PAR Meter Broken

Red_Ant · 08/24/2013, 08:57 PM

So I just borrowed my club's par meter. I wanted to test my new Cozumel reflectors with 250 watt radium bulbs. Well I'm getting par of 60 on the sandbed(24") and 160 PAR 6" from the water surface. The reflector is 8" from the water. From all that I have read online these numbers are coming out way low. The meter is an old apogee with the turn dial that measures PPF. Is there a way to test the meter or calibrate it? I talked to another club member and he was getting almost the exact results I was getting but he had a 14k pheonix. Is there something wrong with this meter? Do I need to do some sort of conversion?

sirreal63 · 08/24/2013, 09:26 PM

I would contact apogee to see what is up.

Red_Ant · 08/24/2013, 09:36 PM

Good idea. I will reach out to them on Monday. Anybody else have any suggestions?

Ron Reefman · 08/25/2013, 01:45 AM

Take it out at noon in the full sun and see what it reads. Down here in SW Florida it's about 1400.

Red_Ant · 08/25/2013, 05:37 AM

Gotcha. I will try that when I get back in town.

kc350twin · 08/25/2013, 06:42 AM

If its the older red or yellow colored box there is a knob to calibrate it on the inside. They were notorious for being off and have to have them calibrated. If you have a multimeter handy you can hook the sensor directly to that and not use the Apogee meter.

Red_Ant · 08/25/2013, 07:56 AM

It is the yellow one. I could get a multimeter. How do I connect the sensor to it? The sensor looks like it connected inside the box. Do I need to open it up to disconnect the sensor?

Red_Ant · 08/30/2013, 10:31 AM

Just ran the "Clear Sky Test" from Apogee's website. The meter is off by 60%. WOW! Calibration is definitely in order.

kc350twin · 08/30/2013, 11:34 AM

Interesting. I'm going to look this clear sky test up.

08/24/2013, 08:57 PM	#1
Red_Ant Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 231	PAR Meter Broken So I just borrowed my club's par meter. I wanted to test my new Cozumel reflectors with 250 watt radium bulbs. Well I'm getting par of 60 on the sandbed(24") and 160 PAR 6" from the water surface. The reflector is 8" from the water. From all that I have read online these numbers are coming out way low. The meter is an old apogee with the turn dial that measures PPF. Is there a way to test the meter or calibrate it? I talked to another club member and he was getting almost the exact results I was getting but he had a 14k pheonix. Is there something wrong with this meter? Do I need to do some sort of conversion?

08/24/2013, 09:26 PM	#2
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	I would contact apogee to see what is up. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

08/25/2013, 01:45 AM	#4
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Take it out at noon in the full sun and see what it reads. Down here in SW Florida it's about 1400. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

08/25/2013, 06:42 AM	#6
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	PAR Meter Broken If its the older red or yellow colored box there is a knob to calibrate it on the inside. They were notorious for being off and have to have them calibrated. If you have a multimeter handy you can hook the sensor directly to that and not use the Apogee meter. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/30/2013, 11:34 AM	#9
kc350twin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Severn, MD Posts: 1,579	Interesting. I'm going to look this clear sky test up. __________________ 112g Cube 36x36x20= Custom 12x39wPower Module (Par Monster)= Neptune Apex=ATB 840v2=BM Doser= 2 MP-40's

08/24/2013, 09:36 PM	#3
Red_Ant Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 231	Good idea. I will reach out to them on Monday. Anybody else have any suggestions?

08/25/2013, 05:37 AM	#5
Red_Ant Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 231	Gotcha. I will try that when I get back in town.

08/25/2013, 07:56 AM	#7
Red_Ant Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 231	It is the yellow one. I could get a multimeter. How do I connect the sensor to it? The sensor looks like it connected inside the box. Do I need to open it up to disconnect the sensor?

08/30/2013, 10:31 AM	#8
Red_Ant Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 231	Just ran the "Clear Sky Test" from Apogee's website. The meter is off by 60%. WOW! Calibration is definitely in order.