevil Dam, self triggering like a sjw lol I was also considering reverse engineering a smoke detector since it's a radiation detector that works with smoke, just this morning.

[@MrTeen-ul7yc]

Thanks. Just the thing I need before going for some tea with Putin.

[@jeffhuyler9531]

I suggest a more sensitive radiation detection device in that case. One can't be too careful! :)

[@aaronfinch3064]

dose it matter what giger tube you use

[@novano1d]

Yes, it will effect the sensitivity.

[@metamaker4035]

But does it deal with spies?

[@ivanhrvat8588]

Very nice project!Now i have geiger tube but missing radioactive source try to increase freqency and use ferrite core transformer to avoid high frequency sound

[@jaykay7356]

how did you get americium

[@m1chael27]

As soon as the video started I got ElectroBoom vibes.

[@artoftheflatlands]

Could you add a meter to see how much radiation is passing through it?

[@s.sradon9782]

it is not the particles themselves but the energy within the particles that ionize the gas within the tube.

[@ArgoTheDoggo]

Hi, good project but I can't ear any ticks

[@fanman421]

Get your ears checked…. Tick…….. tick………. Tick.. tick…………….. tick Random intervals.

[@haydenpetrick4644]

MIT shirt, Calteck plaque. Make up your mind, which one!?

[@TannerTech]

MIT all the way. Caltech is trash. I'm going to MIT.

[@yurialtunin9121]

Here in Russia we wrap everything in newspaper.

[@ScubaShark--8964]

*_''DING!!''_*

[@calliope2]

I will trade my soul for that transformer. WHERE CAN I BUY ONE?

[@TannerTech]

I found this one in an alarm clock. You willing to trade your soul for that?

[@calliope2]

@@TannerTech Given the fact that I have spent roughly 2 hours scouring the internet for it. So yes

[@stephenlee2284]

It's too bad it didn't work. You forgot to dub some clicking sounds in. The whine came through just fine though.

[@rjs23565]

Americium is an alpha source and it looks like you gm tube is of the thick window variety. This gm can only detect gamma as alpha and beta radiation cannot pass through the glass. You will need to test your detector with a source that gives off gamma such as an old luminous altimeter dial.

[@among-us-99999]

rjs23565 americium gives of some gamma rays. I could detect it even Through a few millimeters of aluminum.

[@projectmanagement2356]

Americium 241 decays into isotopes that produce γ rays.

[@mattfinlan9908]

0:42-2:15

[@James-wd9ib]

I live in Southeast Asia and I'm afraid stuff from nearby nuclear plants may be washing up on my shores. . .

[@user-of6ty5ci8o]

تشکر 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝تشکر عاشقتم😘😘😘😘😘😘😘👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣👣❄❄👣❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄❄👣👣❄❄👣❄❄❄❄❄❄👣❄❄❄👣❄❄👣👣👣👣I love you 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😘

[@user-hh9eh9bu2d]

how old is he?

[@TannerTech]

+S VhonDaCoolDave S Pretty old.

[@user-hh9eh9bu2d]

Ranging 18-30 right?

[@TannerTech]

+S VhonDaCoolDave S Almost.

[@mrchangcooler]

Not very sensitive. Only a few clicks from a source sat right next to it, which would most likely get hundreds of clicks. I suppose that is what you should expect from a makeshift set up like yours though. Hardly useful in most situations.

[@TannerTech]

+Mr. Chang Yep, you are right. I think that I also partly ruined the tube by running it without an anode resistor. Check out my latest Livestream, I made a much better counter.

[@totoff92]

@@TannerTech the source used here is americum wich is mainly an alpha emitter . alpha particules cant get through the tube, there are also very few gamma rays emitted and thats what can pass through this kind of geiger tube and thats why this geiger counter doesnt read much. If he used uranium samples or radium watch it would react more strongly.

[@potassiumcyanide3857]

mit bois

[@bluej4ykbbluejaysrule915]

But where is the graphite

[@victorfiori105]

If you send that to me i can test it with my 50,000 cpm source

[@danksmokaz]

Victor Fiori NRC would find u and arrest rhe crap outa u...

[@victorfiori105]

nope. It's completely legal.

[@jirisatelitakxy7718]

not sensitive tube

[@TannerTech]

+jiří Satelitakxy Yeah, you are right. It's not as sensitive as it should be. I did by it as NOS, so it might have lost its sensitivity over the years.

[@phonotical]

waittttt...it makes 300v and goes through a doubler, why isnt that 600v? or is this the, ill die with my secrets with me ...hmmmmm

[@-yeme-]

clamped by the zeners

[@bartacomuskidd775]

Pretty sure, people would like to be able to build the tube.. if im going to order a replacement, ill buy the unit it was designed for.. so, using your rig.. how about a clever method to build a tube.

[@TannerTech]

I don't think many people would have the required glass blowing tools and argon gas supply to build a geiger tube.

[@mrchangcooler]

You don't need glass. A metal tube with a window of some kind at the end would work just was well. Why use argon? Why not helium?

[@jeffhuyler9531]

@@TannerTech If I'm not mistaken some Geiger tubes use a combination of fill gasses so that the tube quenches quickly allowing a shorter reset(recovery) time to be ready to detect the next event.

[@JohnVKaravitis]

0:43 Neon, argon, yes, but also a halogen quenching gas like chlorine or bromine, or an organic quenching gas. 4:06 Voltage doesn't kill you. Amperage does. Not enough amps off of a 9V battery to do you any harm.

[@iosef3337]

think i can build one with duct tape, a helium balloon and a headphone with a battery.

[@hilariousgas]

i didn't hear shit for all that work, sorry bud