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Subject: RE: Measured light reception from 10W LED according to distance from centre

From: <wcasse@...>
Date: 2013-09-20

I like this idea of using a UV sensor - but this is a DIY group, so surely we can design and make something more purpose specific than the devices available on eBay.

I remembered that LEDs can be used as partial spectrum photo sensors, generating a voltage from wavelengths shorter than a specific threshold. If we use two LEDs - one just above the photoresist's sensitivity and one just below, an Arduino or similar might subtract one from the other to get an exposure value and drive a few 7 segment LEDs to count up from 0.

Each photoresist type would have a specific numeric value for proper exposure and should be relatively consistent regardless of atmospheric conditions.

Of course, I do not have the know-how to design or program this, but I would be happy to make one if someone would just show me how.

 

--- In homebrew_pcbs@yahoogroups.com, <rjshaw@...> wrote:

On 19/09/13 17:06, Robin Whittle wrote:
> With the 10W UV LED I described in recent messages, I measured the
> amount of light falling on a flat surface, like the PCB, according to
> how far from the direct perpendicular point of illumination this is.
...

Using this UV light meter, i found my pcb exposure box (75W mercury UV globe)
gave 0.13mW/cm^2 at 60cm distance from the globe (it has a large parabolic
reflector behind it).

Direct sunlight gave 6mw/cm^2.

If you could make an exposure box with UV sensor and automatic shutter, you
could expose to sunlight in a matter of seconds. Even a cloudy overcast day gave
more UV than my light box.

<http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Brand-New-UV340B-Digital-Pocket-UV-Light-Meter-UVA-UVB-Measure-Tester-Gauge-/271133949389?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item3f20d7bdcd>

Another meter:

<http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/UV-340A-Pocket-UV-Light-Meter-LUTRON-UV-340A-UVA-UVB-Measure-/271276514110?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item3f29571b3e>