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and_kom
Ukraine
24 Posts |
 Posted - 09/30/2012 : 01:47:05
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| Can anyone confirm that russian tube SMB-20 is more sensitive than m4011 tube? |
Young and radioactive |
Edited by - and_kom on 09/30/2012 01:51:11
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| Reply #1
ska
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2012 : 06:55:20
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According to my tests, SBM-20 is actually more sensitive in slightly radioactive object, but I'm still looking into. I'm searching for more slightly radioactive objects.
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| Reply #2
ZLM
1261 Posts |
Posted - 10/02/2012 : 22:05:41
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| Both SMB-20 and M4011 are in same sensitivity range. |
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| Reply #3
and_kom
Ukraine
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2012 : 02:26:52
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Found some tubes info: https://sites.google.com/site/diygeigercounter/gm-tubes-supported
quote:
SBM-20 - The quintessential Russian tube. Lower priced, and more sensitive to beta and gamma than most. This is still one of my favorite all around beta gamma tubes. The STS-5 is pretty much the same tube and may be cheaper.
M4011 - Glass tube made (new) in China. Claimed to be more sensitive than the SBM-20. Although I once got high readings, it now seems similar to the SMB-20. I'm not overly impressed - especially at it's price. IMO the claims for it's sensitivity are exaggerated.
The comparision shows that SBM-20 is slightly sensitive than m4011.
quote:
Initially, the M4011 appeared to be more sensitive than the SBM-20. However, I couldn't repeat this result. I'm not sure what happened - something with the tube? To rule out any change in the counter, I simply changed tubes to the SBM-20 and repeated the SBM-20 test, which was consistent with the previous results. I have no choice but to revise my previous results with what are now more consistent readings. The tubes operating range is 380-450V, and I ran the tube at 450V for the test above. (In the dark, you can see a faint orange glow inside the tube when it's firing.)
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Young and radioactive |
Edited by - and_kom on 10/03/2012 02:29:29 |
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| Reply #4
ska
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2012 : 05:16:55
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| The real problem is find a good sbm-20 tube, It's really tricky. |
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| Reply #5
and_kom
Ukraine
24 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2012 : 08:48:19
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I am from Ukraine (ex. USSR) and it's not a big problem to find SBM-20 there. It costs 10-15$ in average there...
I've got one today. First tests showed it seems to be ok. |
Young and radioactive |
Edited by - and_kom on 10/06/2012 08:52:50 |
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| Reply #6
Nudnik
40 Posts |
Posted - 05/21/2015 : 02:40:56
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quote:
Originally posted by ska
The real problem is find a good sbm-20 tube, It's really tricky.
GM tubes are not degrading by age. A 50 year old but unused russian tube will still work as specified. You probably need to remove corrosion from the contacts, depends on the storage conditions.
GM tubes degrade by detecting.
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under construction |
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| Reply #7
Franglish9265
USA
8 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2019 : 10:46:05
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| I recently verified that the SBM-20 outperforms the M4111 tube. I read 500 cpm from my vaseline glass cat paperweight, with an SBM-20 tube, but only got 370 to 400 cpm from the M4111 tube, under the same conditions. |
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| Reply #8
ullix
Germany
1171 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2019 : 01:06:40
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You find a comparison between an SBM20 and a M4011 here:
http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4571&SearchTerms=ullix,sbm20,m4011
My Conclusion:
quote:
Overall, the SBM20 has the same background as the M4011, but is 40+% more sensitive to counts as long as the source has a strong beta component. Whether the difference extends to gamma is not known and cannot be told with these experiments.
I think the installation of a SBM20 into a 300 housing, while possible, is not worth the hassle!
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| Reply #9
Wolfess
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2024 : 01:49:36
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quote:
Originally posted by ullix
You find a comparison between an SBM20 and a M4011 here:
http://www.gqelectronicsllc.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4571&SearchTerms=ullix,sbm20,m4011
My Conclusion:
quote:
Overall, the SBM20 has the same background as the M4011, but is 40+% more sensitive to counts as long as the source has a strong beta component. Whether the difference extends to gamma is not known and cannot be told with these experiments.
I think the installation of a SBM20 into a 300 housing, while possible, is not worth the hassle!
I tend to agree. From what I found trying to research the issue it still seems to detect faint sources as well with the stock tube as the SBM and the main difference just seems to mostly be the count readout which is close enough to each other that unless using it for some sort of lab or official experiment type stuff it's not really that big of a deal and still gets the job done.
I really like my counter so I don't want to risk a solder mistake or messing it up taking apart and such. I do appreciate though that GQ left it as an open platform to give users the ability to do it though and even mention you can tube swap in the product description.
If more sensitivity or sensitivity to different radiation types is needed it's probably better to just get a surplus probe switchable unit like an old Ludlum. |
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SBM-20 vs M4011
