This is too simple to be this hard to understand...
1) Super hot reading from this station. Facebook "a buzz" with theories that a release had happened.
2) NO evidence of a release from anywhere else in the region
So i contacted the operator.
Operator states he is getting major sustained readings from his unit. 6 to 7K cpm on his charts.
3) Operator changed his filter and readings went back to a believable reading.
4) 24 hours later reads climbing steadily for the fence again.
I advised the operator to remove the counter from the filter unit and record some base readings.
5) operator removed the counter from the filter unit
Viola! normal readings for the ENTIRE duration off the filter unit.
6) Operator purchases a new filter unit.
Reattaches the counter with no real spikes since
7) I inquire as to what happened to the old unit.
Operator said the units motor was noisy and could not keep a constant speed.
Obvious conclusion? Filter unit was radioactive due to a malfunctioning motor.
8) I asked the operator to test this old unit for isotopes or to send it to someone who could several times. I've heard nothing since on this VERY important testing.
This is so obvious that it's not even debatable.
Hot read, changed the filter and it calmed down for a short wile and then hot reads again, remove counter from filter unit no hot read, no sign of counter malfunction before, during or after these extremely hot readings.
Filter unit was what the counter was reading at over 7 thousand counts per minuet.
This is simple high school science process of elimination type stuff.
Do any of you ever test for actual isotopes or do you just assume that something is there when you hear a click...
You will find several types of radioactive materials in these common cheap electric motors.
So before you say my conclusion doesn't hold water take one apart and do a REAL (isotope) test for radiation.
And don't be so quick to dismiss something as important as this.
This is the way people learn (or don't learn) new things...
Lee971 wrote:
I'm about to contradict a statement I made earlier but that was the time before I bought the airfilter and placed the detector outside the house, as spelled out in the description.
Rasberry PI - connected to GMC-200, attached to an air
filter, outdoors on 2nd floor balcony. 12-31-2013 01:10:00
As to the fluked data my GMC-300 experienced. I know the spikes on my chart were false and not real readings, So I asked to have them removed. Because I didn't want my long term chart to be drowned out by some fictitious spikes. But that's me. I know the difference between false and real readings and have the ability to confirm them.
As for your mysterious appearing disappearing radiation source theory. It doesn't hold water. How does a source emitting 8000+ CPM magically appear and disappear? If the materials in the air filter unit were radioactive they would have been detectable all along. They don't just turn themselves on and off.