UV Meters

Solarmeter offers NIST-Traceable Factory Calibration service for your instrument. We recommend this service for all meters over 12 months old. The calibration procedure is easy: 1) Order calibration here by adding the quantity desired to the cart. 2) After checking out, please print out the receipt along with your full contact information, and ship that paperwork along with your well-packed Solarmeter back to us: Solarmeter Calibrations 100 East Glenside Ave. Glenside, PA USA 19038 3) If shipping internationally, please make sure to ship door to door. 4) We will calibrate and notify you when finished to arrange shipment back to you.

Photodiode packaged in hermetically sealed UV glass window cap.

Photodiode packaged in hermetically sealed UV glass window cap.

To operate your Solarmeter, aim the sensor window located on the top panel of the meter directly at a UV source. Press and hold the push-button switch on the face of the meter. For best results take note of the distance the reading was taken from the UV source in order to ensure repeatable results.

To operate your Solarmeter, aim the sensor window located on the top panel of the meter directly at a UV source. Press and hold the push-button switch on the face of the meter. For best results take note of the distance the reading was taken from the UV source in order to ensure repeatable results.

Solarmeter’s new Model 6.5R Reptile UV Index Meter updates our legendary original Model 6.5 UV Index Meter with attractive, informative graphics specifically designed for reptile husbandry. Many scientists and breeders worldwide rely on the original Model 6.5 UV Index Meter, so the new Model 6.5R is unchanged operationally or in terms of specifications from the original. We just made this meter easier for reptile owners to use by updating the graphics with the latest scientific research about proper UV dosages for reptiles.

The instrumentation used to measure UV index for the U.S. E.P.A./NWS program is directed toward the sky in a global normal (perpendicular to level ground) inclination. Therefore the Solarmeter® Model 6.5 is designed to operate in the same fashion. Solar irradiance measured this way includes direct (reduced by cosine law depending on solar zenith angle) plus diffuse (diffused by the atmosphere).

Outdoors, take the meter reading pointing straight up for global normal (direct plus diffuse) irradiance. Indoors, take the meter reading at “body position” distance from the UVR lamp array. You will note outdoors that clear-sky solar zenith angle (SZA) has the largest effect on meter reading being highest during summer noon times. Sky clarity (deep blue) and altitude will also influence readings higher. Indoors, the percent UVB and wattage of UVR lamps have the largest effect on readings. They are typically 3-5 times higher than solar noon values.

To operate your Solarmeter, aim the sensor window located on the top panel of the meter directly at a UV source. Press and hold the push-button switch on the face of the meter. For best results take note of the distance the reading was taken from the UV source in order to ensure repeatable results.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) Photodiode. Interference filter blocks most UVA from response as shown on the Spectral Sensitivity Graph.

Silicon Carbide (SiC) Photodiode packaged in hermetically sealed UV glass window cap. Interference filter coating blocks most UVA from response as shown on the Spectral Sensitivity Graph.

The semiconductor UV sensor consists of a photodiode chip and a UV filter. The sensor is completely insensitive to visible light longer than 400 nm and infrared radiation, since its spectral response covers only the UV region from 260 to 400 nm. Applications of the sensor include solar UV detection, as the spectral response is well matched to the solar UV spectrum.

The semiconductor UV sensor consists of a GaAsP photodiode chip and a UV filter which is completely insensitive to visible light longer than 400 nm and infrared radiation, since its spectral response covers only the UV region from 260 to 400 nm. Applications include solar UV detection (as the spectral response is well matched to the solar UV spectrum) and tanning lamps peaking near 365 nm (“new era” fluorescent and “high pressure” HID.)

The sensor consists of a GaAsP photodiode and a UV filter. It is completely insensitive to visible light longer than 400nm and infrared radiation, because its spectral response only covers the UVA region from 320-400nm.

The sensor consists of a GaAsP photodiode and a UV filter. It is completely insensitive to visible light longer than 400nm and infrared radiation, because its spectral response only covers the UVA region from 320-400nm.