In this paper we consider negative ion surface‐plasma sources with small discharge chambers, designed for long continuous operation. Their important features are a discharge with a cold hollow cathode in a magnetic field, spherical cathode surface for a double geometric focusing of negative ions toward a 1 mm diameter extraction hole, and the plasma drift in crossed fields directed toward the spherical part of the cathode. Regimes with a low noise level have been achieved.H−beams with currents up to 2.5 mA have been achieved; for a discharge current of 0.7 A and at a voltage of 100 V. The source life is longer than 100 hours. Source operation with mixtures of hydrogen and ethyl alcohol, water, or ammonia vapors has been studied, and mass spectra of extracted ions measured. Heavy ion beams (O−, OH−, NH−) with currents up to 1 mA have been achieved.