I just picked-up a NIB model 717 CD Survey Meter. I had called FEMA and talked to a tech and asked if these units were any good after 40 years in storage. According to him most are still accurate to within 20%+/- even if not calibrated! They were built to be reliable and simple and cost the government about $30 each during the 60's. Anybody have any experience with these detectors?
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Civil Defense Survey Meters
- Thread starter telewinz
- Start date
Sir William
New member
Multiplier still produces batteries for them. www.multiplier.com might link.
We looked at those some time ago, we had a bunch in storeage for about the same period of time. Testing showed they were SO out of synch that even with calibration at a lab they were too out of tune to be used safely. They are cold war relics nothing more, unless you get them to a lab that is in the know about 40 year old tech and can calibrate them based on the gamma ray scale they only record two radation types and I would not bet my life on them. A 20% error rate on rad count will kill you if its under counting in a high rad enviorment. Having said that it will start clicking if the gamma count goes up. A lot better $160.00 meter is the Nuk Alert radiation monitor that you can carry on your key chain with a 10-15 year life battery. I think I have the lab dotcom address around here somewhere if your interested I'll look..
It's not a Geiger Counter
You may have it confused with the CDV 700. The CDV 717 doesn't "click" and doesn't take a special battery.
KI4U, Inc. is licensed and authorized to offer professional radiation Calibration Certification Services for Civil Defense Survey Meters (CD V-710, CD V-715, CD V-717 and CD V-720)
Geiger Counter based instruments (CD V-700, CD V-457, CD V-781 and CD V-757)
Dosimeters (CD V-138, CD V-730, CD V-740 and CD V-742)
For $30 (or less) you can get a NOS CVD 715/717/720 still in it's original box. Add another $50 for calibration and you are in business for less than $100.
You may have it confused with the CDV 700. The CDV 717 doesn't "click" and doesn't take a special battery.
The key chain model you are mentioning is very limited (as is the CDV-700), it only covers low range radiation...it peaks at 50 rads an hour, and it's degree of accuracy(+/-) is one "CHIRP" or 10% +/- (best case) or much worse, 2 "chirps" off one "chirp" equals 50% inaccuracy. You count the number of audible "Chirps" and read the scale on the back to determine the rads up to 50 per hr. It is more a radiation sensor than a radiation meter. At 10 "chirps" the scale says 50+ rads an hour. At 300 rads an hour (still just 10 "chirps", it's a fatal radiation dose for many with one hour exposure) your "chirper" is off 600% (20% +/- accuracy looking better?) and you and yours will soon be very ill/dead. The FEMA/Civil Defense models CDV-715, 717, and 720 survey meters covers 0 to 500 rads an hour and will operate continuously for over 150 hours with just a standard 'D (non alkaline!) battery. They are water proof (floats) weighs less than four pounds, and can be certified/calibrated for less than $50.Operates on one D-Cell battery (not included).
· Manual and original storage box included.
· Manufactured in the early 60’s. · Last calibrated by Civil Defense in the early 70’s (hand written *inside the case on the sensor).
· Remote operation is achieved by removing the bottom portion of the case and & connecting one end of the self-storing 25’ spool of triaxial cable to the ionization chamber and the other end to the meter.
KI4U, Inc. is licensed and authorized to offer professional radiation Calibration Certification Services for Civil Defense Survey Meters (CD V-710, CD V-715, CD V-717 and CD V-720)
Geiger Counter based instruments (CD V-700, CD V-457, CD V-781 and CD V-757)
Dosimeters (CD V-138, CD V-730, CD V-740 and CD V-742)
For $30 (or less) you can get a NOS CVD 715/717/720 still in it's original box. Add another $50 for calibration and you are in business for less than $100.
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