Solar UV exposure meter - sharing a DIY project

[lungovw]

This is a project for alternative processes printers. It is about using an UV sensor to monitor the exposure under sunlight for Cyanotypes, Gum Bichromate, Van Dyke Brown, Carbon, Platinum, etc. The key idea is that instead of counting time, like a regular timer, it "counts energy" falling onto your print and it beeps when a preset level was reached. One can do a test strip in the morning, print in the afternoon and get the expected result. More than that, if during a print exposure, a cloud passes by, the time will be extended in order to reach the desired UV level. I developed this device one year ago and have used it ever since with consistent results. I am sharing it for free as a contribution to analog photography community. The following link leads to a video demo and detailed instructions anyone can follow to build his own Solar UV exposure meter.

 

[Donald Qualls]

That's an excellent idea! "This negative gives a good print with forty units" instead of "I think this will take about twenty minutes right now, but it'll run an hour or so if I print after work..."

 

[nmp]

This is a project for alternative processes printers. It is about using an UV sensor to monitor the exposure under sunlight for Cyanotypes, Gum Bichromate, Van Dyke Brown, Carbon, Platinum, etc. The key idea is that instead of counting time, like a regular timer, it "counts energy" falling onto your print and it beeps when a preset level was reached. One can do a test strip in the morning, print in the afternoon and get the expected result. More than that, if during a print exposure, a cloud passes by, the time will be extended in order to reach the desired UV level. I developed this device one year ago and have used it ever since with consistent results. I am sharing it for free as a contribution to analog photography community. The following link leads to a video demo and detailed instructions anyone can follow to build his own Solar UV exposure meter.

Didn't see any "detailed instructions" on how to build it....the video only shows the theory behind it and how it works. What am I missing?

 

[Herzeleid]

Didn't see any "detailed instructions" on how to build it....the video only shows the theory behind it and how it works. What am I missing?

Hey Niranjan,
The link is in the description of the video, it has all the parts and the code for arduino.

Huge thanks to Wagner Lungov for sharing this project.
I was hoping to experiment with UV sensors for something similar like this since I started learning arduino a few months ago.
This project is complete with voltage regulator, buzzer and details.
I am truly grateful

 

[MattKing]

Here is the detailed instruction link: https://apenasimagens.com/en/solar-uv-exposure-meter-complete-project/

 

[KenS]

This is a project for alternative processes printers. It is about using an UV sensor to monitor the exposure under sunlight for Cyanotypes, Gum Bichromate, Van Dyke Brown, Carbon, Platinum, etc. The key idea is that instead of counting time, like a regular timer, it "counts energy" falling onto your print and it beeps when a preset level was reached. One can do a test strip in the morning, print in the afternoon and get the expected result. More than that, if during a print exposure, a cloud passes by, the time will be extended in order to reach the desired UV level. I developed this device one year ago and have used it ever since with consistent results. I am sharing it for free as a contribution to analog photography community. The following link leads to a video demo and detailed instructions anyone can follow to build his own Solar UV exposure meter.

i 'invested' in a UV light 'measuring meter'.. works like a 'charm' for both 'natural' sunlight and with my home built fluorecent UV lamp source... have a peek at 'Lightmeasure.com/.'

Ken

 

[nmp]

Hey Niranjan,
The link is in the description of the video, it has all the parts and the code for arduino.

Huge thanks to Wagner Lungov for sharing this project.
I was hoping to experiment with UV sensors for something similar like this since I started learning arduino a few months ago.
This project is complete with voltage regulator, buzzer and details.
I am truly grateful

Oh, I see it...thanks.

Thanks Matt too.

 

[lungovw]

i 'invested' in a UV light 'measuring meter'.. works like a 'charm' for both 'natural' sunlight and with my home built fluorecent UV lamp source... have a peek at 'Lightmeasure.com/.'

Ken

Wow, that is a professional one! I am more in the mood of DIY stuff. But thanks for sharing. If a friend of mine ever asks me to build him/her one like mine, I will give him/her this link.

 

[mug]

Great idea / DIY project. I did order for al the parts in China. (wait 2-6 weeks and then I can build, install and use)

 

[ProfessorC1983]

This is amazing! And timely as I've just begun planning to build a similar device to calibrate my DIY UV enlarger.

Was there any particular reason you chose the ML8511 sensor? I'd been looking at the VEML6075, but admittedly haven't compared the datasheets.

 

[lungovw]

This is amazing! And timely as I've just begun planning to build a similar device to calibrate my DIY UV enlarger.

Was there any particular reason you chose the ML8511 sensor? I'd been looking at the VEML6075, but admittedly haven't compared the datasheets.

I picked this LM8511 because it has the highest sensitivity at about 365 nm. The sunlight is strong at this wavelength and I remembered that I read somewhere that this is also very effective for UV photographic processes. I had a UV printer with UV Leds at 395-400 nm and compared to sunlight it never yielded the same densities even when using the same paper and formula for Van Dyke or Cyanotype. So, the basic idea is to match light source, sensor and sensitive material. There might be something better, I don't know, but I can tell you that sunlight + LM8511 and Alternative Printing Processes go very well together.