How to select a suitable UV Energy Meter?

I. Parameters of four UV energy meters

II. How do we use UV energy meter?

Ultraviolet energy meter is an instrument used to detect the UV energy of ultraviolet light source in equipment such as curing machine and exposure machine, commonly used in UV adhesive curing, PCB exposure, 3D printing and other industries.

When putting products into the curing machine for curing, the operator usually does not know how long it needs to be cured, nor how high the uv irradiation intensity needs to be to achieve the desired curing effect. If the irradiation time is too long, it may cause inefficiency and waste of resources. On the other hand, insufficient irradiation time or insufficient irradiation intensity may cause the product to fail to meet the standard.

In addition, the ultraviolet light source itself will be attenuated. If it is not attenuated, it can achieve a satisfying curing effect every time it is operated according to the set conveyor speed and duration. Once the light source is attenuated, the radiation intensity will decrease. Therefore, a professional UV energy meter is needed to detect the UV radiation intensity and the accumulated UV energy value within a certain period of time.

III. Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you have traceable reports or calibration certificates?

• Linshang UV energy meter comes with a factory calibration report to ensure the accuracy of the data.

• LS120 and LS136 UV energy meters suitable for detecting high-pressure mercury lamps are in compliance with Chinese national standards and can pass the inspection of authoritative measurement agency (which has been approved by CNAS and ilac-MRA). The cost of the calibration certificate is charged separately

• There is no national standard for UV energy meters suitable for detecting LED light sources. UV energy meter suppliers use their own standards to calibrate UV energy meters. 

2. Why are the UV energy meter be divided as applicatble to mercury lamps and UV LED? 

• The spectrum of the mercury lamp and the LED light source are different. We need to choose the instrument with the spectral response range that matches the spectrum of the light source. Otherwise the measured data is not accurate.

• Most of the UV energy meters on the market are designed for high pressure mercury lamps. They are only suitable for measuring the energy and intensity values at 365nm wavelength. The LED light source has various bands such as 365 nm, 385 nm, 395 nm,  405 nm, etc. For LED light sources, LED-specific UV energy meters are required.

3. The UV energy meter that test UV LED light sources are all calibrated at 395nm. Is the data for testing 365nm LED light sources accurate?

• The spectral response curve of the UV energy meter is very stable between 365nm and 405nm. No matter what band the LED is, the accuracy is the same within this range. 

• The UV energy meter for LED light sources does not have uniform standards, when measuring LED light sources,  UV energy meters of different brands may get different data. Actually we should pay more attention to the stability and consistency of the test data.

• As a professional UV energy meter supplier, Linshang Technology has established strict factory inspection specifications to ensure that the data can meet the manufacturer's standard when detecting the 365-405nm LED light source.

4. What is the difference between the data of Linshang LS120 and LS128 UV energy meters and EIT? 

• According to our experience, when comparing the UVICURE Plus II with LS120 UV energy meter to test the same high pressure mercury lamp under the same test condition,  test data of LS120 is about 10%-40% lower. But the data of LS120 UV energy meter conforms the relevant regulations and standards in China, and can pass the inspection of authoritative measurement agency (which has been approved by CNAS and ilac-MRA)

• By now there is no relevant standard in the UV LED industry. The UV energy meter for LED are calibrated by factory standards and the data between different brands is indeed different. 

5. UV Energy Meter Calibration

Many customers often ask "Can Linshang UV energy meter pass the inspection and how often does the instrument need to be calibrated?" The UV energy meter is usually recommended to be calibrated once a year. UV energy meter for mercury lamp currently has a unified Chinese standard.  Linshang ultraviolet energy meter for mercury lamps can pass the test of Chinese Institute of Metrology. The ultraviolet energy meter with a spectral response range of 315-400nm is calibrated using high-pressure mercury lamp with a peak wavelength of 365nm. The technical basis for calibration is "JJG 879-2015 Verification Regulation of Ultraviolet Radiometer".

However, there is no national or international standard for LED ultraviolet energy meters. Therefore, if the metrology institute uses other light source standards for verification at the time of inspection, there will be a large data deviation.