Make the Gadget
Although monitoring radiation can be tricky, building this gadget is pretty straightforward. More complexity comes in when programming Arduino and uploading radiation readings to Pachube.
Parts
- Arduino
- Ethernet shield
- Breadboard
- Geiger counter
- IR collector (RadioShack catalog #276-0142)
- 1k resistor (color code brown, black, red)
- Long solid strand wire, 18–22 gauge
- 1 package of heat-shrink tubing. We used tubing from RadioShack (catalog #278-1611); you can use others.
Breadboard the Circuit
Check your work on the breadboard view (Figure 9-1).
Step 1 Connect one end of a long red wire to the collector lead (the shorter lead) on the IR detector and the other into a row on the breadboard.
Step 2 Connect one end of a long black wire to the emitter lead (the longer lead) on the IR detector. Plug the other end into a different row on the breadboard.
Step 3 Connect a jumper wire from the emitter on the detector to GND on Arduino.
Step 4 Insert the 1K resistor into ...
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