Re: cdv's

["Mike Bohan" <mike.bohan@yale.edu>]

        Reply to:   RE>cdv's

John,

I believe that these are the meters found in the old radiological civil defense
kits distributed during the cold war across America.  

The kits contained a Victoreen made GM, colored in bright yellow that ranged to
200 mR/hr with an integral check source but, no battery check mode.  They have a
cylindrical probe with a closeable beta window.  They also came with a removable
single cup headphone.   I believe this was the CDV-700. 

The second instrument in the box was a Victoreen Ion Chamber survey meter which
ranged up to 100's of Rad/hr.  This instrument has an internal chamber.  I
believe this was the CDV-715 but, I could have them mixed up.  

The kits also contained a charger and a number of pocket ion chambers which read
out to 200 Rads, I think!  Remember, these kits were prepared in the days of
"Dr. Strangelove".  In addition, the kits have a wonderful Civil Defense yellow
pamphlet which tells you how to use the instruments, and stop worrying and love
the bomb....     ;-)

These instruments are good for what they were intended for... but, I have seen
too many Nuc. Med. and Therapy operations raiding the Civil Defense kits in the
hospital to get some cheap meters.  If your going to use them in place of buying
a new meter, I wouldn't.  They're not built to stand up to day to day use,
especially the GM's.  IMHO
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
Michael J. Bohan, RSO   |  e-mail: mike.bohan@yale.edu
Yale-New Haven Hospital |    Tele: (203) 785-2950
Radiological Physics    |     FAX: (203) 737-4252
20 York St. - WWW 204   |    As usual, everything I say may be plausibly
New Haven, CT    06504  |    denied at my employer's convenience ...
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--------------------------------------
Date: 02/06/97 5:14 PM
To: Mike Bohan
From: radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu
Does anyone know what principle of detection is employed by a cdv 700 or   
cdv 715 and what they read out in or anything else about these things?