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Light / Lux Meter

Lux meters or light meters, (some with outputs), measure illumination in terms of luxes (lx) or foot candles (fc). A lux is equal to the total intensity of light that falls on a one square meter surface that is one foot away from the point source of light. A foot-candle is equal to the total intensity of light that falls on a one square foot surface that is one foot away from the point source of light. Since light usually contains different colors at different wavelengths, the reading represents the combined effects of all the wavelengths. Typically, standard colors or color temperatures are expressed in degrees Kelvin (K). The standard color temperature for the calibration of most lux meters is 2856° K, an amount that is more yellow than pure white. Lux meters or light meters are used to measure levels of light in schools, hospitals, production areas, laboratories, and passageways. They are also used to monitor light-sensitive displays in museums, art galleries, and archives. In the United States, lux meters are used to ensure that workplace, clean room, and industrial lighting complies with requirements from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Other uses for lux meters or light meters include video, photographic, and architectural applications.