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5-12 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

when measuring illumination in large areas where the luminaire has a


widespread light distribution and in any area where light walls, floors,
and ceilings contribute an appreciable amount of flux. Multicell meters
such as that shown in Fig. 5-5 are so constructed that the cosine error is
nearly eliminated.
8
The Macbeth illuminometer may also be used to
avoid this error.
Correction for
cosine error. The component of illumination contributed
by sources at large angles of incidence may be determined by orienting the
target perpendicular to the directions from which the light is coming and
multiplying the readings thus obtained by the cosines of the angles of inci-
dence.
A method for correcting this cosine error by means of a special scale and
shadow caster which permits the use of the cell in its normal horizontal
position has been described and other means have been proposed.
5
'
10
Temperature effect.
Temperature affects cell output, but not in a con-
stant or predictable manner. To be on the safe side, the instrument
should be calibrated at the air temperature of the space being investigated,
preferably within the range of 60 degrees to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Pro-
longed exposure to temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit will per-
manently damage selenium cells. Hence measurements of high levels
should be made rapidly to avoid overheating of the cell.
Accuracy
of
meter readings. The microammeter used in connection
with photoelectric instruments, in common with other electrical instru-
ments, is subject to certain inherent limitations in the form of scale errors
which vary in amount with the quality of the instrument. If the instru-
ment has more than one scale, these should be so employed that no read-
ing is taken in the range from zero to one fourth of full scale. Neglecting
the factors noted above, the manufacturing tolerances alone may result
in an over-all uncertainty of reading at any point on* the scale of about
7.5 per cent of the full scale reading.
Calihration. Cell-type instruments have no provision for field cali-
bration other than a zero reading correction. They should be checked
frequently against a master instrument of known calibration or returned
to a reliable laboratory at frequent intervals for calibration.
Portable visual photometers
*
The portable photometer or illuminometer is a bar photometer on a
small scale. There are a number of different types available but the under-
lying principles are about the same. A fixed photometer head and moving
comparison lamp is often used and some are combined with a photoelectric
photometer.
When using the portable photometer to measure illumination, it is
customary to observe the brightness of a calibrated test plate. For
brightness determinations, the field to be observed is seen directly through
the eyepiece, and balanced with the comparison surface. This type of
photometer is usually accompanied by a set of neutral and colored filters,
which respectively extend the range and produce an approximate color

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