Hi Gene, Sounds interesting, but the smoke alarm circuitry
would have to be altered if the unit could be triggered by
any radiation or particle,
because the smoke alarms ive seen have to be manually reset
to stop the alarm,
However maybe the sensor could be used in that way.
Ive just re-read your post, that sounds complicated ...
they expect so see background radiation to remain quiet ?
I don't know how i would alter that, maybe if i studied the
schematic of one, it might be possible to take the sensor
reading to a moving coil meter instead of to the trigger
mechanism part of the circuit.
Its quite likely that the whole shooting match has been
compressed into a dedicated chip, so some knowledge about
the sensor would be needed, i guess a DC signal amp would
be a first step. Actually no, finding out which alarms use
a system like that would be first, that might be hard to
find out.
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Hi lavenatti, i am glad you posted that because i was
thinking of trying a neon bulb, but i was put off because
i read that the 'window' has to be very thin to admit any
ionising particles or radiation.
It sounds exactly the circuit that i would have made.
I would have the neon bulb biased to turn on, but not lit
i guess that the nearer to striking you adjust, the more
sensitive it would be.
Once lit, i would suppose the series resistance would be
such that it could not maintain itself, and would go out.
I suppose a small cap could be put across it to ensure an
audible click.
I think i will start doing some experiments along these
lines. I dunno what i'll use for a source though, maybe
the front of my telly. I think the electrons fly past the
screen for an inch or so, till they're lost in the air.
Whether or not they will do what radiation does i don't
know. I am thinking of low-level radioactivity, such as
power generators or from submarines.
Many thanks to you all for your interest and input.
John