MORNING STAR OBSERVATORY
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Lionel CD V-700 Model-6b Geiger Counter

and the

CD V777-1 Radiation Detector Kit

This geiger counter is a Civil Defense meter from the 1960's, and is part of the CD V777-1 Radiation Detector Kit. It's a highly sensitive meter capable of measuring both gamma and beta radiation and has three ranges from 0 - 0.5, 0 - 5, and 0 - 50 mR/h. I read that some of these model 6b meters are still in use by emergency agencies to this day. I found this kit ten or more years ago.

Picture
The complete CD V777-1 kit. The most useful items in the kit are the CD V700, its manual, and the headphones. There's a hand written note on the box that says it was last inspected in 1983.

Picture
The CD V700 is in good physical condition. It has its share of nicks in the paint from use, but nothing major. It wasn't working when I got it and I ended up replacing the PCB. At the time spare boards were readily available, but not sure if they still are now days.

Picture
The radioactive check source is under the label on the side of the case, and according to the manual would originally have measured between 1.5 - 2.5 mR/hr with an average of ~2 mR/hr with the beta shield open. The manual says the source is Ra D&E and has a half-life of ~22 years.
​The source on this meter in 2021 reads at ~1.5mR/hr, which makes me wonder if this check source is really Ra D&E, or has been replaced. I don't know how accurate the meter is, but regardless, after nearly 60 years it should read very low. However, there is a typed corrective note in the manual for paragraph 4.2 that refers to the check source as uranium. I would assume that means depleted uranium. I read online that some of these CD V-700 meters had their check sources replaced back in the 1980's, so I think this check source is uranium like the note says.

Picture
This USAF sticker is on the bottom of the meter.

Picture
A side view with the case removed. Looks like something out of Star Trek. The probe on top contains the 6993 GM tube.

Picture
One nice thing about this meter is that it uses only two "D" cell batteries for power. No "B" batteries here.

I found some info online that claimed using modern alkaline batteries, with their steel shells, risked shorting a battery with the metal retainer installed. To be safe I wrapped the retainer to prevent an accident.

Picture
The PCB contains all the electronics for the meter, except of course the GM tube.

Other Items in the Kit


Picture
This is the other detector in the kit, a CD V715 Model 1B. It has a casting piece that's broken where the strap attaches, plus the usual paint chips, but otherwise is in good condition. This meter uses one "D" cell and works, but is no where near as sensitive as the CD V700, and if you need this thing to measure radiation levels you're probably in deep do-do.

Picture
Also in the box were these Bendix CD V-742 personal dosimeters and the CD V-750 Model 5b charger for them. These could be worn in a shirt pocket like a pen and were used to track how much radiation someone was exposed to over a period of time. I was able to charge them and zero the meter inside, so the pens and charger are still functional.

Picture
These are the manuals and a later 1984 booklet that were in the box. Looks like the only things missing are the straps for the radiation detectors, assuming they came in the kit.

Page created 4/22/2021
Last updated 4/23/2021
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  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Astrophotography
  • The Observatory
    • The New Observatory
    • - About the ExploraDome
    • - About the Lancaster Dome
    • - Building the Lancaster Dome
  • Equipment
    • CCD Cameras >
      • Orion Starshoot Pro
      • QSI 683WS
      • ZWO ASI-178MM
    • Eyepieces
    • Filters
    • Mounts >
      • Orion HDX-110 (EQ-8) >
        • New HDX-110 Setup
        • Orion HDX110 EQ-8
    • Observatory Computers
    • Telescopes >
      • Astro-Tech AT6RC
      • Celestron C-11 XLT
      • Zhumell 152mm Refractor
  • Projects
    • Arduino Focuser
    • C11 XLT Mods
    • Orion SSPRO Camera >
      • Disassembled Views
      • Noise Reduction Mod
      • Temp Controller Mod
    • Ultima 8 Mods
    • Zhumell Refractor Mods
  • Non-Astronomy
    • Amateur Radio >
      • Boat Anchor Radios >
        • BC-348N Receiver
        • Collins 51J4 HF Receiver
        • R-392 HF Receiver
      • DIY >
        • Station Boom Microphone
      • Ameco >
        • Ameco AC-1
        • Ameco OCM
        • Ameco PT-2
        • Ameco R5A
      • Heathkit >
        • Heathkit SB-102 Station
      • Knight-Kit >
        • Knight Kit Span Master II
      • Yaesu FT-817 >
        • Yaesu FT-817ND
        • LDG Z-817 Autotuner
        • Windcamp LiPo Battery
    • Antique Radios >
      • Building A Radio Workbench
      • Radio Dial Neon Clock
      • Radios >
        • 1938 Zenith 6-S-254
        • Echophone EC-1
        • Eltz Radione 2
        • Panasonic RF-5000A
        • Silvertone Model 4465
    • Geiger Counters >
      • AN/PDR-27G Radiac Set
      • Lionel CD V-700 Geiger Counter
      • RCA WF-12A Geiger Counter
    • Test Equipment >
      • DIY Test Equipment >
        • DIY Curve Tracer
        • DIY Signature Tracer
      • Military Test Equipment >
        • BC-221-AF Frequency Meter
        • LM-21 Frequency Meter
        • TS-323/UR Frequency Meter
        • TS-465 C/U Sweep Generator
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • Tube Testers >
        • Alternating Current Sink
        • Drug Store Tester
        • EMC Model 200 Tube Tester
        • Hickok Model 6000A Tube Tester
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Precise Model 111 Tube Tester
        • Precision Model 10-12
        • Supreme Model 385
        • TV-3C/U Tube Tester
      • VTVMs and Multimeters >
        • B&K Model 290 Hi-Low FET Multimeter
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • McMurdo Silver VOMAX 900
        • Micronta 22-220 FET Multimeter
        • Simpson 360-2 Digital FET DMM
        • TS-505D/U VTVM
      • Hickok >
        • Hickok 19X RF Generator
        • Hickok 225K VTVM
        • Hickok 288X RF Generator
        • Hickok OZ-1 (550X)
        • Hickok 6000A Tube Tester
      • Simpson >
        • Simpson 360 DMM
        • Simpson 360-2 DMM
        • Simpson 480 Genescope
      • Supreme Instruments >
        • Supreme 385 Automatic
        • Supreme 560 Vedolyzer
        • Supreme 560A Vedolyzer
        • Supreme Model 561 AF/RF Generator
        • Supreme's Model 562 Audolyzer
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1941
        • Supreme Model 562 Audolyzer circa 1946
        • Supreme Model 563 Audio Generator
        • Supreme Model 576 RF Generator
      • Other Test Equipment >
        • Heathkit IT-28 Capacitor Tester
        • Rider 162 Chanalyst
        • Tektronix 326 O'scope
        • VU-Data Model 941B Oscilloscope
    • ---------------
    • Fossils
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Star Trek >
      • Star Trek Rock Mood Lamp
      • Star Trek Communicator