i-Phos USB IR, UV Light Spectrometer - for sale

UPDATE 2025: I'm still building and selling these. I stopped adding great feedback to the sales page because there's so much already - every one of which is entirely genuine. You're still welcome to order your instrument today.

This video is about my light spectrometer / spectroscope.

My first light spectrometer was an untidy prototype but, after a good deal of tinkering, it eventually worked so well, I decided to build it properly for long-term use. I now offer this production spectrometer for sale. I call it the i-Phos, from the Greek "Phos" meaning light. It connects to your PC via USB and interfaces with the fantastic open source Theremino software.

With this instrument, you can analyse the spectra of many different light sources. You can see and analyse absorption spectra and emission spectra from flames, vials containing liquids, etc. You can see infra red and ultra violet wavelengths. You can test LED spectra, laser spectra, and so on. You can also test the transmissivity of various materials like greenhouse coverings or glasses or sunglasses lenses and all kinds of light filters. Wavelength accuracy is good down to a few nanometres. An approximateion to relative intensity is also shown, though this is not accurate and there is no measurement of absolute photon flux density, so there will be some applications which this instrument is not suitable for. Still, at about 1% of the price of a full-n;own lab machine there will be many applications where the i-Phos is a fantastically good solution.

Science teachers will find this spectrometer a fantastic way to engage their students, offering highly interactive visual experiences to illuminate the underlying science.

Hobbyists will find it useful in the areas of indoor gardening, hydroponics, aquaponics, grow cabinets, LED grow lighting etc.

Professionals can use this spectrometer in many situations which do not require an accurate relative quantitative analysis of wavelengths present.

Construction is as follows:

The cylindrical spectrometer body is approximately 80 mm (3 1/4 inches) in diameter and 400 mm (15 3/4 inches) long. It is made from high density cardboard, covered in glossy plastic sheeting. The inside is spray painted black to eliminate glare.

The back plate houses a CMOS camera sensor and a diffraction grating, held in precise registration by a 3D-printed mounting.

The 3D-printed front plate allows the fitting of exchangeable slit plates, so you can control the light levels entering the instrument.

Between the front and end plates is a 3D-printed diaphragm plate which improves instrument performance.

SAY THANKS WITH PATREON:

MUSIC:

[NoxusGr]

Hello Chris!
First of all crongratulation for this amazing project, it really warms my hearth when someone creates a device accessible to everyone to deep further explore science.
I have a question about, I'm interested in purchasing one for spectrum analysis of LED orticoltural lights and mimic day conditions for circhadian rhythms in plants. It's possibile to measure the different amount of light wavelenghts or this device just tell a plain composition of the light spectrum analyzed? (For example, blue and red light intensity and ratios?) Thanks again and best regards!

[qvqlwrm]

Hi Chris, I just purchased the i-Phos and I can say I'm very happy with it, thank you! One question: do you have the spectral response graph for the camera's CMOS sensor to the different wavelengths within its range? I think it can be of great help to be able to adjust the measurements taking into account that most camera's CMOS sensors are optimized for the light as perceived by the human eye.

[popsarocker]

Probably more accurate to say that yellow is perceptually "non-spectral" as it requires the stimulation of red (L) and green (M) cones. Yellow is always ultimately a mixture of red and green regardless of whether the color is spectral at the source. Do I think that's yellow? Yes. And indeed it is.

[mikeharmon]

I am wondering if the light from a modified "plasma cutter" could be used to identify the metal it is cutting after the light entered your device? The units for that purpose are higlhy priced and work by making a "spark: not unlike a plasma cutter and then analyze the resulting light.

[jess-bt]

Hi Chris, would you be willing to share which webcam you currently use and where you source it from? (privately if you'd like). I am a high school Physics teacher in Australia and I would love to build something like your original 'box' spectroscope with my students. I think it would really help their learning. But I'm conscious there are probably 100s of webcams I could buy that might not work due to autofocus issues etc.

[manuelpuiglopez]

Hi Chris would this spectrometer work to calibrate display? how accurate is the spectro? 4nm?, How it behaves in low light?. looking forward to your reply.

[FirstLast-ihhc]

Hello Chris,

I am seeking a way to measure the concentrations of various chemicals in aquaium water samples so that my Betta fish ("FireFluff") stays happy. This is typically done with a colorimeter/photometer with a LED of fixed wavelength or a narrow band interference filter at 420 nm (for Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate, Ph, etc., using e.g. the "Hanna HI96700 Ammonia Low Range Portable Photometer"), or at 525nm (for calcium hardness, using e.g. the "HI96720 Calcium Hardness Portable Photometer").

To do this, you shine the fixed wavelength light through an unreacted water sample to obtain the base light intensity. Then you add a chemical reagent, wait till it's done reacting and coloring the liquid, and re-measure the light intensity at that wavelength. Apply some math, and you have the concentration of the specific substance and know whether your fish is happy.

Could the i-Phos be used to obtain precise comparative light intensities at a specific wavelength (e.g. 420nm or 525nm)? Especially with ultra low chemical concentrations, the difference in light intensities would be very small. I imagine all of the light would need to shine through the sample -- would the sample need to be positioned immediately in front of the slit inside of the chamber? (How) could I narrow the measurement range to increase the difference in intensities (i.e. spread the Y-axis)? You mentioned in your "i-Phos Light Spectrometer Customer Viewpoints: Patrik" that the webcam used does not measure light intensity equally across the frequency spectrum. Does it measure light intensity linearly at a given wavelength? I would need that more than across different wavelengths. If not, what kind of sensor could improve upon this?

Thank you very much for your input! Aquarium enthusiasts could benefit from this!

Christopher

[carllorch]

Hello! Do you have any videos that go into detail on what sources of light are best for each slit width? I would primarily only use this for measuring light bulbs. Would the default 1 mm slit be sufficient for these measurements?

[jaminoes_]

Hi Chris! Came here after watching Steve Mould's video about "light sucking flames".
I was wondering: Is the source code for your i-Phos offering available? I am a Linux user, and I would like to use it on my platform. I am willing to participate and contribute updates back, of course.

[jesusiccd]

I would like to know if the software only works with the i-phos spectrometer or if I can connect another USB camera, for example the one mounted on a microscope. Secondly, I would like to know if the light entering through the grille can be limited to a single point or enter the entire grille. And finally, what is the minimum width with which you can work with that grid.

[ralphhassall]

Hi Chris, can I please get the download link for the software? I ordered and received my item ages ago, unfortunately I got super sick and have only just had time to open it - as far as I can see I didn’t receive the software. Can you help?! :-) all the best Ralph

[rajeshtratnagiri]

Can you make video of measurement of high CRI LED lights (strips/COB or bulbs) now currently many seller selling and want to compare their claims?

[thebossnocompetition]

looks great..the question is.how accurate is it compared to a more expencive spectrometer ?
it would be great if you had the chance to test it and compare the results.

for measuring light on displays is the 1mm plate good enough or do i have to order another size ?

also can the program calculate CCT? (Color temperature) from measuring a displays white light?
that is from the CIE1931 standard

[wurmisaft]

Amazing project! Exactly what I was looking for! I am really interested in buying one. Primarily I would like to use it to measure how much light with the wavelenght between 360 - 400nm is blocked by different types of glass/polycarbonate. So I can compare outdoor daylight with indoor daylight for example. I don't need exact numbers or a high resolution - only approximations. Is it as accurate in this kind of UV range as in the fully visible spectrum?

[Mistadobalinacaust]

Hello, would this be suitable for measuring the amount of sunlight able to come through fabric?

[mr.c.]

My main interest in the i-Phos is for viewing spectra of aquarium lighting (primarily using LEDs). I need to work out the best way of doing this before making a purchase of the i-Phos. Of course, it is highly desirable to take measurements underwater in order to investigate the lighting as 'seen' by aquarium plants. I had initially been thinking on the lines of fiber optics to pipe the underwater light to a sensor outside the aquarium. In order to quantify the light in recognized units, perhaps an i-Phos (or a later derivative) could be used in conjunction with a quantum sensor?

[singaporesavesneo]

Sir, do you have a spectrum with blue & white background (you showed red, yellow, etc) on the monitor ? Any update on the measurement range of wavelengths or new product? Thanks!

[saeedhamam]

Does the software support saving a snapshot of the intensities (as data values) in a file? What formats are available (say CSV)?

[Bichla]

hi Chirs!
i can use for auto paint. tks Chris.

[DougHanchard]

Superb video.

It is to bad a retired high end 35 MM SLR Camera CCD (Charged Coupled Device) cannot be repurposed.

Of course, CMOS or Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor chips have pretty much replaced CCD's.

CMOS Binning is not complex, but it certainly is a game changer. But I've not seen any Android versions of CMOS software available for use in the ultraviolet or infrared spectrum.

Have you come across it?