Reptile Lamp Database

Spectrum #846
BZUVB2 (Zoo Med Reptisun UVB/LED GEN2 18W) Edit
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(1) Raw Measurement

Spektrum
Lampid BZUVB2
Spectrometer USB2000+
Originator Frances Baines
Ballast - no ballast or default/unknown ballast -
Reflector - no reflector -
Distance 20
Age 105
created by Sarina Wunderlich, 19.03.2026; last updated by , 19.03.2026
Description

(2) Comparison of full spectrum to sunlight

The spectrum is compared to the ASTM spectrum. The measured spectrum is scaled to a lux or UVI value that seems to "make sense" to the database. This can go wrong, depending on the quality and range of the data. Spektrum

(3) Colorimetry

Colorimetry is the science to describe physically the human color perception. The wavelength range 380 nm - 780 nm is visible to humans and detected by three different photoreceptors. Many Reptiles see the range 350 nm - 800 nm and have an additional UV photoreceptor in their retina.

Whereas a spectrometer measures the intensity in every tiny wavelength interval resulting in thousands of individual intensities, the human eye only measures three intensities detected by the three cones. The same is true for the reptile eye with usually three or four photoreceptors. Effectively the detailled spectrum displayed above reduces to a much compacter bar graph displayed below. The photoreceptor sensitivites from these L-Cone, M-Cone, S-Cone, and U-Cone are used, they are chosen as an average of measured reptile photoreceptor sensitivity curves. The bar graph also shows as reference the intensity seen by the three or four photoreceptors for average sunlight (ASTM spectrum).

From these three numbers the colour coordinate and the correlated colour temperature for humans are calculated using the CIE standard method. I adapted this concept to a "3 cone reptile (M,S,U)" and a "4 cone reptile (L,M,S,U)". I am sure, that this adaption to other colour spaces makes sense mathematically and this is also done in scientific research regarding colour vision of animals, however I have not seen calculation of colour temperatures for other animals in the scientific literature. Even if it is hypothetical, at least this shows, how arbitrary the colour temperature is, and that the colour temperature calculated for humans does not apply to reptiles. The colour spaces also show the colour coordinates of different phases of daylight ((ids 1, 338451, 511513 ), indicated by crosses, coloured in the appriximate colour perceived by a human.

Human (CIE) 3 cone reptile 4 cone reptile
Cone Excitation
Colour Coordinate ( 0.29 ; 0.28 ) ( 0.32 ; 0.37 ) ( 0.21 ; 0.25 ; 0.29 )
CCT 9300 Kelvin 6800 Kelvin 7100 Kelvin
distance 0.031 0.026
colour space 3-D-graph not implemented yet

(4) Vitamin D3 Analysis

Vitamin D3 is produced by UVB radiation around 300 nm. 7DHC/ProD3 present in the skin is converted to PreD3 when absorbing an UV photon. PreD3 can be converted back to ProD3, to Lumisterol, or to Tachysterol when absorbing another UV photon or can be converted to Vitamin D3 in a warm environment.

This process prevents any overdose of vitamin D3 from UV radiation with a spectrum similar to sunlight. As a comparison the solar spectra at 20°(id:14) and at 85°(id:21) solar angle are shown.

The ratio of the readings of two solarmeters 6.2 (UVB) and 6.5 (UV index) has proven a useful and very simply number to acess the spectral shape in the vitamin-d3-active region.

(5) Effective Irradiances

Effective irradiances are calculated for all ranges, actionspectra and radiometers currently present in this database.

The calculation method is a numerical implementation (Simpson's rule) of the formula

To learn more about calculating effective irradiances and radiometers I recommend this excellent report on UVB meters: Characterizing the Performance of Integral Measuring UV-Meters (pdf).

The numbers in the following tables can also be used to estimate certain (effective) irradiances from radiomer readings. Example: If the database lists

  • range: UVB (US) = 13.8 µW/cm²
  • radiometer: Solarmeter 6.2 = 19.6 µW/cm²
then any Solarmeter 6.2 reading multiplied with 0.7 (0.7=13.8/19.6) is an estimate of UVB irradiance for this specific lamp. If you do so, always make sure, that the calculated (effective) irradiance is valid. The calculated value is not valid, if the lamp's spectrum is not measured in the relevant range.

(5a) Ranges
total ( 0 nm - 0 nm) 2300 µW/cm² = 23 W/m²
UVC ( 0 nm - 280 nm) 0.91 µW/cm² = 0.0091 W/m²
non-terrestrial ( 0 nm - 290 nm) 1.5 µW/cm² = 0.015 W/m²
total2 ( 250 nm - 880 nm) 2300 µW/cm² = 23 W/m²
UVB (EU) ( 280 nm - 315 nm) 111 µW/cm² = 1.11 W/m²
UVB (US) ( 280 nm - 320 nm) 151 µW/cm² = 1.51 W/m²
UVA+B ( 280 nm - 380 nm) 661 µW/cm² = 6.61 W/m²
Solar UVB ( 290 nm - 315 nm) 111 µW/cm² = 1.11 W/m²
UVA D3 regulating ( 315 nm - 335 nm) 152 µW/cm² = 1.52 W/m²
UVA (EU) ( 315 nm - 380 nm) 549 µW/cm² = 5.49 W/m²
UVA2 (medical definition) ( 320 nm - 340 nm) 140 µW/cm² = 1.4 W/m²
UVA (US) ( 320 nm - 380 nm) 510 µW/cm² = 5.1 W/m²
UVA1 (variant) ( 335 nm - 380 nm) 397 µW/cm² = 3.97 W/m²
UVA1 (medical) ( 340 nm - 400 nm) 405 µW/cm² = 4.05 W/m²
vis. UVA ( 350 nm - 380 nm) 285 µW/cm² = 2.85 W/m²
VIS Rep3 ( 350 nm - 600 nm) 1470 µW/cm² = 14.7 W/m²
VIS Rep4 ( 350 nm - 700 nm) 1870 µW/cm² = 18.7 W/m²
purple ( 380 nm - 420 nm) 44 µW/cm² = 0.44 W/m²
VIS ( 380 nm - 780 nm) 1640 µW/cm² = 16.4 W/m²
VIS2 ( 400 nm - 680 nm) 1510 µW/cm² = 15.1 W/m²
PAR ( 400 nm - 700 nm) 1550 µW/cm² = 15.5 W/m²
tmp ( 400 nm - 1100 nm) 1610 µW/cm² = 16.1 W/m²
blue ( 420 nm - 490 nm) 560 µW/cm² = 5.6 W/m²
green ( 490 nm - 575 nm) 455 µW/cm² = 4.55 W/m²
yellow ( 575 nm - 585 nm) 52.1 µW/cm² = 0.521 W/m²
orange ( 585 nm - 650 nm) 326 µW/cm² = 3.26 W/m²
red ( 650 nm - 780 nm) 201 µW/cm² = 2.01 W/m²
IR2 ( 655 nm - 685 nm) 96.9 µW/cm² = 0.969 W/m²
IRA ( 700 nm - 1400 nm) 56.9 µW/cm² = 0.569 W/m²
IRB ( 1400 nm - 3000 nm) 0 µW/cm² = 0 W/m²
(5b) Actionspectra
Erythema 8.87 UV-Index
Pyrimidine dimerization of DNA 72.4 µW/cm²
Photoceratitis 13.4 µW/cm²
Photoconjunctivitis 1.09 µW/cm²
DNA Damage 2
Vitamin D3 37.8 µW/cm²
Photosynthesis 1120 µW/cm²
Luminosity 4140 lx
Human L-Cone 615 µW/cm²
Human M-Cone 524 µW/cm²
Human S-Cone 456 µW/cm²
CIE X 602 µW/cm²
CIE Y 570 µW/cm²
CIE Z 887 µW/cm²
PAR PPFD 69.7 µmol/m²/s
Extinction preD3 200 e-3*m²/mol
Extinction Tachysterol 675 e-3*m²/mol
Exctincition PreD3 96500 m²/mol
Extinction Lumisterol 48 m²/mol
Exctincition Tachysterol 908000 m²/mol
Extinction 7DHC 45.4 m²/mol
L-Cone 515 µW/cm²
M-Cone 624 µW/cm²
S-Cone 724 µW/cm²
U-Cone 596 µW/cm²
UVR - ICNIRP 2004 8.21 Rel Biol Eff
Melatonin Supression 613 µW/cm²
Blue Light Hazard 481 µW/cm² (116 µW/cm² per 1000 lx)
CIE 174:2006 PreVit D3 42.5 µW/cm²
Lumen Reptil 5130 "pseudo-lx"
Vitamin D3 Degradation 31.9 µW/cm²
Actinic UV 8.11 µW/cm² (19.6 mW/klm)
Exctincition Lumisterol 62400 m²/mol
Exctincition 7DHC 55800 m²/mol
Exctincition Toxisterols 16600 m²/mol
(5c) Broadbandmeters
Solarmeter 6.2 (UVB, pre 2010) 177 µW/cm²
Solarmeter 6.5 (UV-Index, pre 2010) 10.8
Leybold UVB 133 µW/cm²
Leybold UVA 326 µW/cm²
Leybold UVC 0.629 µW/cm²
DeltaOhm UVB 238 µW/cm²
DeltaOhm UVC 33.8 µW/cm²
Vernier UVB 63.2 µW/cm²
Vernier UVA 311 µW/cm²
Gröbel UVA 426 µW/cm²
Gröbel UVB 77.2 µW/cm²
Gröbel UVC 0.674 µW/cm²
Luxmeter 4210 lx
Solarmeter 6.4 (D3) 33.8 IU/min
UVX-31 263 µW/cm²
IL UVB 0.0748 µW/cm²
IL UVA 417 µW/cm²
Solarmeter 6.5 (UVI, post 2010) 8.61 UV-Index
Solarmeter 6.2 (UVB, post 2010) 108 µW/cm² (Solarmeter Ratio = 12.6)
Solarmeter AlGaN 6.5 UVI sensor 97.2 UV Index
GenUV 7.1 UV-Index 5.08 UV-Index
Solarmeter 10.0 (Global Power) (manuf.) 19.8 W/m²
Solarmeter 4.0 (UVA) 5.82 mW/cm²
LS122 (manuf.) 0.00184 W/m²
ISM400 (first guess) 12.2 W/m²
LS122 (assumption) 0.564 W/m²
ISM400_new 9.77 W/m²
Solarmeter 10.0 (Global Power) (assumption) 17.6 W/m²
(5d) Summary of my favourites
UVC (0nm -280nm) [µW/cm] 0.91 0.0395 %
non-terrestrial (0nm -290nm) [µW/cm] 1.5 0.065 %
UVB (EU) (280nm -315nm) [µW/cm] 111 4.83 %
UVB (US) (280nm -320nm) [µW/cm] 151 6.55 %
Solar UVB (290nm -315nm) [µW/cm] 111 4.81 %
UVA (EU) (315nm -380nm) [µW/cm] 549 23.8 %
UVA (US) (320nm -380nm) [µW/cm] 510 22.1 %
UVA2 (medical definition) (320nm -340nm) [µW/cm] 140 6.1 %
UVA1 (medical) (340nm -400nm) [µW/cm] 405 17.6 %
UVA D3 regulating (315nm -335nm) [µW/cm] 152 6.61 %
vis. UVA (350nm -380nm) [µW/cm] 285 12.4 %
VIS (380nm -780nm) [µW/cm] 1640 71.1 %
blue (420nm -490nm) [µW/cm] 560 24.3 %
total2 (250nm -880nm) [µW/cm] 2300 100 %
Erythema [UV-Index] 8.87
Luminosity [lx] 4140
Blue Light Hazard [µW/cm²] 481 116µW/cm/1000lx
Solarmeter 6.5 (UVI, post 2010) [UV-Index] 8.61
Solarmeter 6.2 (UVB, post 2010) [µW/cm²] 108
Actinic UV [µW/cm²] 8.11 6.96 at UVI7.6
Vitamin D3 [µW/cm²] 37.8 32.4 at UVI7.6