Digital UV Meter....HELP please! - tanTALK

FEwing007 · 09-28-2005, 04:44 PM

I have a UV Meter, but not sure what I should be looking for when I take a reading.

SSTan · 09-28-2005, 10:08 PM

UV meters are used for several things. The main reasons are to check lamp life or wear, the other is to see how strong the lamps are.
We measure new lamps at the time we install them, at about 50 hours and through their life. At about 50 hours they should have stabalized and that is a reference point for the lamp normal output. We replace lamps when they have lost about 20% of the 50 hour reading.
Different lamps have rather different readings. All 5% lamps are not equal. Most lamp distributors do not tell us the actual output in miliwatts per square cenitmeter mW/cm2. Try this link to New Technology for the spec sheets on similar lamps to yours:
http://www.new-technology.de/main/index.php?cms_menu_id=242&language=en
Note: This is a German company they use commas , instead of periods . in their numbers; 3,5 is actually 3.5 mW/cm2
Hope this helps

_________________

[ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:09 ]

[ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:10 ][ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:13 ]

depomas2 · 09-29-2005, 11:01 AM

is there a rule of thumb? like how much output a typical 100 watt or 160 watt drops below and they should be replaced?

solarmeter · 10-02-2005, 09:01 AM

No rule of thumb because there are too many different kinds of lamps plus reflector and non-reflector. And even the same kind of lamps will read different in different make beds/booths due to supply voltage and illumination geometry. That's why you have to check them when they are new and track them down 30% (or 20% from ~50 hours).

On the standard Solarmeter Model 5.0 the 100W lamps will generally emit 15-35 mW/cm² when new, and 160W emit ~30-70. "New Era" lamps like 9K90, etc will read higher because they have more UVA.

You can check individual lamps directly against acrylic and average the readings... or a better way is to measure in center of bed on acrylic pointing up (or belly button position 25cm above bench is more accurate).

The FAQ page at http://www.solarmeter.com addresses these questions in more detail fyi.

Sarge · 10-03-2005, 08:19 AM

Perfect answer.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Lamp suggestions needed for Sunvision 24S Beds and ? about Meter Readings	customdesigns	Tanning Equipment	1	04-07-2005 04:57 PM
Which UV meter	tanme56	Tanning Equipment	0	04-20-2004 07:41 AM
Which UV meter? and why?	tanme56	Tanning Salon Management	1	04-13-2004 10:48 AM
Using Hand-Held UVR Meters	Anonymous	Tanning Equipment	21	04-20-2001 09:43 AM

09-28-2005, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
FEwing007 Join Date: Nov 30 2004 Location: San Diego Posts: 67 Rep Power: 0	I have a UV Meter, but not sure what I should be looking for when I take a reading.

09-28-2005, 10:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
SSTan Join Date: Jun 28 2003 Posts: 88 Rep Power: 0	UV meters are used for several things. The main reasons are to check lamp life or wear, the other is to see how strong the lamps are. We measure new lamps at the time we install them, at about 50 hours and through their life. At about 50 hours they should have stabalized and that is a reference point for the lamp normal output. We replace lamps when they have lost about 20% of the 50 hour reading. Different lamps have rather different readings. All 5% lamps are not equal. Most lamp distributors do not tell us the actual output in miliwatts per square cenitmeter mW/cm2. Try this link to New Technology for the spec sheets on similar lamps to yours: http://www.new-technology.de/main/index.php?cms_menu_id=242&language=en Note: This is a German company they use commas , instead of periods . in their numbers; 3,5 is actually 3.5 mW/cm2 Hope this helps _________________ [ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:09 ] [ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:10 ][ This Message was edited by: SSTan on 2005-09-28 22:13 ]

09-29-2005, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
depomas2 Join Date: Mar 7 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 168 Rep Power: 20	is there a rule of thumb? like how much output a typical 100 watt or 160 watt drops below and they should be replaced?

10-02-2005, 09:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
solarmeter Join Date: Nov 13 2001 Location: MI Posts: 861 Rep Power: 23	No rule of thumb because there are too many different kinds of lamps plus reflector and non-reflector. And even the same kind of lamps will read different in different make beds/booths due to supply voltage and illumination geometry. That's why you have to check them when they are new and track them down 30% (or 20% from ~50 hours). On the standard Solarmeter Model 5.0 the 100W lamps will generally emit 15-35 mW/cm² when new, and 160W emit ~30-70. "New Era" lamps like 9K90, etc will read higher because they have more UVA. You can check individual lamps directly against acrylic and average the readings... or a better way is to measure in center of bed on acrylic pointing up (or belly button position 25cm above bench is more accurate). The FAQ page at http://www.solarmeter.com addresses these questions in more detail fyi.

10-03-2005, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sarge Join Date: Feb 22 2003 Location: Michigan Age: 59 Posts: 1,389 Rep Power: 25	Perfect answer.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)