[R-390] Meter Radioactiity

[Tom-WB3AKD]

Hit them with some black light.  They'll really shine then, even when you
turn off the UV.  While this does not insure that they are radioactive,
it'll prove that it's more than just paint.

My CDV-700 shows the Carrier level meters on the R-390's emitting about half
the rate of the test source on the side of the counter (I'll have to doig
around and see what that comes out to be as the test source has weakend over
the yearsw) , and the line level meters emitting quite a bit less.  The
R-390A (EAC) emits nothing that I can measure.  These were measured by
putting the probe right up against the front of the meter fase with the
window on the probe open.  Meters were not disassembled.  The R-392 also
emits weakly.

For comparison, I've got an old Kollsman altimeter that puts out about as
much as the test source and an Elgin Aircraft clock that emits nothing I can
measure through the glass.

Durn, I'm gonna have to set up the cloud chamber and see what this
altimeter's sending out.  Think I'll move it off the desk.

73

Tom

WB3AKD