Product Review: UV Light Meter UVC - IC-850010
Instrument Choice regularly reviews new and popular products, so when searching for the perfect scientific instrument for your application, you can make more informed decisions.
This review assesses the UV Light Meter (Product Code: IC-850010). This review sheds light on the IC-850010’s impressive features, specifications and provides some examples of use.
About UV Radiation
All radiation is a form of energy. Ultraviolet radiation(abbreviated to UV) is just one of the many forms of radiation. UV radiation sits on a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and X-Ray.
The following properties go hand-in-hand and are used to characterise radiation sources on the electromagnetic spectrum. These are; wavelength, frequency and photon energy. See figure 1 (below) for an example of the electromagnetic spectrum, with high energy, high frequency and short wavelength radiation on one side and long wavelength, low frequency and energy wavelengths on the other.
Figure 1 Electromagnetic spectrum with radiation sources characterised by wavelength, frequency and photon energy.
The ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum ranges from 10 to 350nm. While UV does not cause the same amount of tissue damage to humans as X-Rays and Gamma Rays, they are still not completely safe. To understand this we need to break UV down into its three main types, these are:
- UVA – The longest wavelength. These have the least amount of energy among UV rays. These rays are still known to cause damage to the DNA of skin cells.
- UVB – “mid-range” UV wavelength. UVB rays have slightly more energy than UVA rays but less than UVC rays. These are the rays known to cause sunburn and skin cancers.
- UVC – Shortest wavelength of UV light. These have the highest amount of energy and thus have the potential to cause the most damage. UVC rays are most commonly from human-made sources.
Why Measure UVC Radiation?
Due to the shorter wavelength and higher frequency, UVC radiation is at the highest energy portion of the UV radiation spectrum; thus, it is the most damaging. We know that sunlight is one of the main sources of UV radiation; however, it is essential to note that UVC radiation from the sun does not reach the earth’s surface as the ozone layer blocks it in the atmosphere.
Source of UVC Radiation
Most forms of UVC originate from artificial sources such as lamps, welding torches, and lasers. Unprotected UVC exposure in the short term will cause burns to the skin and eye injuries – making it vital to check UVC levels in environments where UV lamps, lasers or other sources of UV light are in use.
About the UV Light Meter UVC (IC-850010)
UV Light Meter UVC (IC-850010) measures the damaging (UVC) portion of the ultraviolet spectrum and displays the results in microwatts (uW) or milliwatt/square centimetre (mW/cm2). For a more comprehensive data collection approach, the IC-850010 also displays minimum, maximum, average, and recorded data simultaneously on the LCD.
Main Features
- Impressive measurement range: High and low measurement range in milliwatts per square centimetre (mW/cm2 ) or microwatts per square centimetre (µW/cm2).
- Data at a glance: Simultaneous display of minimum, maximum, average, and recorded data.
- Zero Calibration: Straightforward reset of zero-point to ensure accuracy in measurements.
- Hold Function: Hold function for easy recording of measurements.
- Data Retention: The IC-850010 stores 20-points of data in its internal memory.
- Backlit LCD: View your UVC measurements under any lighting conditions with ease on the bright, backlit LCD.
- Mounting Options: Includes a tripod mounting socket for easy long term average recording of UVC.
UV Light Meter UVC (IC-850010) Specifications
UV Light Meter UVC (IC-850010) |
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UV Range 1 (Low Illumination) |
1 µW/cm2 to 9999 µW/cm2 |
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UV Range 2 (High Illumination) |
0.01 mW/cm2 to 40.00 mW/cm2 |
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Resolution |
UV Range 1: 1 µW/cm2 |
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Accuracy |
±4% ±1 digit (@23 ±5°C) |
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Wavelength |
220 to 275 nm |
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Calibration Point |
254nm |
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Temperature Range |
0 to 50°C |
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Dimensions |
140 × 51 × 38 mm |
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Weight |
247 g |
Applications
The easy-to-use IC-850010 is suitable for indoor, outdoor and human-made environments, making it ideal for almost any application where UVC light intensity needs to be known. Everyday examples of use include:
- Evaluating UV sterilisation and dermatology lamps in hospitals or medical centres
- UV degradation studies in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, semiconductor, printing, window tinting, manufacturing and other industries
- Checking UV levels in the laboratory as during chromatography, electrophoresis and fume hoods; and
- Check for damaging UVC light in the environment as well as museums.
Conclusion
The UV Light Meter UVC IC-850010 is an essential tool for any applications where UV lamps operate or where UVC light monitoring is needed.
For more information on this or other UV meters, speak with an Instrument Choice Scientist! We’re here to help! Call 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].
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So, if you already have, or are looking to purchase an IC-XC0436 digital weather station, read these step-by-step instructions to see just how straightforward the process is.
