I was rewatching Jericho the other day and realized that when I watched it for the first time I had decided to buy a Geiger Counter. Luckily we haven't been nuked in the intervening 19 years not just because I never bought one but because it would really suck too.
Anyway these days there are many available on Amazon for under $100 and was wondering what other people use? I live 15 miles from a nuclear power plant and seems a lower cost accessory that might come in handy. No need to post that you think I don't need one, I'm well aware that people think that.
Amazon also has cheap chemical detectors. I might get one of those too, so ideas there are appreciated.
I haven't gotten that piece of gear yet but have been looking at a bunch of those on amazon too.
There's a few good videos on YT about the types of radiation and their ranges and half life. I've just been looking at the ones that cover the spectrum. Some devices don't detect all the radiation types.
I do have the Iodine tabs and NBC respirators. I'm about 60 miles from the nearest nuclear power plant and about 90 from a military target. But smack in the middle of prime civi targets. Anyhow, there's a bunch of simulators out there too and I've simulated an explosion of different sizes at the power plant and military base and IIRC the overpressure wave was only about 3psi so not even broken windows at my house. Fallout simulators also have me in the safe zone.
So then you have to visualize the refugee's coming your direction after an event and how to deal with that situation. Is it a one off event or is it happening all over the place with multiple events simultaneously?
So I went ahead and purchased the GQ GMC-800 Geiger counter. It comes in a cardboard box with:
- Charging/ Data cable USB/ USB-C
- Quick Start Guide
- A card that indicates radioactivity levels that may be dangerous and advises you to GTFO.
- A belt pouch with a clear vinyl cover that allows you to review data and push buttons while it is in the pouch. I figure any radioactivity will go right through the pouch.
- A card that directs you to a website that shows normal background radius in areas of the US
If you go to their website you can download:
- A logging program that takes data off the device with the included cable
- A full user guide in PDF format
- A simulation program
- A Test program
These run about $85-95 depending upon where you buy it. It takes a couple of seconds to power on and mine appears to be working perfectly. I'm not going to go into the various screens on the device but it appears to be quite functional for the price.
I also purchased a TOPTES 4in1 Gas detector Guard 101. It came in a cardboard box that held a plastic case that included:
- The Device
- Charging Cable
- A short connector for a snorkel
- User Guide
The case has a well padded interior and is about 5"X8"X2.5" and therefore takes up little space.
The device includes a locking claw clip on the backside that will hold it to a belt or pocket securely.
The device detects the following:
O2 - Oxygen Level, expressed as a percentage
H2S - Hydrogen Sulfide - Sometimes called "swamp gas"or "sewer gas". It is both poisonous and quite flammable. It was used during WWII as a chemical weapon but it isn't very effective because it disperses quickly. In a closed environment, such s a sewer, it is deadly and dangerous.
EX - Explosive gasses - It will also tell you the level at which it will reach LEL, or lower explosive level. This is the concentration point at which the gas is likely to explode. If see it reading that you like have an oxygen tank on as that level will likely render you unconscious if you are breathing it.
CO - Carbon monoxide Expressed as a percentage.
The device is very intuitive and easy to use.
I first tested the oxygen function by breathing on the device. Normal oxygen concentration is 20.9% of the atmosphere. As soon as I directed an exhaled breath into the device the oxygen level dropped to 18-17% and various visual and auditory alerts began indicating loudly and brightly. When I moved the device away it returned to normal in a few seconds.
The next test was with my gas grill. I turned the gas on without igniting it and set the device on the grill surface and closed the lid, I opened it about five seconds later. It had picked the gas up immediately and began analyzing the LEL within a couple of seconds.
I then cooked a burger and monitored the CO as it was released. Note that if you have a newer grill it might not pick up CO until you are cooking something. My grill is older so it worked just fine. Oxygen levels varied as well.
The next test was with my vent free gas logs. It detected a small quantity of CO, which was disappointing. It may be it was burning off dust since I haven't used the logs this year.
This ended my testing since I have no H2S to monitor.
I am putting together an NBC back pack/ work station with an old Swiss Gear back pack.
Other than the above devices I have the following items as well:
- Small flash light
- Old lap top for data monitoring
- Nitrile Gloves (box)
- Small flashlight
- Electronic Device cleaning wipes
- USB Charging block
- Thermal Thermometer
I plan on adding a Handheld Spectrometer for Raw Material Identification. This will involve careful selection as I understand the library is the important part.