ken@swbatl.UUCP (9081) (02/08/90)
I've been experimenting with my Heathkit Geiger-counter recently
(Monitor-4) and have a "sort of" check-source that I can't identify.
It was removed from an ionization type smoke detector about 12 to 13
years ago and does not appear to be the usual 1 or 5 uCi of 241Am.
The emission from an Americium source only seems to extend about
2 cm and is almost completely stopped by a sheet of notebook paper.
The mystery source emission, however, extends several inches, is
not as intense and is almost unaffected by a sheet of notebook paper.
It must be primarily a Beta emitter.(I guess)
The smoke alarm was one of the original ones sold by Radio Shack
back in the early seventies. You know- the ones that use the 11.2
Volt mercury battery that costs twice as much as a new alarm.
If anyone has one of those old smoke alarms packed away I would greatly
appreciate knowing the type and quantity of ionizing material it
uses.
Thanks in advance. You can reply by E-mail or posting, but our
system will be down for about 6 hours during the business day
tomorrow (Fri.) I don't know if that will bounce E-mail.
- Ken
--
/ Ken Gianino \ uunet!swbatl!ken \
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