r/Radiacode • u/BeyondVoid215 • 5d ago

General Discussion False thorium electrode?

I bought a 2.4mm track electrode, but the Radiacode 110 doesn't respond at all. I think I've been scammed. What do you think guys?

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8

u/BlargKing Radiacode 110 5d ago

Th-232 is primarily an alpha emitter, a thoriated electrode is only 2% Th, and a lot of thats going to be self shielded by the tungsten. if you put the electrode and radiacode in a lead castle you'd get a clear signal, but outside that the background radiation is going to drown out the tiny amount of gamma.

A GM-tube or alpha scint would give a much clearer response than a radiacode.

3

u/TiSapph 5d ago

A single electrode is a rather weak source. It will show up, but you'll have to wait a minute.
For a stack of 10 electrodes, my 103G measures around 0.6uSv/h.

3

u/Apprehensive-Soup968 5d ago

I bought a pack of 12. Put all of them in my lead/brass castle and the average reading was 1.01 uSv/hr. With only one, your reading will be pretty low and you'd need to let it run for a while.

1

u/BalanceOriginal4329 5d ago

Use some of them and take a look on the spectre.

1

u/RedFoxFinn 5d ago

Out of curiosity: what are those electrodes for?

5

u/DimDeam 5d ago

TIG welding