Taterbug
BD.org Addict
I'm not sure if Fran gets notified on this thread or not, hopefully she does cause she is way better at explaining the nuances than I am. ( http://www.uvguide.co.uk/usinguvmeter.htm )
In short though a big part of why she recommends the 6.5 is that most people are looking for one device to use, "simple arithmetic" can be inconvenient or confusing to have to manage and that for most users total flux isn't very meaningful. Sticking with a trusted band and measuring output is going to be a lot easier for many folks. Having multiple devices is great if you really want to analize the performance and quality of the lights, but at $250 a pop not many people have the resources.
As described, UVI is weighted based on the photo-biologically active portion of the spectrum, so it is good for judging the effectiveness of trusted lamps. Just know how much total radiation you are seeing doesn't tell much about how useful it is to the body.
In short though a big part of why she recommends the 6.5 is that most people are looking for one device to use, "simple arithmetic" can be inconvenient or confusing to have to manage and that for most users total flux isn't very meaningful. Sticking with a trusted band and measuring output is going to be a lot easier for many folks. Having multiple devices is great if you really want to analize the performance and quality of the lights, but at $250 a pop not many people have the resources.
As described, UVI is weighted based on the photo-biologically active portion of the spectrum, so it is good for judging the effectiveness of trusted lamps. Just know how much total radiation you are seeing doesn't tell much about how useful it is to the body.