K125 abyx-GK5 with LND7317

Geiger Counter by Atomic.dave

atomic.dave@yahoo.com

This is a one of a kind custom hand-crafted Geiger Counter built by Atomic.Dave based on a kit
designed by the original creator of the DIY Arduino based Geiger Counter Kit- user: Brohogan. For
over 4 years, I have built and sold about 150 of these devices, with very good results, and fantastic
feedback by ebay customers. All information for this device is available at the developers website
and its a good idea to visit the site from time to time as the software
and other parts of it may change, upgrade or improve. PLEASE TAKE
TIME TO READ ALL THE MATERIAL BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS.
Most likely you will be able to find the answer yourself but I am here to
assist and explain if you need me to. As I have said before, this is not
s store bought or produced device. It is more of a meter for someone
who knows a about this type of tech, but doesnt have the time, abillity
or patience to build it, or would rather pay someone else do all the
work. Having been built by me, and not a maching, there could be some
imperfections, although minimal. The following instructions will help you
to understand the basic operation of this meter. Once you have used it a
couple times, it should be pretty easy for you to operate.
OPERATION
On the face of the unit starting from the top is the Remote control
IR sensor, the LCD backlit display with a contrast pot to the right
of it, then just above the label starting on the left is the Event
LED, Mode tactile switch, 2 speaker vents for the Event and Alarm
speakers, then the NULL tactile, and finally the Alarm LED. Please
read and understand this simple guide. Follow the label to locate
the listed switches below:
LEDS
After powering the Geiger Counter (GC) on by pushing the POWER slide switch all the way UP, you
will hear the beeping of the piezo as your GM tube picks up radiation events. The GREEN LED is for
radiation events and coincides with the beeping piezo which can be muted with the SOUND switch.
The RED LED will only light up when a set alarm threshold is reached. Both LEDS can be turned off
for indiscreet radiation monitoring by putting the corresponding slides switches in the middle position.
BUTTONS & SWITCHES (starting on the face, right edge)
A. POWER Power switch controls the internal 3.7v Lipo battery and charging of the battery. Up turns
on the GC with battery power, Middle turns OFF the battery power, and Down is for charging the
battery. To charge the battery, POWER switch down, USB power switch (located at bottom panel)
LEFT, then plug in your USB cable to 5v source. When you do this, a RED LED below the USB port
will remain constant RED while charging, and will turn BLUE when charging is complete. For normal
battery operation, POWER switch up, and USB power switch to the RIGHT.
B. ALARM This controls the Alarm RED LED and Piezo. Up for both on, Middle for both off, and Down
for LED only on. This makes for a silent visual alarm. Settings for Alarm threshold is at startup with the
MODE button, or with the wireless remote by pushing the MENU button then forward or back button to
get to that part of the menu.
C. SOUND This controls the Event speaker. Up for Standard CLICK mode, Middle for mute, and Down
for TONE Mode. More on Tone Mode later. Please note that at anytime, you can push the mute button on
the wireless remote to mute the event clicking. It is the RED button located on the top left of the remote.
D. LIGHTS This controls both the GREEN Event LED and the LCD Backlight. Up turns on both, Middle
turns both off, and Down turns on the LED only, and the Backlight off for power saving.
E. MODE tactile button (located just above the label on the top left) does 4 things. 1- Alarm control. 2Scaler mode start/stop. 3- Alarm 30 second mute. 4- ATmega EPROM reset.
1. When you first power on the unit, you will see:
abyx-GK5 K125
LND7317 v11.1b
This customized first welcome window can easily be changed if you want, by doing a little programming
in Arduino. Refer to the DIY site for directions at the SOFTWARE section. But the default is now set to
the device name (abyx-GK5), kit number 123, Geiger tube type LND7317 and the version of software
that the AT328 chip is running which is version 11.1b (the newest).

Then a second window will come up with the first line showing the current set uSv to CPM conversion rate.
100 CPM=1 uSv/h
Running at 5.19V
The second line refers to the current voltage that your system is running at. This is a 5 volt system.
The 4000mAh 3.7v lipo battery is boosted to 5v with a pololu booster. Everytime you start up your GC
(Geiger Counter) it will show you this so you will always know your current voltage.
The third window will show this:
Alarm Set ?
Now at 500 CPM
At this point, you can push the MODE button to incrementally change the Alarm threshold number.
Once you stop holding down the button and wait, it will be set to the current number shown on the
screen and will stay there until you change it either again restarting and waiting for this part, or by
using the included remote control to change it. You can also choose from units of measurement such
as CPM or uSv/h for the Alarm with the remote.
2. It also acts like a stopwatch starter for the scaler mode. It has two preset times of 1 minute and
10 minute averaging. You can change this with the remote, or the sketch when connected to pc.
Although it is much easier with the remote obviously. Push the button and the timer starts where the
first line is counting down from 60 seconds. The numbers on the left are the current total events during
this timed one minute. The numbers on the right is the seconds counting down from 60 to 0. Same
thing goes for the second line, but for 10 minutes.
3.When your alarm goes off you can tap this button to mute the alarm for 30 seconds.
4. After programming your unit with the wireless remote, if you want to reset it to default settings.
Hold down this button while the unit starts up.
F. NULL This tactile button (also on the right side of device to the right of the Sound switch) is used in
Tone Mode where clicks are replaced by a tone which varies in pitch based on the CPM. As it gets
closer to the sample, the pitch rises and as it goes away, so does the tone. Press NULL and a new
baseline is created for the pitch so if you are moving to an area with a higher background the pitch
will still indicate changes at the new level. You can also increase or lower the sensitivity in the menu
options by increasing the number. Default is 4, and I usually keep it at 8.
DISPLAY IN DEPTH:

The top line shows the CPM (updated every 5 sec. by default, and changeable in the MENU options
with the remote) and a quick response bar graph (updated 20 times / sec.). The bargraph will be
replaced with ALARM if the displayed CPM exceeds the alarm threshold. It is also replaced by Vcc
when it drops below 4.2V. The second line shows the dose unit and the calculated dose. The dose unit
and the dose ratio (CPM to dose unit) are settable in the menu (controlled by the wireless remote or
via arduino). Pressing the Select button while in this screen will switch to the Scaler screen . . .
Two scalers are provided, each with its own period. The scaler on the top line is fixed at one minute
and the scaler on the bottom line is set to a programmable period from the menu. Each scaler has two
modes - counting and ongoing. The screen on left shows both scalers counting. A running total of the
counts is displayed, along with the amount of time left for the scaler period. The screen on the right
shows that the one minute scaler finished the counting mode and is now showing the average CPM
and dose rate for the period.
These values now become a moving average. The bottom scaler can also be set to Infinity in the
menu by setting it below 2. This is a special mode that shows the total accumulated dose since the
scaler screen was first started. Pressing the Select button while in the scaler screen will bring you
back to the main screen. However both scalers will still be accumulating counts, so you can go back
and forth between the main screen and the scaler screen and still see meaningful data.
OTHER SWITCHES, BUTTONS, PORTS, DIALS
A. Just to the right of the LCD is the LCD contrast dial. As the LCD is used, it might get to a point
for you to readjust the contrast for it. Not a big deal, while the backlight is on, gently take a small
screwdriver and turn it to the left or right until it appears to have the best contrast.
B. Located on the bottom panel, left side is the AUDIO OUTPUT multi-port used for Geiger Bot (with
the included G-Bot cable). Just plug in the Geiger Bot cable into this with the 3 conductor plug, and
the 4 conductor into your iphone or ipad. It also serves as a mono audio output for silent listening with
headphones, or with any 3 conductor to 3 conductor M-M audio cable, you can run sound based data
logging software or amplify the clicking.
C. Also on the bottom panel and in the middle is the USB power and charge control switch. If you
want to power the GC with USB and bypass the batteries- 1. Turn off the GC battery by switching
POWER to middle position. 2. plug in the USB cable, and other end to any 5v source such as a wall
charger, cigarette adapter, pc, mac or laptop usb output. 3. Flip USB switch to the right and the unit
will power on and not effect the battery. To charge the battery- 1. POWER switch down to CHARGE
position. 2. Plug into USB source. 3. Push USB switch to the LEFT CHARGE position. When you do
this, a RED LED comes on below the USB port and will remain RED till it is done charging, then it
turns BLUE.

 D. Also on this panel is the USB FTDI output/input port for programming in Arduino. This also is used to charge the internal Lithium Ion battery
(with the power switch in the bottome position.) Or it can be used to power the GC for extended periods, however when you power it this way, I
would advise to turn off the LCD backlight. But its ok to turn it on once in a while, but I wouldnt leave it on for extended periods. When uploading
any new changes to the program sketch, you will need to have the USB PWR switch in the RIGHT position whie it is plugged into your pc with
the USB cable. This same USB is used for an output to two different usb based FREE Radiation Logging softwares. Both are PC based and not
available for mac. More on that later.
REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM
This adds some conveniences such as the ability to adjust certain things on the GC without the need to plug into your PC or mac. It is already
setup to work. All you have to do is point the remote towards the IR window (above the display), and push the MENU button on the remote to
start. As soon as you do that these options will pop up:
MENU OPTIONS
Initially, the menu options are set to defaults. Settings made will be stored in EEPROM on the ATmega328, so they will be in effect when you
power back on. Pressing and holding the Select button at power on will reset all menu settings back to their default settings. Heres a brief
description of each menu option along with its default setting:
DISP PERIOD (MS) - The number of milliseconds before the display refreshes. 5000 (5 sec.) is a good setting.
(Display counts are based on a running average I do not recommend settings of less than 5 seconds.)
LOG PERIOD - Interval to write the CPM, dose, and MCU voltage to the serial output. Default = 1 minute Zero means logging is turned off.
CPM->[DOSE] RATIO - Sets that ratio for the type of GM tube used. Default = 175.43 CPM and 100 CPM to dose unit (uSv) Note this ratio will
depend on the dose unit being displayed - see DOSE UNIT. Also note that 2 ratios can be stored. The second ratio can be selected by the Tube
Switch. Depending on the position of the switch this menu option will set the value for either the 1st or 2nd ratio. 175.43 is the common default for
the SBM-20 and 100 for the LDN 712. The DEC PNT or AV/TV key on the remote can be used to enter a decimal point.
ALARM THRESHOLD - When the CPM or DOSE units is greater than this value the alarm is triggered. Default = 500 CPM This can be either in
CPM or the dose unit selected see ALARM UNIT. Zero means the alarm is turned off. Unlike using the Select button, any value may be
entered. The alarm will stop when activity drops back under the alarm threshold. You can also silence the alarm for 30 seconds by pressing the
Select button when the alarm is sounding.
DOSE UNIT - Use the arrow keys to select the name of the unit for the dose value - uSv/h, uR/h or mR/h. Default = uSv/h
ALARM UNIT - Sets whether the alarm is based off of CPM or the DOSE unit. Use the arrow keys to select. Default = CPM
SCALER PER (MIN) - Sets the period for the second scaler. Default = 10 minutes If scaler period set to Infinite (setting below 2) , the
accumulated dose rate is displayed on the scaler screen.
BARGRAPH MAX CPM - Sets the CPM that will give a full scale reading on the bar graph. Default = 1000 CPM Also see the Tone Mode section
for how this option affects tone mode.
TONE SENSITIVITY - Determines how sensitive the tone is to changing activity. Default = 4 Low numbers are more sensitive. (see below)
USE RADLOGGER? - When Yes serial output is compatible with Radiation Logger and RadLog applications. Default = OFF
REG. VOLTAGE - Displays the voltage powering the MCU (Vcc). To a large degree, this represents the state of the battery.
Note that each menu setting has a minimum and a maximum setting. Entries that are out of bounds will revert to the minimum or maximum.
Function of Keys on the Remote
The functions for the various keys on the remote are as follows:
Enters menu system. The current selection is highlighted and the selections before and after are shown. Pressing
the Menu key while in the menus exits them.
Moves down to the next menu option, or up to the previous menu option.
>> Increments the value already set for the current option or toggle the option.
<< Decrements the value already set for the current option or toggle the option.
(Enter) Finalizes the entry in the current menu option.
Digits 0-9 For direct entry of values (instead of arrows) must use > after using digits.
Enters a decimal point when setting CPM->(unit). If C is used when out of the menu - it will clear the graph data if
on the main screen and clear the scaler counts if in the scaler screen.
(Mute) Silence the speaker - used when out of the menu.
(Select) Switches between the main screen and scaler screen - used when out of the menu.
Switches between the main screen and the Info screen - used when out of the menu.
Any other key if in the menu system the key code for unknown keys will display.
ABOUT DOSE UNITS
The menu allows you select the name of the dose unit that appears on the display. However, to be clear, there is no built in conversion between
them. Instead the CPM->(unit) is adjusted depending on the name of the DOSE UNIT selected. For example, 175.43 is the default set for the
SBM-20 with uSv as the dose unit. Suppose you pick mR as the dose unit name, and want to measure in milirems. (mR more correctly
abbreviates as milliroentgens but is used to save display space.) The rem is defined as .01 seivert, and 1uSv = 0.1mR. Therefore, to use the
same ratio that was designed for the tube, you would multiply that ratio by 10. You would enter a CPM->(unit) as 175.43 x 10 or 1754.3. Likewise
if you wanted microrems (uR) you would divide the ratio by 10 and enter 17.54. If you do want to use roentgens (exposure - used in older
instruments) this source states that they are .96 rem in soft tissue. So the CPM- >(unit) for actual mR would be 175.43 x 10 x .96 or 1684.1.
(for uR it would be 16.84)

TONE MODE
Instead of the usual clicks, tone mode produces tones that vary in frequency with the current activity - much like a metal detector. There is
also an associated null button that resets the scale to the current activity. Tone mode is very responsive to changes in activity, and the change in
pitch is much more noticeable than a change in the rate of clicks. It was primarily designed for field surveying. The sensitivity of the tone mode is
set by the TONE SENSITIVITY menu option. Sensitivity refers to the bandwidth of the tone. When set to low numbers, say 4 (the default) only a
small increase in activity is needed to produce higher tones. When dealing with more sensitive GM tubes, decrease the sensitivity by using a
value of say 8 or 10. Experiment with values that suit your ear. The BARGRAPH MAX CPM menu setting also affects tone mode by defining the
CPM that will produce the highest frequency of tone. Normally this is set to highest CPM for situation and tube being used. In order to get the
best spectrum of tones, tone mode is based on a logarithmic progression rather than a linear one. This fits with the fact that radiation intensity is
inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source. The null button resets the range of tones so that the low notes are set back
to the current activity. This is a useful feature when switching from a low to a high background for instance. The null button removes the higher
background so increased activity may be more easily discerned.
SETTING UP TONE MODE
1. Set the proper conversion ratio for your tube. With the proper ratio set, the null point will automatically be set when the counter is powered
on so normal background radiation is ignored.
2. Place a sample of the mineral or other radioactive item you are trying to detect approximately one inch from the detector. Note the CPM
reading after it has stabilized.
3. In the menu, set the BARGRAPH MAX CPM to the CPM value you noted in step 2.
4. Adjust the tone sensitivity setting to suit your preferences. For most mildly radioactive items (such as red Fiestaware), sensitivity settings
from 1-5 work well. The ideal value varies depending on the activity level of the target object, the tube, and the distance. Lower settings cause the
tone to increase in frequency faster in response to smaller changes in the count rate. Higher settings cause the frequency to increase much more
slowly for changes in count rate. When the sensitivity setting is 0, the frequency will jump very rapidly from the lowest frequency to
the highest one. This setting is useful to quickly scan an area to determine if there are hot spots. You will likely want to change the setting to a
higher number to help locate the hot spot.
DATA LOGGING
Logging is provided in the form of serial output through the FTDI connector at 9600 baud, N,8,1. The frequency to send the serial output is
determined by the LOG PERIOD menu setting. The default format has a header on the first line with each line of data in comma separated
values for CPM, Dose. and Vcc. For example, 36,0.2052,4.79<CR/LF> (36 CPM, 0.2052 dose, 4.79V) When USE RADLOGGER? is YES, no
header is created, and only CPM is output. This setting is used when connecting the serial output to the Radiation Logger application.
RADIATION LOGGER
This may be the simplest application to interface to and provides some very nice features. Its a Windows freeware application available on this
site. It was originally intended to work with a clone of the Geiger kit sold there. Beginning with v10.1 the Geiger kit can interface to this application
by setting a menu option USE RADLOGGER? to Yes and setting LOG PERIOD to either 5 or 10 seconds. The application expects only CPM
from the serial port in either 5 or 10 second intervals and combines it with the local time. Setup the parameters on the logging application by
selecting the comm port and the baud - 9600. It does a great job logging and graphing. Logs can be saved and graphed at a later time. It may be
the best logging and graphing application Ive run into. All that is needed to use it with the kit is v10.1+ software and a USB to serial dongle.
RADMON.ORG
This is a very unique approach that maps and graphs the output collected at the PC to a web site. This allows you to compare your readings
with others around the globe. It is very easy to get this working with the kit . . . Register and download the application from radmon.org. Set the
menu options on the kit to: USE RADLOGGER? = Yes and set LOG PERIOD to at least 30 seconds. (Unlike the Radiation Logger above, you
can set longer periods if you wish.) Run the application you downloaded, set the comm port to your FTDI cable, the baud to 9600, and enter the
username and password you registered with. You will also see the kits output on your PC and also on the radmon.org website.
SOFTWARE SWITCHES
If you are willing to load the software, modify it, and upload it, you can set #defines to change certain behavior or add special features to the
program. In general all the common features are enabled and you dont have to mess with it. But if, for example, you want to use a 2x8 LCD, you
simply change a #define, and upload the new release.
All user based #defines are located at the beginning of the sketch and may change based on the version. Below is a list of the most interesting
defines in the current version.
EIGHT_CHAR - formats for 2x8 LCD when true
DOGM_LCD -DogM LCD used for display (SPI interface)
IR_RC5 - use Phillips RC5 IR protocol instead of Sony
ANALOG_METER - support for analog meter output - REQUIRES HARDWARE - see this project
TONE_POT_ADJ if set, a 100k pot can be used to set TONE SENSITIVITY instead of the menu option.
SELF_TEST - adds one to each counter every 167ms - simulates a ~360CPM count
There are step by step instructions on installing the Arduino IDE and uploading new software.
ARDUINO SETTINGS: Brohogan Software system version 11.1B
1. Open Arduino
2. Open the saved sketch .ino file, connect your Geiger counter to the USB with power switch off.
3. Verify the file by clicking the little check mark icon.
4. Click TOOLS, and Select Board type as Arduino UNO, and select serial port as the top tty choice.
5. Click Serial Monitor (top right looking glass icon). Set Baud rate to 9600 and you should see the CPM, uSv and geiger counter voltage data
coming up once per minute.
For more info go to website under Software section on the DIY geiger counter website. Or go to Arduino.cc

ARDUINO Software and Serial-USB connection information

On the cd you will find the FTDI driver and Arduino program version, however you may want to go online and check if this is the latest or the right
one for your computer or mac 1. Install both and restart your mac. Copy the Geiger Sketch folder to the same folder as your Arduino program is and
remember where that is as that will be where you go to save your sketch everytime you make a change to it. There will also be a Library folder that
will also need to be in the same folder. Just remember that the folder has to be the same exact name as the sketch name is. And also within Arduino,
you will have to go to preferences and show Arduino where your default sketch folder is.
GEIGER BOT SUGGESTED SETTINGS: (You will have to play with it to get it just right) GO TO: https://sites.google.com/site/geigerbot/

POWER and OTHER SYSTEM ITEMS

This system is capable of producing 900+ volts, so be careful or you may get zapped when handling the system while it is powered on.
A. Lithium Ion battery - 3.7v 4000mAh
Full charge provides approximately 25 hours constant use of geiger counter with backlight off.
Charge with PC/USB will take about 5 hours or more.
B. USB Lithium Polymer battery charger
C. Pololu 5V Step-Up Voltage Regulator U1V10F5 http://www.pololu.com/product/2564
D. Sparkfun 5V FTDI Basic Breakout
E. You can power the Geiger in a few different ways
1. With internal Lipo battery
2. With POWER switch OFF (middle), USB SWITCH to RIGHT, USB cable plugged into USB port then plugged into:
a. Computer or laptop USB
b. Wall charger block- This is the fastest way to charge the battery.
c. Standard 5v USB Cigarette adapter
d. To power and operate the unit this way for long periods, I would suggest to TURN OFF BACKLIGHT to conserve the life of the LCD.
HARDWARE
1. DIY Geiger counter kit GK-v5.4 by Brohogan, Running operating system v11.1b
2. Takachi Enclosure with fitted silicone boot LCS165H - N
3. Pelican Case 1060
4. LND7317 Geiger Muller Tube
LND7317 ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS
RECOMMENDED ANODE RESISTOR (MEG OHM)
4.7
MAXIMUM STARTING VOLTAGE (VOLTS) 425
RECOMMENDED OPERATING VOLTAGE (VOLTS)
500
OPERATING VOLTAGE RANGE (VOLTS)
475 - 675
MAXIMUM PLATEAU SLOPE (%/100 VOLTS)
10
MINIMUM DEAD TIME (MICRO SEC)
40
GAMMA SENSITIVITY CO60 (CPS/MR/HR)
60
TUBE CAPACITANCE (PF) 3
WEIGHT (GRAMS) 125
MAXIMUM BACKGROUND SHIELDED 50MM PB + 3MM AL (CPM)
30
MINIMUM ANODE RESISTOR (MEG OHM)
3.3
REPAIRS
If the unit fails for some reason within 6 months of purchase, I will be more than happy to do any maintenance you need at no charge except for
parts and shipping.
PACKAGE CONTENTS In your package you will find:
Geiger Counter, Pelican 1060 case, Lead Pig w/ Sample, CC Remote Control, (2) Cables: Geiger bot 3 to 4 conductor, Mini USB to standard
USB2. CD with program sketch, photos, documents, Manual, RAD sticker, and extra faceplate labels.
PLEASE REFER TO THE DIY GEIGER COUNTER DEVELOPERS WEBSITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
http://www.sites.google.com/site/diygeigercounter/
FREE WALL AND CAR CHARGERS & UV keychain flashlight with batteries while supplies last.
THE GEIGER KIT IS NOT INTENDED TO GUIDE ACTIONS TO TAKE, OR NOT TO TAKE, REGARDING EXPOSURE TO RADIATION.
THE GEIGER KIT AND ITS SOFTWARE ARE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.
DO NOT RELY ON THEM IN HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS!

mode

null

on

POWER
charge

GK5 K125
on

ALARM
LED

click

SOUND
tone

LND7317

atomic.dave

RADIATION DETECTOR

on

LIGHTS
LED

3v
LIPO

ON
OFF
CHARGE

POWER

5v in+

Batt+

LIPO
CHARGER

5v in

Batt

EVENT
LED

300 OHM
RESISTOR

4
6

3
5

LCD Diode
Voltage Limiter
Band to left

ON
OFF
LED ONLY

LIGHTS
ALARM
LED

F
300 OHM
RESISTOR

ALARM
PIEZO

AUDIO
OUTPUT

ON
OFF
LED ONLY

ALARM

1K

.1 uF

.1 uF

56K

CLICK
OFF
TONE

SOUND

Wire Function Guide

ALARM
Threshold
Timer

MODE

TONE
MODE
RESET

NULL

abyx-GK5 K125-LND7317

atomic.dave

LND7317

GK5 K122

mode

E G

on

click

on

LIGHTS

tone

FTDI

Pololu 2119
5v Boost REG
Up/Down

PWR

IR SENSOR

CHRG

USB
POWER

D
SOUND

LED

A
ALARM

on

charge

POWER

null

H F

LED
RADIATION DETECTOR
on-off-led

usb

.1 uF

CHRG

ON

USB
POWER

FTDI

usb
CHRG PWR

.1 uF

56K

3v
LIPO

5v in+

1K

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Batt+

audio

on

LED

LIGHTS

tone

SOUND

click

LED

on

ALARM

Wire Flow Guide

5v in

AUDIO
OUTPUT

RADIATION DETECTOR

atomic.dave

LND7317

GK5 K125

mod

on

charge

POWER

null

PWR

ALM

ALM

abyx-GK5 K125-LND7317

Batt

SND

LTS

IR SENSOR

EVT

NULL

MOD

DIY Geiger Kit Schematic

abyx-GK5 K125-LND7317