Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to find an affordable (used is ok) ultraviolet meter for UVA/UVB wavelengths. I have been wanting to do research on the popular "UVB" and "full spectrum" lighting by some well known brands. I'm sure we would all benefit by this knowledge. Just imagine knowing just how all the bulbs compared to eachother as far as how UVB/UVA they put out at certain distances and how long they really last. This info would be really useful in the herp industry. I want the best for my beardies and I'm sure all of you do to. Please help me start my research. If you know where I can find a good used or new UV meter please let me know.

Thanks!!!
Veronica

Did you try searching on Ebay? I did a quick search and they did have two ultraviolet meters...only one of them seems to be able to detact both UVA and UVB light...the other I don't know but you can email the seller for more specific details. The first meter is currently priced at $19:95 US, the others at $1.

Thanks for the idea to look on Ebay. I researched the UVP Blak-Ray UV meter for $19.95 that you referred to and it is a long wave UV meter. Long wave refers to UVA only. Short wave is UVC and medium wave is UVB. I need a meter that measures both UVA and most importantly - UVB.

Thanks for your help! I'm going to keep looking and hopefully I'll find something soon.

Veronica

I think there are studies out there for the information you are looking for, i dont have the link but i think CheriS has it, or someone around here does =)

here ya go
UVB output

I found that web site to be really helpful. I would still like to do a study of my own - some day... And I think it would be really helpful to know things like how the UVB diminishes over time with the popular bulbs like the Reptisun 5.0, Powersun, and Active UV. The manufactures say that the mercury vapor bulbs can last for up to two years! But how long does the UVB actually last. At the end of a year the UVB might be less than half of what is was when it was brand new. At that point I'd change the bulb. There are so many questions I want answered. Thanks for all your help. This website certainly points me in the right direction.

Veronica
Beautiful Dragons

Ahh I didn't know what wavelength uvb fell under. I just saw A and B on the meter face itself and assume it meant UVA and UVB. Thanks for clarifying that for me

Try http://www.safesun.com

The Safe Sun Classic would probably work fine. They are fair priced and use the Erythemal Response Spectrum, which would suffice for the testing of UV from bulb output.
-----
Galen Clark
www.captivescience.com

i believe the melissa kaplan website has some info on uva/uvb output, including distance etc. it might be a few years old, but it would be great if you tested some of the new bulbs out there. i've included the link below:

-ming
some uva/uvb data