Measure foot candles

Footcandle is important for keeping consistent lighting in different industries. It measures light intensity per square foot, ensuring proper illumination. Measuring Light Levels on the Ground To measure light intensity on the ground, you would need to use a foot candle light meter. Here’s how: Turn it on and set it to measure footcandles. Ensure the sensor is clean for accurate results. Put the sensor on the ground with the surface facing up to collect light as it comes down naturally. Allow the meter to stabilize, then read the display, which shows the light intensity in footcandles. Check lighting levels in different areas like work zones and pathways to ensure they meet the needs of each space. This method ensures that you measure the amount of light required for different tasks, aligning with the specific foot candle requirements for various environments. Whether you’re designing a space or evaluating an existing one, understanding and accurately measuring light intensity is crucial. Foot-Candle Calculator Understanding light levels is crucial for creating the right ambiance and ensuring safety in various environments. Our converters below make it easy to switch between different units like foot-candles, lux, and lumens, allowing you to achieve precise lighting conditions for any project. Lumens to Foot Candles Calculator Lumens: Area (in square feet): Foot-Candles: Lux to Foot Candle Conversions While the foot candle is widely used in the U.S., the rest of the world typically uses the metric equivalent known as “lux.” Lux and foot candles measure the same concept—light intensity—but differ in the units of distance they use. Lux measures light intensity based on meters, while foot candles use feet. To convert between lux and foot candles: 1 foot candle = 10.764 lux 1 lux = 0.0929 foot candles This conversion is essential when working on projects that require

Many bells and whistles. Rather than a digital screen, they have an analog dial display and often feature knobs instead of push buttons.Some indoor gardeners may appreciate the simplicity of analog devices, while others may find them wanting. And some of them have a limited measuring range.Digital meters, on the other hand, offer many more features.Light meter with variegated hoya, displaying a measurement in lux. Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.Some digital devices provide measurements in foot candles and lux, while the others measure PAR (photosynthetically active radiation).On the other hand, analog light meters measure only in foot candles or lux – none of them are equipped with sensors to measure PAR.Next, we’ll dig into the difference between these two categories and the pros and cons of each.Lux and Foot Candle vs. PAR MetersOnce you start comparing differences between digital meters, you’ll find two main types – those that measure in foot candles and lux, and those that measure PAR – which, as a reminder, stands for photosynthetically active radiation.Earlier in this article I said that plants need light to feed themselves. What they actually need are photons, particles of light.Why am I telling you this?Because the main difference between these two categories of devices is that PAR meters measure photons, and those that measure lux and foot candles don’t.That doesn’t mean lux and foot candle devices don’t have their usefulness, but it will be helpful to understand their limitations.Lux and Foot Candle MetersIf lux and foot candle meters don’t measure photons, what do they measure then?These devices use a sensor, typically a silicon photodiode, to measure light as humans (not plants) perceive it, in units known as foot candles or lux.The term “foot candle,” is a bit archaic, much like talking about the term “horsepower” for cars.A foot candle is a unit of measure used to denote the amount of light emitted by a candle falling on a surface exactly one foot away from the light source at all points, and this is equal to one lumen per square foot. This is an imperial unit of measurement.The metric equivalent of foot candles are “lux,” which is the amount of light emitted by one candle falling on a surface exactly one meter away at all points.Beyond the fact that referring to candle illumination sounds a bit outdated in the modern world, the problem with these meters (when it comes to using them with plants) is that they favor green light waves rather than blue and red light waves.That’s because the human eye is more sensitive to green light and less sensitive to red and blue light.Again, these meters measure light as perceived by humans – you may be familiar with them as a photographer’s tool.Plants, on the other hand, are sensitive to blue and red light waves, but they are somewhat less sensitive to green waves. For the most part, plant foliage reflects green light waves back rather than absorbing them, which is why foliage looks green.(There are some exceptions, of course

– red-leaf lettuce, for instance, reflects red waves. And many blue-tinted plants are found in desert habitats – they reflect blue waves rather than absorbing them, a boon to the plants in hot climates because those waves are hotter.)Agave plants have blue foliage to keep cool in hot, arid climates.In essence, foot candle and lux light meters aren’t as accurate with measuring blue and red waves of the visible light spectrum.This means they lose a lot of accuracy when measuring luminosity from LED bulb. Many of today’s grow lights use white or color LED bulbs that emit blue or red waves.Does that mean we should just throw foot candle and lux devices out the window and forget about them?No, because they do have their advantages.For starters, light meters that measure in lux and foot candles are budget friendly, easy to find, and there are many different models available.These meters tend to work great for measuring natural sunlight – they just aren’t as accurate when measuring LEDs.Another advantage is that the vast majority of public-facing horticultural sources such as houseplant cultivation books, and guides provided by university cooperative extensions, refer to luminosity requirements measured in foot candles.Digital light meter displaying units in foot candles, next to burro’s tail succulent. Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.With most options, you won’t have to buy either a foot candle or a lux device – most of these meters allow the user to switch back and forth between either lux or foot candles (abbreviated as “fc” or “ft-c”) like you might between Fahrenheit and Celsius on a digital thermometer.And by the way, the conversion between the two units if you need to do it manually is roughly ten lux to one foot candle if you round down, making conversion easy.Once you’ve decided that this type of device is what you need, a great model to start with is the Dr. Meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Meter.This light meter measures in foot candles or lux, allowing users to toggle back and forth between the two units.It can measure illumination in a range of 0 to 200,000 lux or 0 to 20,000 foot candles. In order to move between dim and bright sources, a range button is used – you’ll learn more about this shortly.The LX1330B has a detached sensor wand that is connected by a coiled cord, meaning you can hold the photo sensor separate from the device, turning it at odd angles if needed, while still being able to see the readings easily.Dr. Meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance MeterYou can find the Dr. Meter LX1330B Digital Illuminance Meter available for purchase via Amazon.PAR MetersWe’ve seen that foot candle and lux meters are designed to measure perceived brightness, while PAR meters actually measure photons. Photosynthetically active radiation is light used for photosynthesis ranging between 400 and 700 nanometers.Quantum PAR devices assess light conditions as usable by plants more accurately than meters that measure foot candles and lux.That makes PAR devices with quantum sensors useful for gardeners using grow lamps in

BLOGLast Updated: December 26, 2023 Foot-Candle (Fc) measures the illuminance or brightness of a light source at a specific location. It is a unit of measurement that quantifies the amount of light falling on a surface, specifically one lumen of light per square foot. The term “foot-candle” is often abbreviated as “fc” or “foot-candle.” Get Inspired by Rayzeek Motion Sensor Portfolios.Doesn't find what you want? Don't worry. There are always alternate ways to solve your problems. Maybe one of our portfolios can help.In practical terms, foot-candles help determine the level of light received by a particular area or surface. It is an important factor in planning lighting for various applications, as it allows facility managers and electricians to accurately assess the amount of light needed in a given space. By measuring foot-candles, they can ensure that the desired surface area receives the appropriate level of illumination.Foot-candles are different from lumens, which measure the total amount of light emitted by a lighting fixture. Foot-candles, on the other hand, focus on the amount of light that actually reaches a specific area or surface. This distinction is crucial in understanding the effectiveness and efficiency of lighting design. Maybe You Are Interested In

That falls on a surface. It quantifies how much light is spread over a specific area. As the distance between a light source and the surface increases, the same amount of light is spread over a larger area, reducing its density. Therefore, to maintain a consistent lux level on a surface, more light sources may be required as the area grows.Illuminance is inversely related to the square of the distance from the light source. For instance, a wider beam angle in lighting fixtures will scatter light over a larger area, reducing the illuminance (lux level). Conversely, a narrow beam angle focuses light more intensely on a specific area, increasing the lux reading. This relationship is vital when designing lighting systems for various activities, including basketball games, where specific lux levels are required for optimal performance and visibility.Foot Candle (fc)The foot candle is an imperial unit that measures illuminance similar to lux but in the imperial system. One foot candle is defined as the amount of light falling on a surface one foot away from a light source with an intensity of one candela. In more practical terms, one foot candle equals one lumen per square foot.The concept originated from the light emitted by a single candle, which was historically used as a reference. Today, the foot candle measurement helps in understanding light intensity in terms familiar to those using imperial units. For example, a light source producing one candela of intensity will result in one foot candle of illuminance on a surface one foot away.Measuring Lux and Foot Candles on a Basketball CourtUnderstanding Foot Candle MeasurementFoot candles are a practical and cost-effective way to measure light intensity on a surface. Using a light meter, you can easily assess the illuminance, which is the amount of light falling on a specific area. As with lux, the measurement in foot candles varies based on distance from the light source. The farther you are from the light, the lower the reading will be.When measuring foot candles, the angle at which the light is emitted also affects the reading. If you start by measuring