Bronze Star

Okay, so for the novice professional who will need to invest in a meter... which do you recommend I start off with?Laurie

Don Smith

Sunspot / Bronze Star:My personal opinion is that the UVI (Ultraviolet Index)(Solartech Model # 6.5) and the MED/hour (Solartech Model # 7.0) are the best two hand-held radiometers for use in the indoor tanning salon. Both have the same detector but are calibrated differently.The UVI meter is calibrated to read UVI units and is an excellent tool to use in order to relate sunlight to a tanning bed.The MED/hour meter is the best to use for measuring the output of a sunbed. Take the reading (5 minutes into the first session of the day and 25 cm above the bench) and divide the result by 60 to get MED/minute. You can then divid 4.0 MED (the regulatory maximum dose) by the MED/minute and you will get the time it takes for your sunbed to reach 4.0 MED. Divide 0.75 MED by the MED/minute and you will get the IST (initial session time).Call me (toll free in the USA & Canada) at (888) 994-3828 if you have questions.Hope this helps.Don

Chipp

All this talk about output and vua/uvb content and life hours?Why is it that in one 10 min session in a tanning booth makes me darker brownthen 3-4 hours on the beach in Miami?

Bronze Star

Don,Thank you so much... I really appreciate the information not only on the meter, but also what they do and why that is useful. I have learned so much in the past couple of weeks.Thanks!!Laurie

Don Smith

Chipp:You have touched on the primary difference between tanning indoors and outdoors.In your booth (or sunbed), you control all of the variables and so your clients get (approximately) the same dose of UVR each time they tan.To use your analogy, it makes a difference whether you spend 3 hours from 6:00 am to 9:00 am or Noon to 3:00 pm in the sun "on the beach in Miami". You won't tan much early in the morning and you might be overexposed (sunburn) if you tan at noon.Also, a comment about the relative merits of sunbeds and booths. Booths provide the most even tan because the client can position themself in the middle of the irradiance from the lamps and there are no pressure anoxia problems. However, when you have had a long, hard day, the idea of standing up for 10 or 12 minutes isn't too appealing.Different strokes for different folks!Don

Chippp

Don, the idea of standing up for 10 or 12 minutes isn't too appealing.when your are intersted in hygiene quality and comfort booths are the best.We are the oldest tanning salon in our twin cities. Oldest by far fo we must have the most comfortable machines. We have a massive client retention base, as well as rapid growing new clients. 99% of our phone calls are "are you the salon with booths?"18 years is longer then you or anyone else on here has been in the tanning business.I quess that answers it.

solid

I don't think 18 years is the longest that anybody's been in the business here. I'm sure there are some members that have been doing this longer than that. Plus experience doesn't mean a thing if you've been doing it wrong the whole time.

SunspotTanningSalon

So, if I get the 6.5, I can tell what my lamps are doing, but I need the 7.0 to help decide how long a person can tan in any given bed, depending on his/her skin type, right? If I had to choose only one of these 2 meters, which one does the best job at the other one's specialty? That is, I need to get both, but can only afford one, right now. Thank you.

Don Smith

Sunspot:Go with the Model 7.0.CAll me (toll free in the USA & Canada) at (888) 994-3828 or e-mail me (naatso@aol.com) your fax number and I'll send you the formula to convert MED/hour (the readout of the 7.0) to UVI (Ultraviolet Index) units.Don

Don Smith

Chipp:The question is, have you had 18 years experience or 1 years experience 18 times?We have a 160 watt (reflector) booth in each of our salons and we do 20 - 30 upgrades a day in each one. However, stand up booths are not for everybody. That is why we also have 160 watt (reflector) lay down sunbeds.As mentioned previously, different strokes for different folks.I guess that answers it!Don