LUX METER FT3424 HIOKI

Description

Optimizing Environments with Precise Light Measurement

In today’s diverse environments, from workplaces and educational institutions to retail spaces and homes, proper illumination isn’t just about seeing; it’s fundamental to productivity, safety, and overall well-being. Too little or too much light can lead to eye strain, fatigue, reduced efficiency, and even increase the risk of accidents. This is why accurately measuring light intensity, or illuminance, is a critical task for professionals across many sectors. A high-quality lux meter provides the essential data needed to ensure lighting conditions comply with relevant standards, optimize energy consumption, and create comfortable, safe, and efficient visual environments for all occupants. Investing in the right tools for light assessment directly contributes to better human performance and energy management.

Global Compliance: Standards and Sensor Technology

This advanced lux meter is engineered to meet rigorous international standards, ensuring the reliability and comparability of its measurements across various regions. It proudly complies with DIN 5032-7: 1985 class B and JIS C 1609-1: 2006 general AA class. These certifications underscore the instrument’s high precision and superior performance, guaranteeing that its readings are accurate, consistent, and traceable to recognized benchmarks. At its core, the device utilizes a silicon photo diode as its light-receiving element. This sensor technology is specifically chosen for its spectral response, which closely mimics the human eye’s perception of brightness, ensuring that the measurements truly represent how light is perceived by people. This adherence to global standards and sophisticated sensor design make the meter an ideal choice for professional applications worldwide, where accuracy and regulatory compliance are paramount.

Flexible Ranging and Remarkable Linearity Performance

The lux meter offers exceptional operational flexibility through its auto and manual range selection capabilities, allowing users to efficiently adapt the device to a wide spectrum of lighting conditions. In auto mode, the meter intelligently adjusts its sensitivity to the ambient light, providing convenient and hands-free operation for general measurements or dynamic environments. For more controlled or specialized applications, the manual mode empowers users to lock into a specific desired range, which proves particularly useful for precise comparative measurements or when focusing on a narrow band of illuminance. Furthermore, the meter boasts impressive linearity of ±2% rdg., ensuring remarkably consistent accuracy across its entire measurement spectrum. Even for high illuminance levels exceeding 3000 lx, the device maintains its linearity by applying a specific multiplication factor of 1.5, demonstrating its robust performance across a vast dynamic range, from dimly lit spaces to intensely bright outdoor conditions.

Rapid Response and Analog Output for Integration

Speed and connectivity are vital for efficient and effective light assessments, especially in professional environments. This lux meter delivers impressively quick readings with a response time of within 5 seconds for auto range and an even faster within 2 seconds for manual range. This rapid response allows professionals to quickly survey large areas, efficiently track dynamic lighting changes, or conduct rapid spot checks with minimal waiting. Beyond direct on-screen display, the instrument features a valuable D/A (Digital-to-Analog) output, providing an output level of 2 V/range f.s. (full scale), with 2.5 V output when the range full scale is exceeded. This analog output boasts an impressive accuracy of ±1% rdg. ±5 mV (at display count). The D/A output is a powerful feature, enabling the meter to be seamlessly integrated into larger data acquisition systems, allowing for continuous logging and real-time monitoring of illuminance data—crucial for automated lighting control systems, long-term environmental studies, or advanced research applications.

Intelligent Functions for Enhanced Usability

This lux meter comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of intelligent functions meticulously designed to enhance user convenience, streamline data management, and provide valuable insights during measurement tasks. The timer hold function allows users to capture stable readings after a set delay, which is particularly useful for avoiding personal shadows influencing the measurement area. A robust memory function enables the saving of up to 99 measured data points, facilitating post-measurement analysis and efficient reporting without the need for cumbersome manual recording of each reading. The standard hold function freezes the current display value for easy notation and transcription. For energy conservation and extended battery life, an auto power off function is included. A configurable buzzer sound provides immediate audible feedback for various operations, and a backlight ensures clear readability of the display even in dimly lit environments. Additionally, a precise zero adjustment function allows for accurate calibration and ensures reliable baseline readings, maintaining measurement integrity.

Comprehensive Measurement Ranges for Every Scenario

The lux meter offers an impressively wide array of measurement ranges, ensuring its applicability across virtually any lighting scenario imaginable, from the faintest glow in specialized darkrooms to the brightest daylight conditions.

• The 20 lx range precisely captures very low light levels, from 0.00 lx to 20.00 lx, with a granular 1 count step resolution, making it ideal for assessing emergency lighting, subtle artistic displays, or sensitive photographic environments.
• The 200 lx range measures from 0.0 lx to 200.0 lx, also with a 1 count step, perfectly suited for general residential lighting, dimly lit corridors, or basic office spaces.
• The 2000 lx range covers 0 lx to 2000 lx, maintaining the 1 count step resolution, making it ideal for standard office environments, classrooms, and general commercial spaces where consistent lighting is essential.
• The 20000 lx range extends to 0(0) lx to 2000(0) lx, offering a 10 count step resolution, necessary for brighter retail environments, industrial workshops, or areas requiring higher task illumination.
• Finally, the 200000 lx range reaches up to 0(00) lx to 2000(00) lx, with a 100 count step resolution, designed for extremely bright conditions such as outdoor lighting, sports arenas, specialized industrial inspection, or photographic studios. This wide dynamic range, coupled with varying display steps, ensures optimal precision and readability for every measurement, providing a versatile tool for any lighting professional.

Diverse Applications: Where Illumination Matters Most

The versatility and precision of this lux meter make it an indispensable tool across a vast array of industries and everyday applications where light measurement directly impacts safety, productivity, and quality of life.

• Workplace Health and Safety: Crucial for assessing and ensuring lighting levels comply with occupational safety standards in offices, factories, warehouses, and construction sites to prevent eye strain, fatigue, and accidents.
• Building Management & HVAC: Used to optimize energy consumption by ensuring efficient lighting usage, aiding in the design and maintenance of energy-efficient building systems, and verifying compliance with green building certifications.
• Photography & Cinematography: Essential for precise lighting setup, ensuring consistent exposure and artistic control in studios and on location.
• Retail & Display: Optimizing lighting in stores to highlight products effectively, create inviting atmospheres, and enhance customer experience.
• Education: Verifying adequate lighting in classrooms and laboratories to support student learning and reduce visual fatigue.
• Horticulture & Agriculture: Measuring light intensity for plant growth optimization in greenhouses and indoor farms, ensuring plants receive the ideal light spectrum and intensity.
• Museums & Art Galleries: Monitoring light levels to protect sensitive artifacts and artworks from degradation due to excessive exposure while ensuring optimal viewing conditions.
• Quality Control & Manufacturing: Ensuring consistent lighting for inspection tasks, assembly lines, and precise manufacturing processes where visual accuracy is critical.
• Public Spaces & Urban Planning: Assessing street lighting, public parks, and architectural lighting to enhance safety, aesthetics, and energy efficiency.

In all these scenarios, accurate illuminance measurement is not merely a technical step; it’s a foundational element for creating optimal and safe environments.

Portability, Power, and Comprehensive Accessories

Designed for both ultimate portability and extended professional use, this lux meter combines efficient power management with a compact and robust design. It operates on two LR6 Alkaline batteries, providing an exceptional 300 hours of continuous operation, ensuring it’s ready for prolonged fieldwork without frequent battery changes. For even greater flexibility, it can also run on R6 Manganese batteries or be conveniently powered via USB bus power (5 VDC). Its remarkably compact dimensions of 78 mm (3.07 in) W × 170 mm (6.69 in) H × 39 mm (1.54 in) D and lightweight design of just 310 g (10.9 oz) (including batteries) make it effortless to handle, carry, and maneuver in any environment, from tight corners to expansive open spaces. The product comes complete with a comprehensive set of included accessories: a detailed instruction manual, the necessary LR6 Alkaline batteries, a protective sensor cap (with strap), a soft yet durable carrying case, a convenient instrument strap, and a USB cable (0.9 m/2.95 ft). Additionally, a CD is provided, containing the USB driver, dedicated computer application software, and communications specifications, ensuring a complete and ready-to-use solution for professional illuminance measurement and data analysis right out of the box.