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theyosh / TerrariumPI

Home automated terrarium/aquarium or other enclosed environment with a Raspberry Pi
https://terrarium.theyosh.nl
GNU General Public License v3.0
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VEML6075 UVA and UVB light sensor alternatives ? #875

Closed nikkisstuff closed 5 months ago

nikkisstuff commented 6 months ago

Hi I am having a hard time finding a veml6075 that is not outrageously priced are there any suitable alternatives?

Edit After doing a little more research I found that the veml6075 has been discontinued.

theyosh commented 6 months ago

Hmm, not at the moment. I found some UV Index sensors which could be supported. But I could not find a different sensor for UVA and UVB light.

One alternative that could measure UV index is: https://wiki.seeedstudio.com/Grove-Sunlight_Sensor/#si1145---play-with-raspberry-pi

Or https://www.adafruit.com/product/1777

But for all sensors I need to add new code. So even when there is a different sensor, I need to make some code. So if you find a working sensor with some python example code, I can mostly add them to TerrariumPI

nikkisstuff commented 6 months ago

Thanks. I have found this one as another possibility (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1918)

theyosh commented 6 months ago

Thanks. I have found this one as another possibility (https://www.adafruit.com/product/1918)

That is an analog sensor. Does not work with a Raspberry Pi directly. This needs an analog to digital converter. :(

nikkisstuff commented 6 months ago

After searching for a few hours for the best alterative i found this Its not low cost but they are available and run on i2c and cover uva uvb and uvc https://www.sparkfun.com/products/23517

theyosh commented 6 months ago

Hmm, sorry to say, but I can't find python code for that sensor. Only Arduino :( So than you need to to use an Arduino and hook that to the Pi. It can be done, but that will cost some programming. And I can't help with that part, as I do not use Arduino boards.

Sorry to say, but I think there is only one solution... pay for expensive sensors :( ...

nikkisstuff commented 5 months ago

I've found this https://ams.com/o/download-server/document-download/download/15639123

theyosh commented 5 months ago

I've found this https://ams.com/o/download-server/document-download/download/15639123

Found this hardware device :( https://www.futureelectronics.com/fr/p/development-tools--dev-tools-sensors/as7331-evk-ams-osram-5169244 and https://uk.farnell.com/ams-osram-group/as7331-evk/evaluation-kit-spectral-uv-sensor/dp/4134313 which is way more expensive...

This is the only device I can find. The python code can be used, but only with that expensive development board... (I guess)

nikkisstuff commented 5 months ago

I think its probably worth waiting to see if the veml6075 ever comes back into production or a updated version is released. For now i will continue to use my uv check cards

ThunderClap86 commented 5 months ago

Hmm, sorry to say, but I can't find python code for that sensor. Only Arduino :( So than you need to to use an Arduino and hook that to the Pi. It can be done, but that will cost some programming. And I can't help with that part, as I do not use Arduino boards.

Sorry to say, but I think there is only one solution... pay for expensive sensors :( ...

Is this the code you'd need?

theyosh commented 5 months ago

Hmm, sorry to say, but I can't find python code for that sensor. Only Arduino :( So than you need to to use an Arduino and hook that to the Pi. It can be done, but that will cost some programming. And I can't help with that part, as I do not use Arduino boards. Sorry to say, but I think there is only one solution... pay for expensive sensors :( ...

Is this the code you'd need?

Unfortunately, that is not python code. That is Arduino code. So that can't be used directly.

ThunderClap86 commented 5 months ago

Hmm, sorry to say, but I can't find python code for that sensor. Only Arduino :( So than you need to to use an Arduino and hook that to the Pi. It can be done, but that will cost some programming. And I can't help with that part, as I do not use Arduino boards. Sorry to say, but I think there is only one solution... pay for expensive sensors :( ...

Is this the code you'd need?

Unfortunately, that is not python code. That is Arduino code. So that can't be used directly.

Is there a way we can chat off of this thread? I ran the C++ from that github through a "converter" and it spit out what looks a lot more like Python. I have no way of knowing if it is right or not and don't want to clog up this sensor subject with what could be nothing.

Griizly commented 5 months ago

Hi! I'm not a terrariumPi user but I've been working a bit with the VEML6075 trying to make my own SolarMeter to check the UVI of my arcadia ramps.

I would like to warn you not to use it in terrarium :) measurements are not reliable Why not? because the VEML6075 is a solar UV sensor and doesn't work with our UVB lamps or ramps because most of them don't emit IR (infrared) unlike the sun which emits IR and the VEML6075 needs visible AND infrared light to be able to calculate UVI.

In this issue https://github.com/theyosh/TerrariumPI/issues/210#issuecomment-904892482 you can see that someone has the sensor and in the dashboard he only gets a UVI of 0.178 which is way too low, value is not accurate...

I tested this sensor and by placing it 30cm away from my brand new arcadia t5 12% desert 120cm I only get 1 UVI with the sensor whereas the SolarMeter 6.5 gives me just over 8 UVI, which is a good value for this lamp.

So avoid using the VEML6075, the UVI values are unreliable.

theyosh commented 5 months ago

@Griizly that explains a lot. I have the same 'problem' with my UV values. They are really low, while the sensor is pretty close to a Solar Raptor UV light. During development I test it with sunlight behind a window, and that works. Now I know why.

But than also, the SolarMeter you mention, is way more expensive. Which makes clear that the rather cheap VEML6075 sensors can never be that good or accurate.

So, you could use them when you want to measure sunlight uv outside. But for inside, they are no good.

I will update the documentation about this. Thanks for the information.