[ RadSafe ] Help with Westinghouse SV type arrestor (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Falo, Gerald A Dr CIV USA MEDCOM PHC]

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

Rich,

It seems to me that what you are measuring is the U/Th content of the
porcelain insulation because it looks like you have a picture of what
I'd normally call a surge suppressor (albeit a very large version:
http://www.nemaarresters.com/files/SiC%20Arrester%20Identification.pdf.
If it's an older model, then it's possible that the arrester has a spark
gap
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_gap#Spark_gaps_as_protective_devices
), which might contain Cs-137 or Ra-226.  See also,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_carbide.  


Jerry

________________________________

The statements and opinions expressed herein are my responsibility; no
one else (certainly not my employer) is responsible, but I still reserve
the right to make mistakes.
 
Don't panic! - Douglas Adams in "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
 
Gerald A. Falo, Ph.D., CHP
U.S. Army Public Health Command (Provisional) - Health Physics Program
jerry.falo at us.army.mil
410-436-4852
DSN: 584-4852



-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
[mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Wagner,
Richard
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 1:09 PM
To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Help with Westinghouse SV type arrestor

Radsafers,

Found a few Westinghouse lightening arrestors that read about 400 uR/hr
on an ion chamber and maximally 2000 cpm on a 44-9 G-M.  Anyone have an
idea about what isotope may be inside of them?

Picture Links:
http://tinypic.com/r/21b9068/5

http://tinypic.com/r/zxp2xx/5


Rich Wagner
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Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE