May 8, 2026
A small but important milestone this week — we got the Geiger-Müller tube running on batteries with the step-up converter.
Seeing it power up for the first time was a satisfying moment. The power system is doing its job, and the circuit is behaving as expected. It’s the kind of result that gives the whole team a boost.
What’s Next
The next step is heading to the lab to verify the voltage output properly. We had a voltmeter with us, but it wasn’t rated high enough — we need one that can measure up to 500V to confirm we’re operating the Geiger tube within the correct voltage range.
This matters more than it might seem. A GM tube needs to operate within a specific voltage window to produce accurate readings. Too low and the tube won’t trigger correctly. Too high and the measurements become unreliable. Getting this right is essential before we can trust any of the data coming out of the sensor.
So the voltmeter is the next item on the list. Once we can confirm the voltage is where it needs to be, we’ll have a solid, validated foundation to build the rest of the system on.
More updates soon.