Safepulse

SafePulse

An open-source high-voltage power supply (HVPS) and pulse counter designed for Geiger tubes. The Safepulse is utilized in the newest version of Safecast devices, the bGeigieZen and can be bough directly at https://bgeigiezen.safecast.jp/store-2/safepulse/

Table of Contents

• Overview
• History
• Features
• Getting Started
  • Prerequisites
  • Installation
• Documentation
• Contributing
• Issues and Support
• License

Overview

SafePulse is a project aimed at creating a fully open-source high-voltage power supply that is compact, efficient, and reliable. Designed specifically for Geiger counters, it facilitates accurate radiation detection and measurement.

History

The SafePulse journey began with Safecast's need for a high-performance HVPS that exceeded existing market solutions. Dan Sythe of International Medcom played a pivotal role in guiding the development process, providing components like the iRover—a commercial-grade miniature HVPS recognized by the IAEA.

While the iRover set a benchmark for reliability and performance, SafePulse was developed to customize its needs to the varying requirements of numerous Safecast device types. Using an open-source design based on a HEX CMOS inverter oscillator, MOSFET switch, and Cockroft-Walton multiplier, the initial design achieved low power consumption (80 µA). However, challenges such as double pulses to the CPU and high count rate predictability led to refinements, including adding a multivibrator for fixed pulse widths. SafePulse is as much a reference design as a specific product, as variants of the core SafePulse design already feature a high-speed nano-amp I2C counter as well as alternative packagings.

SafePulse evolved into a compact 4-layer design to meet size constraints while ensuring consistent performance across component substitutions.

Features

• Open-Source Design: All design files and source code are publicly available for modification.
• High Performance: Provides reliable high-voltage output tailored for Geiger tubes.
• Compact and Efficient: Space-saving design with minimal power consumption.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

To work with SafePulse, ensure you have the following tools and components:

• KiCad: Open-source electronic design automation software.
• Electronic components listed in the project's bill of materials (BOM).

Installation

1. Clone the Repository:

git clone https://github.com/Safecast/safepulse.git

2. Open with KiCad:

• Launch KiCad.
• Open the SafePulse.kicad_pro project file from the cloned repository.

3. Review and Modify:

• Access schematics and PCB layouts.
• Make desired modifications or improvements.

Documentation

Detailed schematics and design documents are available in the repository. Refer to the SafePulse.pdf file for comprehensive information.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Follow these steps:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch for your feature or bug fix:

git checkout -b feature-name

3. Commit your changes:

git commit -m "Add feature"

4. Push to your forked repository:

git push origin feature-name

5. Submit a pull request detailing your changes.

Please ensure contributions align with project objectives and coding standards.

Issues and Support

For issues or questions, visit the GitHub Issues section of the repository.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. You are free to use, modify, and distribute this software under its terms.