Came across this whilst looking for a cheaper uvb meter. Would this give the correct readings for the chams lights? Or would it need to be a reptile specific one?
KKmoon Precision Solar Power Meter Light Intensity Measurement Radiation Tester SM206
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010SNWOSO/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_IJd9vbV7WC9YB
Here's the catch when using off brand UV measuring instrument / meter.
("Off brand" meaning something OTHER than a Solarmeter 6.2 or 6.5)
All readings and references in the reptile world are pretty much based on the Solarmeter readings since they are the oldest and most reliable brand.
And all other meters will give you different readings because they are reading different bandwidths of UV light, using different sensors and internal electronics. Between them, they are not standardized.
And there is not just one bandwidth/ wavelength that is being measured by a meter.
So -
using any off brand meter, how will you know what the readings should be??
You really don't.
Nope...
you don't unless you have a Solarmeter too to take the same reading and do conversions - then you may be able to figure out the UV numbers.
That is the problem with using just any meter-
- you have to really know what "swath" of UV it is sampling .. and then correlate that to readings off a Solarmeter that is used as the standard to measure by.
Everyone I know personally that has tried some other UV measuring meter or device ALWAYS ends up getting a Solarmeter.
But you can always be adventurous and try out that meter and report back to us.
Cheers.
Todd
PS.
I am actually testing a less expensive UV meter (retail 150.00) from China right now at LYR...
But I still can not get over the fact that it reads so different than a solar meter 6.2.
If I sold it,
I fear it would cause havoc and confusion in the free world because people would not know how to correlate the readings with what their friends are getting with their Solarmeters.
PSS:
Big HINT:
some companies in the US can ship something small like a UV meter to Europe ... and I think meters are quite a bit less expensive in the US.
Its a Paypal world.
Cheers.
