nice lux meter

[Alexis]

I ran across this relatively inexpensive lux meter that doesn't require any fancy equipment, just a 9V battery. It is $99, and can go from 0lux to 50,000 lux!

You have to search for item #505715 at www.petwhse.com

I'll try to post the url, but it looks like it is session dependent.
http://www.petwarehouse.com/webstore/webstore. nsf/fbd771ea8d7ff4fa852567da006d3cd2/cb43a961e5a16975872567210070c50f?OpenDocument

 

[Chas]

Check this out, is it same one or close??


lux meter

Price is a lot less than one above. Hope this helps.

Chas

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chas:
Check this out, is it same one or close??


lux meter

Price is a lot less than one above. Hope this helps.

Chas<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

welcome aboard Chas, and thanx for that link.
I ordered one, and if it checks out OK, 'ya might get some stars

 

[Brock]

videocal, let us know what you think. I am seriously thinking of getting one, but I will wait to hear from you.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chas:
Check this out, is it same one or close??

lux meter
Price is a lot less than one above. Hope this helps.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This isn't exactly a red flag, but it may be a yellow one:

"Light Sensitivity: Max. at wave length 500-640nm"

This means the meter *could* read white LEDs a bit on the low side. Note I said "could".
Somebody will have to measure a couple of lights that some of us reviewers (with meters) also have, and we can then compare notes.

 

[vcal]

Craig,
I noticed that before ordering, but the other brand digital meter I had, specified the same thing, and posed no problem at all when measuring ANY color LED -we'll see..
My purpose is only for comparing Relative outputs of my many different lights and is not intended for extremely scientific applications (however I WILL be comparing its relative readings with my analog instruments).

 

[Alexis]

chas,

nice find on that. it looks the same. big difference in price too!

i had bought some stuff from pet whse, a pump, in the past and they had the best price back then

 

[vcal]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Chas:
Check this out, is it same one or close??


lux meter

Price is a lot less than one above. Hope this helps.

Chas<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The $34. digital lux meter from
Circuit Specialists came today and it is indeed very sensitive to small changes in light levels, allowing me to measure differences in outputs of very small LOW power green, red, yellow, blue, etc color LEDs, Indiglo clock dials, glow agents all the way up to very high xenon outputs etc.
-Not to worry about "max" sensitivity peak range...(even measures UV)
Although it only indicates lux levels, I find it extremely useful in relative output evaluations, and making incremental improvements on various lights.
It comes with a vinyl zipper case, and 4 pages of useful charts, conversions, specs. etc.
Imho-this is a very nice little instrument for comparing any light sources (except for IR)-a terrific buy when compared with anything else like this I've seen. (it's every bit as good as the one I paid 100 bucks for).
p.s.-thanx again to Chas for calling attention to this XLNT buy.

 

[Brock]

Thanks videocal, looks I am going to have to get one. For the price it looks like this would be a great one for anyone who wants to compare differnt lights, and it would be great if we all used the same model. Of course they might not match each other exactly, but it should be better then my $15 E-Bay meter

 

[Chas]

Brock at the link I provide above for the lux meter
- see what else is now available for free - http://www.web-tronics.com/freedmmoffer.html - if you find something else to add to the $34.95 - so the order goes to over $50.00. Don't know if you need one of the free items, but thought I'd let you and everyone know.

Best Regards,

 

[Brock]

I just got the meter and I like it a lot. Now I will have to retake measurements on all my lights. I can also take them on my incansescant lights. I like that it is easier to read and I don't ahve to guess +/- about 1 on the lower scale.

 

[Silviron]

Ok! I got mine in. (Anyone else get it with a dead battery??)

Anyway, I'm wondering if there is a "standard" distance (or distances) between the sensor and the light from which we should be measuring. I see that "The Punhment Zone" does it from 16.5 to 17 inches.

If there hasn't already been some kind of agreement on this here, maybe we should decide on a "Candlepower Forums" 'standard' lux meter distance measuring specification ... or something like that.

 

[Gransee]

Circuit Specs is just a couple of miles from here. I will go a pick up one of these and test it out. Thanks for the link!

Peter

 

[The_LED_Museum]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Silviron:
[QB]
Anyway, I'm wondering if there is a "standard" distance (or distances) between the sensor and the light from which we should be measuring. I see that "The Punhment Zone" does it from 16.5 to 17 inches.
QB]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

For a light meter that measures in foot-candles or mcd, do it from exactly 12" away.
For one that reads in lux, do it from 1 meter (approximately 39") away.

The 16.5" to 17.0" figure you wre referring to was the distance the light source was from the paper target, not to the sensor.
Having the light a bit farther away for target pictures gives a better beam image.

 

[vcal]

I'm sure hoping that one of the more creative type readers of this thread can suggest a simple, sturdy, easy to construct JIG so that consistent measurements can be taken on our different lights..--how about it, people...??

Btw-it's really interesting to observe battery behavior (how rapidly the lux numbers decline) when various lights are held against the sensor under full load. -some relatively fast and some slooww.

(when various ampere draws are already known, this can tell you what kind of shape your batteries are REALLY in).

I have also noticed on some regulated (resistored) lights -Guardian mini-clip, Lazerstik, et.al. a gradual, modest increase in their actual output....

The most dramatic increase was on the Ev. ArcWhite fluor.combo. which SHOT up in the readings from the first 5 seconds of operation, and peaked at 1 min.45sec.
I think a LOT can be learned from this instrument.
Worth $35.00?? -you bet!!

 

[Chris M.]

The most dramatic increase was on the Ev. ArcWhite fluor.combo. which SHOT up in the readings from the first 5 seconds of operation, and peaked at 1 min.45sec.


That would be to do with the cold cathode flourescent tube, not the batteries. The triphosphor coating on CCFTs needs to warm up first in order to hit its peak efficiency. Those with compact flourescent lamps in their homes will know this. So your Arc White`s tube will start to warm up when you turn it on, and the phosphor will glow brighter and brighter as the temperature rises, the time it takes is usually related to ambient temperature. If it was in a really cold place it would take longer- and probably be dimmer when it was first turned on too.

Still got to get me one of them there Arc Whites....anyone know a good overseas-friendly dealer?

 

[vcal]

-Chris,
I had already realized the lux number rise on the ArcWhite was all about the ccft.-NOT the batteries...