Recent content by Happy Days2021

I know they need tested, but I don't know the how you actually do it part

Yes, in England all schools must leak test sealed sources including smoke detectors used in Physics experiments

Ok thanks...so will an HpGe always need a source to calibrate it, or can it not be calibrated and still show up activity?

No I don't think my previous thread addressed how or why they could leak?

Why then do smoke detectors need leaked tested in schools as radiation sources and also solid sealed sources need leak tested in labs?

Why are smoke detectors with Americium exempt from leak testing when there are ones in older houses maybe 30 years old and one needs to open them up to change the battery. Surely the Americium could leak out over time from the ionisation chamber?

Thanks all Why would a negative wipe not tell you if it had leaked, surely negative wipe=no leak? Also would an HpGe not tell you the amount which had leaked on a wipe?

If the wipe test was clear from around the outside of the ionisation chamber, then would that not prove all activity was from the source-would cpm actually tell you anything about a leaking source?

Thanks but would the count rate of the actual smoke alarm tell me if it was leaking or not?

What would be the point of doing this? Would this be better than taking a wipe of the surface and then checking for emissions?

Where would the accumulate outside the enclosure-do you mean on the outside of the actual source, or the outside of the ionisation chamber?

Thank you. I don't have a gas flow counter but I have access to a HpGe detector-would this be suitable for leak testing to 0.005 microcuries? Or would a handheld Gamma counter (geiger counter) be better. I don't understand why some people say measure the alpha emissions, but others say measure...

I have a very old smoke detector and I want to check that due to its age that none of the Americium has leaked from the source and hence I want to perform a wipe test and measure any emissions from it. I want to know the best instrument to use for measuring such low levels and do I measure the...

Yes what I am wanting to wipe test is to check for any leaking Americium. I have a very old smoke detector with Americium and what to check if any radiation has leaked from the source. I want to find out should I use an alpha or gamma reader? HpGe/alpha beta counter/handheld gamma geiger...

Can you tell me what instrument would be suitable then please, even to measure to 0.05 microcuries of leakage or lower?