uRADMonitor – Unusual Background Radiation Reports – Explained

Technical Explanation for the variations presented here

Initially, the detector was not using the so called “compensation” capacitor, also presented here, page 22. As a result, in some certain conditions, an uncontrolled oscillation was taking place in the tube circuit, resulting in a very high number of pulses being registered, consistent to what has been presented on this page.
So the cause was related to a technical problem, rather to an external trigger.
compensation_capacitor
This compensation capacitor has been added to all subsequent revisions of the detector.

uRADMonitor is a network connected monitoring station, focused on continuous Environmental Radiation Surveillance, located in Timisoara, Romania. This capability is delivered by a digital dosimeter constructed around the highly sensitive Geiger Muller tube SBM-19. It has been completed in October 20, 2012, and it is running ever since, collecting data. Construction details, and real time data, are available here.
This additional page, has been created to report unusual activity, as recorded by the uRADMonitor, including all the debug data to support the results. I cannot guarantee the measurement precision, I merely present the data recorded by the instruments. Feedback among readers is welcome, please use the comments section.
uRADMonitor e o statie de monitorizare a fondului de radiatii, in Timisoara, Romania. Elementul de detectie a radiatiei ionizante consta intr-un tub Geiger Muller SBM-19, si un numarator digital. Aparatul a fost pus in functiune in 20 Octombrie 2012, si de atunci funtioneaza neintrerupt, colectand rezultatele masuratorilor. Detalii tehnice de constructie, dar si grafice in timp real, pe baza datelor colectate, sunt disponibile aici (in engleza) si aici (in romana).
Acest nou articol a fost creat pentru a raporta masuratori atipice, asa cum au fost ele inregistrate de uRADMonitor, incluzand toate datele de depanare software (debug). Nu pot sa garantez acuratetea acestor rezultate, le prezint doar asa cum au fost inregistrate de uRADMonitor. Feedback din partea cititorilor este bine venit, in sectiunea de comentarii a paginii.

01. January 31, 2013

Time interval: 18:11:08 – 18:17:07 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
atypical_radiation_cpm_13_01_31 13_01_31_maxres
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 3781
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:10:09,T_UC:19:15:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:73.70,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100401,CPM:70
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:11:08,T_UC:19:16:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:74.20,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100401,CPM:2292
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:12:08,T_UC:19:17:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:74.50,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100406,CPM:3781
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:13:07,T_UC:19:18:0,ID:1,VOL:401,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:74.40,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100408,CPM:3148
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:14:07,T_UC:19:19:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:76.20,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100410,CPM:3027
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:15:07,T_UC:19:20:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:9.50,T2:8.40,H2:75.50,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100414,CPM:3012
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:16:08,T_UC:19:21:0,ID:1,VOL:402,DUTY:71,T1:10.00,T2:8.40,H2:75.30,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100410,CPM:2997
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:17:07,T_UC:19:22:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:10.00,T2:8.40,H2:76.60,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100409,CPM:264
T_RO:31.Jan.2013 18:18:07,T_UC:19:23:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:10.00,T2:8.40,H2:75.40,L3:0,T4:8.00,P4:100414,CPM:90

Legend:
T_RO: Event timestamp, indicating real date and time in Timisoara, Romania
T_UC: internal uRADMonitor time
VOL: voltage on Geiger tube, SBM-19
DUTY: the duty cycle driving the 400V inverter in thousand percents
T1: measured temperature on sensor 1 (DS18B20) in degrees Celsius
T2: measured temperature on sensor 2 (DHT22) in degrees Celsius
H2: measured humidity on sensor 2 (DHT22) in relative nits
L3: measured luminosity on photodiode sensor 3 in relative units
T4: measured temperature on sensor 4 (BMP085) in degrees Celsius
P4: measured barometric pressure on sensor 4 (BMP085) in Pascals
CPM: measure radiation level on Geiger tube SBM-19, in counts per minute

Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters.
The tube voltage is in normal parameters (400V +-5V).
All other measurements indicate typical values.
Persistence: none, radiation abnormal readings lasted for only 6 minutes, than the data gets back to normal/typical levels.
System malfunction probability: none / highly improbable.

02. February 08, 2013

Time interval: 00:26:43 – 00:33:42 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
atypical_radiation_cpm_13_02_08 13_02_08_maxres
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 5175
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:25:43,T_UC:12:46:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.20,H2:91.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99285,CPM:81
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:26:43,T_UC:12:47:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.20,H2:91.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99295,CPM:3444
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:27:42,T_UC:12:48:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:5.00,T2:3.30,H2:91.50,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99297,CPM:5175
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:28:42,T_UC:12:49:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.30,H2:92.00,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99291,CPM:4056
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:29:42,T_UC:12:50:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.40,H2:91.10,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99296,CPM:3868
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:30:42,T_UC:12:51:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.40,H2:90.60,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99307,CPM:3502
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:31:42,T_UC:12:52:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:5.00,T2:3.40,H2:91.60,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99300,CPM:3354
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:32:42,T_UC:12:53:0,ID:1,VOL:400,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.40,H2:92.30,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99295,CPM:3326
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:33:42,T_UC:12:54:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.40,H2:92.10,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99290,CPM:1955
T_RO:08.Feb.2013 00:34:42,T_UC:12:55:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:69,T1:4.50,T2:3.40,H2:91.20,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99318,CPM:86

Legend:see above.
Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters.

03. February 15, 2013

Time interval: 21:52:44 – 21:57:44 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
atypical_radiation_cpm_13_02_15 13_02_15_maxres
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 5849
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:51:44,T_UC:2:41:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:70,T1:8.00,T2:6.60,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100607,CPM:89
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:52:44,T_UC:2:42:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:70,T1:8.00,T2:6.60,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100591,CPM:3521
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:53:44,T_UC:2:43:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:70,T1:8.00,T2:6.60,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100597,CPM:5849
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:54:44,T_UC:2:44:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:71,T1:8.00,T2:6.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100577,CPM:5591
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:56:44,T_UC:2:46:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:70,T1:8.00,T2:6.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100586,CPM:1927
T_RO:15.Feb.2013 21:57:44,T_UC:2:47:0,ID:1,VOL:399,DUTY:71,T1:8.00,T2:6.60,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:6.00,P4:100571,CPM:72

Legend: see above.
Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters.

04. February 19, 2013

Time interval: 00:57:20 – 00:58:20 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
2013_02_19_cpm 13_02_19_bigres_cpm
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 2875
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:19.Feb.2013 00:56:20,T_UC:14:11:0,ID:1,VOL:376,DUTY:52,T1:4.00,T2:2.60,H2:85.10,L3:0,T4:2.00,P4:100628,CPM:72
T_RO:19.Feb.2013 00:57:20,T_UC:14:12:0,ID:1,VOL:382,DUTY:53,T1:4.00,T2:2.60,H2:86.40,L3:0,T4:2.00,P4:100612,CPM:2139
T_RO:19.Feb.2013 00:58:20,T_UC:14:13:0,ID:1,VOL:373,DUTY:52,T1:4.00,T2:2.60,H2:85.00,L3:0,T4:2.00,P4:100615,CPM:2875
T_RO:19.Feb.2013 00:59:20,T_UC:14:14:0,ID:1,VOL:364,DUTY:48,T1:4.00,T2:2.60,H2:85.50,L3:0,T4:2.00,P4:100611,CPM:83

Legend: see above.
Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters. Tube is currently operating on 375V.

05. February 20, 2013

Time interval: 20:35:49 – 20:40:49 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
13_02_20_cpm 13_02_20_cpmbig
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 3893
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:34:49,T_UC:7:38:0,ID:1,VOL:374,DUTY:50,T1:7.00,T2:5.60,H2:68.70,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100443,CPM:82
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:35:49,T_UC:7:39:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:50,T1:6.50,T2:5.60,H2:69.00,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100431,CPM:1205
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:36:49,T_UC:7:40:0,ID:1,VOL:378,DUTY:51,T1:7.00,T2:5.60,H2:69.40,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100441,CPM:3893
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:37:49,T_UC:7:41:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:50,T1:7.00,T2:5.60,H2:69.90,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100436,CPM:3321
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:38:49,T_UC:7:42:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:50,T1:7.00,T2:5.60,H2:70.40,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100440,CPM:3117
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:39:49,T_UC:7:43:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:50,T1:6.50,T2:5.60,H2:69.80,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100436,CPM:301
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:40:49,T_UC:7:44:0,ID:1,VOL:374,DUTY:50,T1:6.50,T2:5.70,H2:70.20,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100436,CPM:102
T_RO:20.Feb.2013 20:41:49,T_UC:7:45:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:50,T1:7.00,T2:5.60,H2:69.40,L3:0,T4:5.00,P4:100442,CPM:60

Legend: see above.
Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters. Tube voltage has been reduced to 375V.

06. February 22, 2013

Time interval: 22:25:12 – 22:37:12 (Bucharest timezone, GMT+2)
Atypical measurement: radiation level
2013_02_22_cpm 2013_02_22_bigcpm
Measure units: cpm (counts per minute, as related to Geiger tube SBM-19)
Measurement resolution: 1 minute
Max value recorded: 4812
Typical average value for the last 2 months: 81
Relevant Debug data:
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:24:12,T_UC:9:29:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.30,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99621,CPM:95
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:25:12,T_UC:9:30:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.30,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99627,CPM:850
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:26:12,T_UC:9:31:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.40,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99631,CPM:4812
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:27:12,T_UC:9:32:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.00,T2:4.40,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:3.00,P4:99635,CPM:3643
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:28:12,T_UC:9:33:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.50,T2:4.40,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99640,CPM:3337
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:29:12,T_UC:9:34:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.50,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99629,CPM:3158
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:30:12,T_UC:9:35:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99624,CPM:3102
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:31:12,T_UC:9:36:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99629,CPM:3081
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:32:12,T_UC:9:37:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99630,CPM:3031
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:33:12,T_UC:9:38:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99623,CPM:3155
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:34:12,T_UC:9:39:0,ID:1,VOL:376,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99620,CPM:3121
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:35:12,T_UC:9:40:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99624,CPM:3105
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:36:12,T_UC:9:41:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99624,CPM:3094
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:37:12,T_UC:9:42:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:56,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99629,CPM:2433
T_RO:22.Feb.2013 22:38:12,T_UC:9:43:0,ID:1,VOL:375,DUTY:55,T1:6.00,T2:4.50,H2:99.90,L3:0,T4:4.00,P4:99631,CPM:89

Legend: see above.
Comments:
All system’s parameters indicate the uRADMonitor is functioning in normal parameters. Tube voltage has been set to 376V

This article has 7 Comments

  1. Am urmarit cu interes datele de radiatie, intamplator chiar din februarie,pe filiera scheme electronice.
    Este o realizare importanta. Ar trebui mai multa publicitate.
    Ma intereseaza cauza evenimentelor. Am putea avea o actualizare a evenimentelor?
    Mai sunt si alte servere similare?
    Sper ca odata sa fie unul si la Rm. Valcea… Cat ar fi de greu?

  2. Salut Teodor,

    Multumesc pentru apreciere. Ca sa-ti intorc complimentul, dar nu numai, sa stii ca am urmarit si eu cu interes realizarile ARCA.

    In ce priveste intrebarea ta, pentru moment nu dispun de mai multe date decat cele prezentate aici. Ca o actualizare, pot sa iti spun ca alte variatii atipice au mai fost. Variante de investigare exista mai multe, din care prima si cea mai importanta ar fi realizarea unui detector redundant, pentru a fi siguri de cele inregistrate.
    Apoi ar mai fi diverse modele de dispunere a senzorilor pentru determinarea directiei sursei, sau utilizarea unor alti senzori pentru a determina natura radiatiei (nivelul de energie, de exemplu cu un detector cu scintilatie, tratat sumar aici: http://www.pocketmagic.net/2010/11/scintillation-probe-with-photomultiplier-and-nai-crystal/ )
    Nu am progresat pe aceasta directie, pentru ca am avut alte prioritati. Si aici iti voi raspunde la ultima parte. Planul meu e sa realizez un numar mai mare de astfel de aparate. Cateva detalii le-am prezentat aici: http://www.pocketmagic.net/2013/07/kickstarter-global-radiation-monitoring-network/
    Cu toate ca finantarea ar fi mai mult din directie americana, sper sa reusesc sa ofer cateva astfel de unitati si pentru cele mai mari orase din romania. Am ajunge astfel la o retea uniform etalonata, de masurare a nivelului fondului gama.
    Daca sunt si alte detalii care te intereseaza, sunt bucuros sa-ti raspund. Poti folosi si adresa mea de mail, disponibila in sectiunea “About” a blogului.

    Radu

  3. Salut Radu,

    Sunt bucuros sa aflu de noul proiect. Iti doresc succes. Este in interesul nostru al tuturor.
    Desi sunt adeptul redundantei constat ca devine un lux pentru o inregistrare continua redata grafic.
    Intrebarea mea este de ce nu cunosc inregistrari atipice decat dupa apusul soarelui. Poate sa fie cumva efectul ionosferei.
    Am salvat doar o atipica si aceasta confirma regula:
    T_RO:22.iul.2013 22:15, …, CPM:221.

    Teodor

  4. Were there thunderstorms at the time? You might have recorded “dark lightning”…

    Also cars with dodgy suppression systems can wreak havoc with unshielded electronics.

    -A

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