My solarmeter reads 388 huh? - TanToday - Helping Salon Owners, One At A Time, Since 2000!

Tan_Lines · 25th February 2008, 08:01 PM

Ok, I just got this Solarmeter 6.5 is what it says. No instructions on how to use it, so I put it in each bed on the center of the acrylic pointing up to the top and my readings are mostly (different beds) from about 245 to 388 is what the meter is telling me. No decimal point, etc so I'm a little confused. Most of the posts on here are refering to readings with a decimal point, can anyone enlighten me? New stuff to me so I'm trying to figure it out.
thanks

Din · 25th February 2008, 08:08 PM

What is it reading? What does it do?

SUNNYDAYS · 25th February 2008, 08:13 PM

http://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html

Looks like you got a UV Index meter or if you got the 6.4 you got the Vitamin D meter. If you got the Vitamin D Meter you have gotten a spread sheet to enter the number on the meter to give you the IU's of Vitamin D.

Solarmeter will be along soon to help you figure it out.

solarmeter® · 25th February 2008, 09:15 PM

WHERE did you get the 6.5 UVI meter? Not from us (me). I don't recall any recent order from Orange, CA for one. And instructions come in the box (when new).

First of all... they are intended for outdoor use... not tanning salon owners. The 7.0 or 6.4 meter would be the proper choice.

Second of all... if there is no decimal point the 9V battery is toast. Replace it now. The DP fades out before the numbers do as V falls near 6 volts. That usually takes ~3-4 years from new.

Third of all... what is the serial # on back of meter. Then I can figure out who bought it and when.

Forthly... your readings of 245 - 388 are actually 24.5 to 38.8 which is indeed typical of tanning beds. They usually put out 2-4 times a summer sun reading of 10.0 UV Index.

Lastly..... You can convert UVI to FDA MED/hr (156 J/m² per MED) by dividing by 1.73. Then convert MED/hr to Te (time to 4 MEDs) by dividing MED/hr into 240.

Comprehendo?

Tan_Lines · 25th February 2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUNNYDAYS

http://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html

Looks like you got a UV Index meter or if you got the 6.4 you got the Vitamin D meter. If you got the Vitamin D Meter you have gotten a spread sheet to enter the number on the meter to give you the IU's of Vitamin D.

Solarmeter will be along soon to help you figure it out.

Yep, mine looks exactly like the one shown on the above link. Unfortunately mine is at the salon and I'm at home now, so I can't give you the exact model number etc.
I did actually get it from a seller on e-bay and thought it would work for me. I'm just getting ready to change some lamps on a couple of beds and wanted to get readings from the new lamps when I put them in so that's why I wanted to get one. I'll change the battery and see if that makes a difference it how it reads.
thanks for the help

solarmeter® · 26th February 2008, 08:16 AM

If it IS a 6.5 meter then the label is yellow/red/blue. It should have a decimal point. The model # is on back side of meter - square label area. So is the serial number.

If it is a 6.4 vit D meter there is no decimal point.... so battery does not need changing. And the ebay person would owe you the xls software that gets sent to original owner. Without that the readings won't make much sense. The 6.4 meter is gray/black color.

Tan_Lines · 26th February 2008, 09:51 AM

Thanks, I'll check it out today and we'll get to the bottom of this :0) It is diffenetly not gray/black

esun · 26th February 2008, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tan_Lines

I'm just getting ready to change some lamps on a couple of beds and wanted to get readings from the new lamps when I put them in so that's why I wanted to get one.

You wanted the 5.0 meter-- best deal is thru ITBG, next best is ITM

Tan_Lines · 26th February 2008, 09:14 PM

Ok, looking at the meter now, but don't have a battery to try out, but here is the information on the meter:
Model SM 6.5
Serial Number: 00022

So I'll try putting a new battery in it tonight and see if that helps, so will this meter work for what I'm trying to do? That would be the next question I guess.

solarmeter® · 26th February 2008, 11:26 PM

Sort of. See post # 4.

That thing is so old the records are buried in the basement somewhere. Serial # 00022 was from circa 1995. Hope you didn't pay the ebay person much for a 13 year old meter!

There aren't even any other hand held electronic gizmos THAT old that still work anymore.

Tan_Lines · 27th February 2008, 12:26 AM

Ok, with that said, what do you recommed I should invest in? And what is the approx cost of a good meter?

solarmeter® · 27th February 2008, 08:17 AM

Just a regular 5.0 meter is fine for "rookies". It is $159 on www.solarmeter.com or sometimes cheaper at distributors. Click on distributors page and try a few. Read the FAQ page too.

Kathe · 16th March 2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solarmeter®

Sort of. See post # 4.

That thing is so old the records are buried in the basement somewhere. Serial # 00022 was from circa 1995. Hope you didn't pay the ebay person much for a 13 year old meter!

There aren't even any other hand held electronic gizmos THAT old that still work anymore.

LOL - Ours is almost 15 years old, bought it when we opened our first salon and it still works great! They are excellent quality.

Kathe

25th February 2008, 08:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tan_Lines Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 38	My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Ok, I just got this Solarmeter 6.5 is what it says. No instructions on how to use it, so I put it in each bed on the center of the acrylic pointing up to the top and my readings are mostly (different beds) from about 245 to 388 is what the meter is telling me. No decimal point, etc so I'm a little confused. Most of the posts on here are refering to readings with a decimal point, can anyone enlighten me? New stuff to me so I'm trying to figure it out. thanks

25th February 2008, 08:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Din Smartass Canuck Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 8,888	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? What is it reading? What does it do? __________________ www.ChronosMarketing.com ____________________________________________ The problem nowadays is stupidity. Why don't we just take the safety labels off everything and see what happens?

25th February 2008, 08:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
SUNNYDAYS Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 1,442	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? http://www.solarmeter.com/model65.html Looks like you got a UV Index meter or if you got the 6.4 you got the Vitamin D meter. If you got the Vitamin D Meter you have gotten a spread sheet to enter the number on the meter to give you the IU's of Vitamin D. Solarmeter will be along soon to help you figure it out. __________________

25th February 2008, 09:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
solarmeter® UV Geek Squad Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lake St Clair Posts: 3,274	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? WHERE did you get the 6.5 UVI meter? Not from us (me). I don't recall any recent order from Orange, CA for one. And instructions come in the box (when new). First of all... they are intended for outdoor use... not tanning salon owners. The 7.0 or 6.4 meter would be the proper choice. Second of all... if there is no decimal point the 9V battery is toast. Replace it now. The DP fades out before the numbers do as V falls near 6 volts. That usually takes ~3-4 years from new. Third of all... what is the serial # on back of meter. Then I can figure out who bought it and when. Forthly... your readings of 245 - 388 are actually 24.5 to 38.8 which is indeed typical of tanning beds. They usually put out 2-4 times a summer sun reading of 10.0 UV Index. Lastly..... You can convert UVI to FDA MED/hr (156 J/m² per MED) by dividing by 1.73. Then convert MED/hr to Te (time to 4 MEDs) by dividing MED/hr into 240. Comprehendo? __________________ ......................Flashback 2001........................ "One of the 'ORIGINAL' TanToday Gang"

26th February 2008, 08:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
solarmeter® UV Geek Squad Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lake St Clair Posts: 3,274	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? If it IS a 6.5 meter then the label is yellow/red/blue. It should have a decimal point. The model # is on back side of meter - square label area. So is the serial number. If it is a 6.4 vit D meter there is no decimal point.... so battery does not need changing. And the ebay person would owe you the xls software that gets sent to original owner. Without that the readings won't make much sense. The 6.4 meter is gray/black color. __________________ ......................Flashback 2001........................ "One of the 'ORIGINAL' TanToday Gang"

26th February 2008, 09:51 AM	#7 (permalink)
Tan_Lines Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 38	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Thanks, I'll check it out today and we'll get to the bottom of this :0) It is diffenetly not gray/black

26th February 2008, 09:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tan_Lines Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 38	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Ok, looking at the meter now, but don't have a battery to try out, but here is the information on the meter: Model SM 6.5 Serial Number: 00022 So I'll try putting a new battery in it tonight and see if that helps, so will this meter work for what I'm trying to do? That would be the next question I guess.

26th February 2008, 11:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
solarmeter® UV Geek Squad Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lake St Clair Posts: 3,274	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Sort of. See post # 4. That thing is so old the records are buried in the basement somewhere. Serial # 00022 was from circa 1995. Hope you didn't pay the ebay person much for a 13 year old meter! There aren't even any other hand held electronic gizmos THAT old that still work anymore. __________________ ......................Flashback 2001........................ "One of the 'ORIGINAL' TanToday Gang"

27th February 2008, 12:26 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tan_Lines Rookie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orange County, Ca Posts: 38	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Ok, with that said, what do you recommed I should invest in? And what is the approx cost of a good meter?

27th February 2008, 08:17 AM	#12 (permalink)
solarmeter® UV Geek Squad Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lake St Clair Posts: 3,274	Re: My solarmeter reads 388 huh? Just a regular 5.0 meter is fine for "rookies". It is $159 on www.solarmeter.com or sometimes cheaper at distributors. Click on distributors page and try a few. Read the FAQ page too. __________________ ......................Flashback 2001........................ "One of the 'ORIGINAL' TanToday Gang"

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