Solarmeter 6.2 Readings

[Thompson]

I just need to clear this up even though it was already sort of explained to me how to convert a solarmeter 6.2 reading to the 6.5 readings since my 6.2 measures in uW/cm^2. @nightanole mentioned that I should multiply whatever my 6.2 is reading by 40 and that if my 6.2 is reading 1 then 40 uW/cm^2 would translate to 1.0 on the UV index on a 6.5..... I am confused to say the least. I'll be buying a 6.5 but its frustrating because the 6.5 is another couple hundred dollars... but in the mean time I need to figure out my lighting situation and if the readings I'm getting are safe and healthy for my chameleons. If anyone could help understand what is good and what is bad on these readings that I'm getting. The first couple of pics are from a 5.0 bulb directly on top of the cage.

 

[Thompson]

I just need to clear this up even though it was already sort of explained to me how to convert a solarmeter 6.2 reading to the 6.5 readings since my 6.2 measures in uW/cm^2. @nightanole mentioned that I should multiply whatever my 6.2 is reading by 40 and that if my 6.2 is reading 1 then 40 uW/cm^2 would translate to 1.0 on the UV index on a 6.5..... I am confused to say the least. I'll be buying a 6.5 but its frustrating because the 6.5 is another couple hundred dollars... but in the mean time I need to figure out my lighting situation and if the readings I'm getting are safe and healthy for my chameleons. If anyone could help understand what is good and what is bad on these readings that I'm getting. The first couple of pics are from a 5.0 bulb directly on top of the cage.

These are from my 5.0 bulb using the 6.2 at various locations in the cage

 

[Thompson]

Here is the readings I got from my 10.0 bulb directly on top of the cage

 

[jannb]

That’s the meter we have. We use Reptisun 5.0 long bulbs. New ones register 30+. Most that I have used this winter are 15 to 20ish. When I have babies I use an older bulb that puts out 8 to 10 since it can bother the babies eyes. One of my guys died about 4 years ago with melanoma skin cancer and my vets said it was most likely caused by the UV lights. Since then I go easy on the UV bulbs and in the summer when they go outside allot, I don’t use them at all.

Also we take the reading from the branch they sit on down under the light.

 

[Thompson]

That’s the meter we have. We use Reptisun 5.0 long bulbs. New ones register 30+. Most that I have used this winter are 15 to 20ish. When I have babies I use an older build that puts out 8 to 10 since it can bother the babies eyes. One of my guys died about 4 years ago with melanoma skin cancer and my vets said it was most likely caused by the UV lights. Since then I go easy on the UV bulbs and in the summer when they go outside allot, I don’t use them at all.

Also we take the reading from the branch they sit on down under the light.

Unfortunately rn its too cold for me to get them some natural light frequently so I have to rely on the bulbs :/ I'm not understanding what is the optimal reading, using a solarmeter 6.2, that I should aim for that'll translate to a 3.0-7.0 on the UV index to make sure I'm not blasting my Chams with too much or too little UVB. Are you saying that when you use your 6.2 you get readings ranging in the 15s to 20s and this has been good? Enough to artificially compensate for the lack of natural sunlight ? I'm getting readings ranging from 35-60 on the basking branches of all my Chams.

 

[nightanole]

I just need to clear this up even though it was already sort of explained to me how to convert a solarmeter 6.2 reading to the 6.5 readings since my 6.2 measures in uW/cm^2. @nightanole mentioned that I should multiply whatever my 6.2 is reading by 40 and that if my 6.2 is reading 1 then 40 uW/cm^2 would translate to 1.0 on the UV index on a 6.5..... I am confused to say the least. I'll be buying a 6.5 but its frustrating because the 6.5 is another couple hundred dollars... but in the mean time I need to figure out my lighting situation and if the readings I'm getting are safe and healthy for my chameleons. If anyone could help understand what is good and what is bad on these readings that I'm getting. The first couple of pics are from a 5.0 bulb directly on top of the cage.

They should be within 20 bucks of each other. They both retail for the same amount. Both should be $250, or $200 on sale.

 

[jannb]

Unfortunately rn its too cold for me to get them some natural light frequently so I have to rely on the bulbs :/ I'm not understanding what is the optimal reading, using a solarmeter 6.2, that I should aim for that'll translate to a 3.0-7.0 on the UV index to make sure I'm not blasting my Chams with too much or too little UVB. Are you saying that when you use your 6.2 you get readings ranging in the 15s to 20s and this has been good? Enough to artificially compensate for the lack of natural sunlight ? I'm getting readings ranging from 35-60 on the basking branches of all my Chams.

Are your bulbs new? They put out more when new. I normally burn my new bulbs for a few weeks before putting them over a chameleon. I shoot for a reading around 15 to 20. I order new bulbs and when the start dropping below 15. Since we moved to SC we have winter but we do have hot summers. Do be careful not to over expose.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I'll be buying a 6.5 but its frustrating because the 6.5 is another couple hundred dollars...

If you're good with electronics projects (e.g. arduinos): diy uv meter

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

Since we moved to SC we have winter but we do have hot summers. Do be careful not to over expose.

Not in SC, but where we live, we don't have seasons—we have weather.

 

[TayloredExotics]

Per the ZooMed website, tropical reptiles like chameleons should receive 13-30 uw/cm² (that's the unit of measure the solarmeter 6.2 is given in). https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIARAC&usg=AOvVaw2VmqkCF6-TCT4xB_XQL4dz

There's some thought that lower than 13 uW/cm² may not be enough UV for adaquate vitamin D metabolic, so I'd shoot for that at a bare minimum for any juvenile/adult. Babies can probably do with a bit less; I've seen them hide from light when I get readings from 15-20, so I try to keep them around 10-15.

 

[jannb]

Per the ZooMed website, tropical reptiles like chameleons should receive 13-30 uw/cm² (that's the unit of measure the solarmeter 6.2 is given in). https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIARAC&usg=AOvVaw2VmqkCF6-TCT4xB_XQL4dz

There's some thought that lower than 13 uW/cm² may not be enough UV for adaquate vitamin D metabolic, so I'd shoot for that at a bare minimum for any juvenile/adult. Babies can probably do with a bit less; I've seen them hide from light when I get readings from 15-20, so I try to keep them around 10-15.

I’ve had very healthy babies go to their new home where the new keepers had new UVB lights and the baby stared closing his eyes. I had them turn the UVB off and the eyes opened so I had them raise the lights up off the top of the enclosure.

 

[jannb]

Not in SC, but where we live, we don't have seasons—we have weather.

We just move to SC from the FL Keys were the weather was warm year round. We called Florida our home for 22 years until the laws changed on reptile keeping and encouraging residents to kill the iguanas.

 

[summerseeking]

I just need to clear this up even though it was already sort of explained to me how to convert a solarmeter 6.2 reading to the 6.5 readings since my 6.2 measures in uW/cm^2. @nightanole mentioned that I should multiply whatever my 6.2 is reading by 40 and that if my 6.2 is reading 1 then 40 uW/cm^2 would translate to 1.0 on the UV index on a 6.5..... I am confused to say the least. I'll be buying a 6.5 but its frustrating because the 6.5 is another couple hundred dollars... but in the mean time I need to figure out my lighting situation and if the readings I'm getting are safe and healthy for my chameleons. If anyone could help understand what is good and what is bad on these readings that I'm getting. The first couple of pics are from a 5.0 bulb directly on top of the cage.

I got a 6.2 as well. I found some conversation info on an older thread from 2014.

To convert UVB to UVI, multiply the index number you want, by the numbers provided below for each bulb type

e.g. if you want a UV Index of 2 under a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 tube, multiply 31.4 by 2.
So UVI 2 would read about 63 on the 6.2 meter

For a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or an Arcadia D3 6%UVB tube: 31.4

1.1 x 31.4 = 34.54
3 x 31.4 = 94.2
(These are my calculations for UVI range between 1.1 - 3 which is recommended for panther Chams)

For a ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 or an Arcadia D3+ 12%UVB tube: 32.7

2.9x32.7=94.83
7.4x32.7=241.98
(Also my calculations for my beardie)

For a 100watt ZooMed Powersun : 12.2

For a 125watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 19.4

For a 160watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 16.7

For an ExoTerra SunRay Metal Halide lamp: 36.6

I’m not sure where they got those numbers for each bulb from tho. I haven’t gotten that far in my digging.

 

[Klyde O'Scope]

I got a 6.2 as well. I found some conversation info on an older thread from 2014.

To convert UVB to UVI, multiply the index number you want, by the numbers provided below for each bulb type

e.g. if you want a UV Index of 2 under a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 tube, multiply 31.4 by 2.
So UVI 2 would read about 63 on the 6.2 meter

For a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or an Arcadia D3 6%UVB tube: 31.4

1.1 x 31.4 = 34.54
3 x 31.4 = 94.2
(These are my calculations for UVI range between 1.1 - 3 which is recommended for panther Chams)

For a ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 or an Arcadia D3+ 12%UVB tube: 32.7

2.9x32.7=94.83
7.4x32.7=241.98
(Also my calculations for my beardie)

For a 100watt ZooMed Powersun : 12.2

For a 125watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 19.4

For a 160watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 16.7

For an ExoTerra SunRay Metal Halide lamp: 36.6

I’m not sure where they got those numbers for each bulb from tho. I haven’t gotten that far in my digging.

Did the info come from http://www.uvguide.co.uk/usinguvmeter.htm?
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm is one of my goto sites for any & all things UVB & reptiles.

 

[summerseeking]

Did the info come from http://www.uvguide.co.uk/usinguvmeter.htm?
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/index.htm is one of my goto sites for any & all things UVB & reptiles.

That site was mentioned but it’s unclear if the numbers they are using to calculate was derived from here. I read through it and didn’t see mention of them.

 

[Thompson]

I got a 6.2 as well. I found some conversation info on an older thread from 2014.

To convert UVB to UVI, multiply the index number you want, by the numbers provided below for each bulb type

e.g. if you want a UV Index of 2 under a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 tube, multiply 31.4 by 2.
So UVI 2 would read about 63 on the 6.2 meter

For a ZooMed Reptisun 5.0 or an Arcadia D3 6%UVB tube: 31.4

1.1 x 31.4 = 34.54
3 x 31.4 = 94.2
(These are my calculations for UVI range between 1.1 - 3 which is recommended for panther Chams)

For a ZooMed Reptisun 10.0 or an Arcadia D3+ 12%UVB tube: 32.7

2.9x32.7=94.83
7.4x32.7=241.98
(Also my calculations for my beardie)

For a 100watt ZooMed Powersun : 12.2

For a 125watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 19.4

For a 160watt ExoTerra Solar Glo: 16.7

For an ExoTerra SunRay Metal Halide lamp: 36.6

I’m not sure where they got those numbers for each bulb from tho. I haven’t gotten that far in my digging.

Thank you so much for this! I had figured that around 85-100 would be what I should aim for.

 

[nightanole]

I use 40 uW/cm^2, because that is the "middle ground". You can not do a direct conversion(one measures deep uvb and is tricked by uvc, and the other is a simulation of human skin UV light from "just" the sun). However bulbs are 30-50 uW/cm^2 with most testing in the 35-45 zone, when using both UVI and UVB meters at the same time.

I posted alot of stuff years and years ago with a collection of either published or measured uvi/uvb measurements for the same bulb.

 

[Thompson]

I use 40 uW/cm^2, because that is the "middle ground". You can not do a direct conversion(one measures deep uvb and is tricked by uvc, and the other is a simulation of human skin UV light from "just" the sun). However bulbs are 30-50 uW/cm^2 with most testing in the 35-45 zone, when using both UVI and UVB meters at the same time.

I posted alot of stuff years and years ago with a collection of either published or measured uvi/uvb measurements for the same bulb.

Wait so you’re saying that 40 uW/cm^2 at the basking branch would likely be more equivalent to a UV index reading of 3 than 80-100uW/cm^2 ?

also found this online: “The only relevant model for outdoor UVI is Model 6.5. The UVA or UVB meters don’t have an erythema filter (so they can never give a UV Index reading.) Because UV Index is measured using the Erythemal Action Spectrum, there is no conversion table possible to give an accurate reading. So to summarize, if you need to measure UV Index, you need a Model 6.5.” (https://www.solarmeter.com/faqs/)

 

[nightanole]

Wait so you’re saying that 40 uW/cm^2 at the basking branch would likely be more equivalent to a UV index reading of 3 than 80-100uW/cm^2 ?

also found this online: “The only relevant model for outdoor UVI is Model 6.5. The UVA or UVB meters don’t have an erythema filter (so they can never give a UV Index reading.) Because UV Index is measured using the Erythemal Action Spectrum, there is no conversion table possible to give an accurate reading. So to summarize, if you need to measure UV Index, you need a Model 6.5.” (https://www.solarmeter.com/faqs/)

No. 40 uW/cm^2 = 1 UVI

And as i repeated several times, you cant really do a conversion, but you can make a very educated guess