Is this UVB meter good enough?

[Shaun]

I'm a cheapskate and I was looking around for a inexpensive UV meter when I found this gem:

www.testsymptomsathome.com/fs_tan91.asp?portalid=AHA

It's not exactly ment for laboratory experiments, but is it sufficent?

[dominick]

Hi Shaun-

They just recently had this discussion on the UVB Meter Owner Group.

That Meter measures in "meters", the correct measurement for UVB on reptiles is uW/cm^2 (microwatts per centimeter squared). So your readings would not correlate with everyone elses.

Also, as mentioned so many times in this discussion, you get what you pay for.

Perhaps Veronica could fill in some gaps here?

[Shaun]

Could I just multiply the number by 100 to get the standerd value? since 1m=100cm.

I'm not sure what the difference is between uW and W though.

[mar]

micro (normally lower case greek mu but use "u" in ASCII text) is 10^(-6)

There are 100 cm / m so there are 10000 cm^2 / m^2, areas not lengths here buddy.

This thing reads in W/m^2 -- Watts per square meter -- and you want it in micro Watts per square centimeter.

W/m^2 * 1 m^2/10000 cm^2 * 1000000 uW/W = uW/cm^2

Work that out and you find that all you have to do is simply multiply W/m^2 by 100 to get micro Watts per square centimeter. I don't think I slipped a zero or decimal anywhere.

Dom's right this may be accurate enough for a ball park estimate but who knows how good that sensor is.

Mark

[Shaun]

so .1-10 is really 10-1000 by the normal system. That seems accurate enough to me. I just need a base estimate to make sure I don't have the uber uv light too close.

[Tesa]

omg.......my eyeballs are spinning round in my head making me feel like a slot machine......

[prism_wolf]

Mark...you are a true geek... And I mean that in the BEST possible meaning of the name!

You are awesome...and all of that is a bit overwhelming for me...lol. From now on...I will ask you to fill in the number gaps...lol.

Shaun...what you're looking at may work to a point depending upon how accurate the UVB sensor really is and how many zeros you accurately ad on... ;D. The meter most of us use that have them have been developed specifically for herp care. This is a gauranteed reading as long as the instrument has not been dropped or the batteries are still good.

Occasionally the meter may need to be recalibrated...especially if there has been an impact, but it is the best in many peoples opinion (including those who are testing UVB emitting lights for the lighting industry)...and going cheap with herp care just ain't kosher. Sometimes you just need to put up the $$ for what you know works best. Sufficient isn't good enough IMHO...

[Shaun]

Are there any UV meters in the 100$ range that you've seen?

[prism_wolf]

There is the Solarmeter 6.2 which is what I have, and the testers I had mentioned previously, use. It is normally $179.00. I have a friend who has worked out a discount price with the supplier for $135.00. This includes S&H.

She is working on one last order now I believe. I think Dom is trying to order one from her too from the UVB_Meter list.

Is this in your price range?

It's an awesome tool! I highly recommend it.

[Tesa]

I added my name to the ordering list this morning. I hope I'm as impressed with it as everyone else, cause my hubby is gonna kill me!

[Shaun]

I'm trying to get my brother to split the cost 50/50 so it would be in my range. Do you know when the deadline is to add my name to that list?

[prism_wolf]

I don't know when the deadline is, but I can find out at a much more reasonable time than the crazy 2:30 a.m. I am up at right now. The beasties will have me up about 8:00...

[prism_wolf]

The order will be going out in two weeks or less. Diane is the one who is taking the orders. I will give you her e-mail in a private message. Tell her Veronica gave it to you and you would like to place an order. She will require the money up front.

[Shaun]

I sent her an email two days ago. *waits impatiently*

[dominick]

I got mine from Darry. What fun!