PRM-8000 Geiger Counter

Handheld Alpha, Beta, Gamma, X-Ray Geiger Counter and Nuclear Radiation Monitor

The PRM-8000 Geiger counter allows you to scan items for nuclear radiation, detect Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) and continuously monitor your environment.

This radiation meter delivers laboratory grade performance in a compact unit and measures alpha, beta, gamma and x-radiation.

Accurate, reliable, made in the USA, the PRM-8000 Geiger counter is an ideal solution for individuals, health physics professionals, educators, researchers, outdoor enthusiasts and rock collectors.

24/7 Monitoring Capability

The instrument is designed to continuously collect measurements and statistics enabling complete environment assessment. This vital capability is not available on similarly priced products.

This is the front view of the PRM-8000 Geiger counter showing the detector window. — PRM-8000 Detector Window

Using only one key, users can scroll through several screens that display present, average, maximum and minimum measurements in uR/hr, mR/hr, uSv/hr, Counts per Second (CPS) or Counts per Minute (CPM).

Note, the PRM-8000 is not the best choice for testing food – please consider the PRM-9000. The PRM-9000 is 3.5 times more sensitive than the PRM-8000 to gamma nuclear radiation and is best for detecting lower levels of contamination in items quickly. No Geiger counter is exceptional for detecting trace contamination in food, but the PRM-9000, with its pancake tube is the better of the two for scanning food.

This nuclear detector not only records the maximum radiation measured, but also displays the time and date at which the maximum reading occurred. Conventional Geiger counters require the user to be looking at the radiation meter to capture such events.

Industry Leading Battery Life

The battery life of this radiation detector and monitor is over 6-years under normal conditions from a single, readily available, 9-volt lithium battery that is user-installable without soldering.

Standard alkaline 9-volt batteries, available virtually everywhere, provide over 3-years of life under normal conditions.

Data Logging and USB Connectivity

With over 100K bytes of internal data logging memory included, this Geiger counter can autonomously (without the need for a PC) store up to 91,466 minutes or hours of time-stamped measurements. These measurements can then be uploaded later to a PC in CSV format for analysis.

A user-settable dose rate alarm sounds an audible alert when the measured radiation level exceeds that of the alarm level setting.

Made in the USA

Designed by Mazur Instruments and manufactured in the USA, the PRM-8000 Geiger counter and nuclear radiation monitor includes abundant I/O options including support for headphones, external speakers, external power and USB data exchange (Requires Optional 3.5mm to USB Adapter Cable).

PRM-8000 General Purpose Geiger Counter
Specifications


Battery Life¹
Standard 9V Lithium	60,000 Hours / 6.85 Years
Standard 9V Alkaline	28,250 Hours / 3.22 Years (included)

Measurement Front End
Detector	LND 712 Geiger-Muller tube, Halogen-quenched with mica end-window
Radiation Detected	alpha, beta, gamma and x-radiation
Energy Sensitivity	alpha: minimum 2.5 MeV; efficiency at 3.6 MeV > 80% beta: minimum 50 keV with 35% efficiency at 150 keV 75% gamma/X rays: min 10 keV (window), min 40 keV (case) gamma sensitivity: 1,000 CPM/mR/hr calibrated to Cesium-137 (Cs137)
Accuracy	±10% Typical, ±15% Maximum
Measurement Ranges	0.001 to 200 mR/hr 0.01 to 2,000 uSv/hr 1 to 200,000 uR/hr or CPM (1,000 CPM/mR/hr) 0 to 3,333 CPS (16.66 CPS/mR/hr) Total Count: 0 to 4,294,967,295 (32 Bit Integer)
Measurement Statistics	Continuous availability of Elapsed Time, Average, Minimum and Maximum dose rate in either uR/hr, mR/hr, uSv/hr, CPS or CPM Time stamp on new maximum
Timed Measurement	Selectable 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 minute interval
Dose Rate Alarm	Alarm can be set in mR/hr or uSv/hr to any value within the measurement range

Internal Data Logging
Storage	100,000 Bytes non-volatile memory
Logging Intervals	Every Minute or Every Hour
Maximum Capacity	91,466 Minutes or Hours (90% Normal Background, 10% Full-Scale)
Minimum Capacity	32,656 Minutes or Hours (100% Full-Scale Measurement Levels)
Logging Output Format	Standard Comma Separated Value (CSV) with time stamp and CPM Data (1,000 CPM/mR/hr)

User Interface
Languages Supported	English and Japanese
Display	Two-Line, 14 character transflective LCD with back light for low light conditions
Keypad	Weather resistant commercial-grade membrane keypad
Visual Indicator	LED pulses on and off when a radiation detection event occurs. LED can be disabled.
Audio Indicator	Tone beeps when a radiation detection event occurs. Audio three volume levels and can be muted.

Input / Output
Audio Output / Digital Interface	Standard 3.5mm jack with three selectable volume levels for output to audio systems, computer speakers or media player headphones. Jack can also be provisioned by the user for pulse output or as a USB Interface for logging data by PC or transferring internal data logging memory (requires optional cable)
External Power	9 VDC at a minimum current rating of 100mA

Environmental / Physical
Temperature Range	-20° to 51° C (-4° to 125° F)
Size	143 x 83 x 35 mm (5.63″ x 3.25″ x 1.37″)
Weight	261 grams (9.2 oz.) including battery
Compliance	CE, Lead-Free Independently tested and found to be substantially compliant with FCC requirements for home use. Approval to display FCC logo pending.

Warranty
	One Year (120 Days on GM Tube)

Notes:

1. Assuming that background radiation is less than 25 CPM, the device is using the low-power setting and temperature of operation is 25° C (77° F).

All specifications are subject to change without notice.