TOCON selection guide - Boston Electronics Corporation

TOCON selection guide 

pre-amplified UV Photodetectors, 0 … 15V output 

What is a TOCON? 

A TOCON is a pre-amplified UV photodetector with 0…15V output. The TOCON devices 

are using modern hybride technology to cancel unwanted signal disturbances caused by 

moisture or electromagnetic radiation. The stable output voltage can be directly connected to a 

SPC controller or a voltage multimeter. No external amplifier is needed. Most of the TOCONs 

are powered by a Silicon Carbide (SiC) detector chip (ABC, A, E, C). The BLUE series works 

with a GaP chip. The TOCONs are available as: 

…3 pin photodiodes in 

a TO39 housing 

How to find „my“ TOCON? 

… or as easy to mount 

and connect stainless steel 

M12x1 thread housings, 

l = 32 mm, integrated plug 

Step 1 selection of Spectral Response 

TOCON NOMENCLATURE 

TOCON _ {spectral} {dynamic range} 

can be: ABC 1 …. 10 

A 1 …. 10 

E 1 …. 10 

C 1 …. 10 

BLUE 1 …. 10 

(“1” is very sensitive and “10” is very 

. unsensitive) 

The TOCONs are available with five different spectral responses, UV broadband “ABC”, UVA 

“A” , UVC “C” and Erythema Curve “E” (also useful for other selective UVB measuerements) 

and blue light “BLUE”. The below table shows the spectral response of the different TOCONs. 

For further information please refer to Appendix B (page 4) and the datasheet. 

Rev. 1.0 Page 1 [3] 

Manufacturer: sglux GmbH; Agent: Boston Electronics, 91 Boylston St, Brookline NA 02445 USA 

(800)347-5445 or (617)566-3821; fax (617)731-0935; uv@boselec.com ; www.boselec.com



Step 2 selection of Sensitivity Range 

The selection of the sensitivity range must be thoroughly done. A too sensitive TOCON will 

saturate below the upper limit of the radiation range to be measured, a too insensitive TOCON 

gives no or a too low voltage output. Thus, for dynamic range selection, please estimate, better 

calculate what is the max. radiation your TOCON must measure without getting saturated (the 

sensor will not be damaged if saturated). The related min. radiation is lower by approx. factor 

15000 – if the TOCON is powered with 15V. It is possible to power the TOCON with lower 

voltages down to 2,5V. However, this will reduce the dynamic range by factor 15V/Vsupply. The 

below graph shows the sglux TOCON offer spread over a radiant intensity range of 13 orders 

of magnitude. The dynamic range is deternined by the numeric suffix from “1” = very sensitive 

for very low UV radiation (e.g. a flame) to “10” = very unsensitive for very strong radiation. For 

further information please refer to Appendix B (page 4) and the datasheet. 

If a higher dynamic range than 15000 is needed, the sglux DIGIPROBE sensors (digital sensor 

with 5 orders dynamic range) could be interesting. 

How to use a TOCON? 

The 0...15V output voltage of a TOCON can be directly connected to a voltmeter or a controller. 

Alternatively a controller of the sglux SENSOR MONITOR 5.0 series can be used. These modules are 

free programmable versatile Radiometer and Dosimeter modules with 3 programmable relay outputs. A 

data connection to a computer is available. The SENSOR MONITOR is perfectly suited for developers. 

Rev. 1.0 Page 2 [3] 





General Specifications 

f 

Drawing 

Parameter Symbol Value Unit 

Maximum Ratings 

Operating Temperature Range Topt -25 … +85 °C 

Storage Temperature Range Tstor -40 … +100 °C 

Soldering Temperature (5s) Tsold 300 °C 

General Characteristics (T=25°C, Vsupply=+5 V) 

Supply voltage Vsupply 2,5 … 15,0 V 

Saturation voltage Vsat Vsupply V 

Dark offset voltage Voffset 0,5 mV 

Temperature coefficient Tc 405nm) VB >10 10 - 

Rev. 1.0 Page 3 [3] 



TOCON-Series Summary 

Model 

UV broadband (SiC) 

Boston Electronics Corporation 

91 Boylston St, Brookline MA 02445 USA 

(617)-566-3821 or (800)347-5445; fax (617)731-0935; uv@boselec.com 

The TOCON series are SiC UV photodiodes in TO-39 packages with hybrid 

preamplifiers inside. 

Tocons are available in a wide range of sensitivities corresponding to a wide 

range of potential customer requirements. Output is 0 to 15V. If 1 mV is the 

lower end of useful output, dynamic range is 15000:1 in any one device. 

Input is up to 15 VDC, lower input voltage (e.g. 5 VDC) is possible but reduces 

dynamic range. 

Optical input, 

W/cm 2 , for 2 V 

output 

at wavelength 

(nm) 

Approx. minimum 

irradiance (W/cm 2 ) 

Approx. maximum 

irradiance (Vsupply = 

15 V) (W/cm 2 ) 

Applications 

TOCON_ABC1 (nano) 7.0E-09 280 3.6E-12 5.4E-08 very low UV radiation detection, flame detection 

TOCON_ABC2 7.0E-08 280 3.6E-11 5.4E-07 low UV radiation detection, occupational safety 

TOCON_ABC3 7.0E-07 280 3.6E-10 5.4E-06 UV radiation detection, occupational safety 

TOCON_ABC4 (micro) 7.0E-06 280 3.6E-09 5.4E-05 UV irradiation measurement 

TOCON_ABC5 7.0E-05 280 3.6E-08 5.4E-04 UV irradiation measurement 

TOCON_ABC6 (sun) 7.0E-04 280 3.6E-07 5.4E-03 optimized for total sun UV measurements (not Erythema curve) 

TOCON_ABC7 (standard) 7.0E-03 280 3.6E-06 5.4E-02 UV irradiation measurement, industrial standard UV radiation 

TOCON_ABC8 7.0E-02 280 3.6E-05 5.4E-01 curing lamp control 

TOCON_ABC9 (mega) 7.0E-01 280 3.6E-04 5.4E+00 curing lamp control 

TOCON_ABC10 (giga) 7.0E+00 280 3.6E-03 5.4E+01 UV hardening control and other very high radiation sources 

UVA selective (SiC) 

TOCON_A1 7.0E-08 335 3.6E-11 5.4E-07 very low UVA radiation detection 

TOCON_A2 7.0E-07 335 3.6E-10 5.4E-06 low UVA radiation detection 

TOCON_A3 7.0E-06 335 3.6E-09 5.4E-05 UVA radiation detection 

TOCON_A4 7.0E-05 335 3.6E-08 5.4E-04 UVA irradiation measurement 



TOCON_A7 7.0E-02 335 3.6E-05 5.4E-01 Measurement of high UVA irradiation, curing lamp control 

TOCON_A8 7.0E-01 335 3.6E-04 5.4E+00 Measurement of very high UVA irradiation, curing lamp control 

TOCON_A9 (giga_A) 7.0E+00 335 3.6E-03 5.4E+01 Measurement of VERY high UVA irradiation, curing lamp control 

UVB selective (SiC) complies with CIE087, DIN5050 

1 UVI input produces electrical output of: 

TOCON_E1 1,7 V 0,01 UVI 3 UVI UV-Index measurements, if an attenuating diffusor is used 

TOCON_E2 (Eryca) 170 mV Erythema curve 0,1 UVI 30 UVI UV-Index measurements 

TOCON_E3 17 mV 5.00E-03 7.50E-01 UVB radiation measurements 

UVC selective (SiC) complies with DVGW W294(3), ONorm 

TOCON_C1 7.0E-09 254 3.6E-12 5.4E-08 very low UVC radiation detection, occupational safety 

TOCON_C2 7.0E-08 254 3.6E-11 5.4E-07 low UVC radiation detection, occupational safety 

TOCON_C3 7.0E-07 254 3.6E-10 5.4E-06 UVC radiation detection, occupational safety 

TOCON_C4 7.0E-06 254 3.6E-09 5.4E-05 UVC irradiation measurement 

TOCON_C5 7.0E-05 254 3.6E-08 5.4E-04 Purification lamp control 

TOCON_C6 (standard_C) 7.0E-04 254 3.6E-07 5.4E-03 Purification lamp control 

TOCON_C7 (kilo_C) 7.0E-03 254 3.6E-06 5.4E-02 Purification lamp control 

TOCON_C8 7.0E-02 254 3.6E-05 5.4E-01 curing lamp control 

TOCON_C9 7.0E-01 254 3.6E-04 5.4E+00 curing lamp control 

blue light (GaP) complies with 2006/25/EG 

TOCON_BLUE1 1.7E-05 445 8.4E-09 1.3E-04 measurement of very low blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

TOCON_BLUE2 (blue) 1.7E-04 445 8.4E-08 1.3E-03 measurement of low blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

TOCON_BLUE3 1.7E-03 445 8.4E-07 1.3E-02 measurement of blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

TOCON_BLUE4 1.7E-02 445 8.4E-06 1.3E-01 measurement of blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

TOCON_BLUE5 1.7E-01 445 8.4E-05 1.3E+00 measurement of high blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

TOCON_BLUE6 1.7E+00 445 8.4E-04 1.3E+01 measurement of very high blue light irradiation, occupational safety 

Accessories 

TOCON_probe 

Miniature threaded (M12x1) stainless steel housing with TOCON installed. Removable 5-pin connector with 2meter cable. Easy to mount and connect, with 

robust threaded body, suitable for all TOCONs 

1/6/2012 Tocon sensitivity, selection guide.xls

TOCON selection guide - Boston Electronics Corporation

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