UV Tubes
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Posts: 46,084
There have been a couple questions about the UV tubes I use in my UV table
for making PCBs. I purchased them from Endacott Lighting in Manhattan,
Kansas. They are manufactured by Sylvania and are marked F15T8-BL.
Endcott's phone number is (785) 766-4472.
Paul Verhage
for making PCBs. I purchased them from Endacott Lighting in Manhattan,
Kansas. They are manufactured by Sylvania and are marked F15T8-BL.
Endcott's phone number is (785) 766-4472.
Paul Verhage
Comments
>There have been a couple questions about the UV tubes I use in my UV table
>for making PCBs. I purchased them from Endacott Lighting in Manhattan,
>Kansas. They are manufactured by Sylvania and are marked F15T8-BL.
>Endcott's phone number is (785) 766-4472.
>
>Paul Verhage
Hi Paul -
The F15T8-BL is a standard and generic ultraviolet lamp that any manufacturer
will have. Any decent wholesale electrical supply house SHOULD stock them
as well.
Just wanted to note that there is nothing particularly special about them.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
can order enough to make out on the shipping.
Just a word -- be careful with these bulbs as they can apparently blind you
if you aren't careful.
Al Williams
AWC
* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller at
http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm
>
Original Message
> From: Bruce Bates [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=0yxIzMPPJoY8RkfJq8-_F69Yj6N44sN7ioox4YHwzdG6DGsByiRbXj-FL1EGyv525iHevTd9zN7efzvk]bvbates@u...[/url
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 4:06 PM
> To: basicstamps@egroups.com
> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] UV Tubes
>
>
> At 1/4/2001 Thursday 02:38 PM -0700, Paul Verhage wrote:
> >There have been a couple questions about the UV tubes I use in
> my UV table
> >for making PCBs. I purchased them from Endacott Lighting in Manhattan,
> >Kansas. They are manufactured by Sylvania and are marked F15T8-BL.
> >Endcott's phone number is (785) 766-4472.
> >
> >Paul Verhage
>
> Hi Paul -
>
> The F15T8-BL is a standard and generic ultraviolet lamp that any
> manufacturer
> will have. Any decent wholesale electrical supply house SHOULD stock them
> as well.
> Just wanted to note that there is nothing particularly special about them.
>
> Regards,
>
> Bruce Bates
>
>
>
>We get UV bulbs from http://www.bulbdirect.com/ -- very inexpensive if you
>can order enough to make out on the shipping.
>
>Just a word -- be careful with these bulbs as they can apparently blind you
>if you aren't careful.
Hi AL -
Only if you get flying glass in your eye. Rumors like that have been around
for years, and all are totally unfounded. A mercury ARC TUBE is ENTIRELY
another matter ! Tanning beds are another matter as well. Any of the -BL or
-BLB tubes are harmless light sources. In fact, they are used by Medical
Doctors as a diagnostic means !
Other uses include Fun Houses, fluorescing lighted signs, checking for
certain dyes, checking for the presence of starches, verifying admission
stamps, checking for counterfeit currency, setting UV adhesives, and more
I've long forgotten.
>Al Williams
>AWC
>* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller at
>http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm
Regards,
Bruce Bates
we use in EEPROM erasers (yep, we still do EEPROMs). I've alwyas been told
that you should not look directly into the bulb when it is operating. Is
this true or not? Years ago we had a homemade eraser where I worked and I
remember being able to see the blue glow but not the bulb directly. The
eraser I have now has some sort of smoky plastic that I presume stops
whatever is bad about it.
Of course, ordinary black light is harmless -- otherwise half my class in
college would be blind.
Al Williams
AWC
* Control 8 servos: http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak8.htm
>
Original Message
> From: Bruce Bates [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=sGzQFYpcGD3siE6wfpj6LmcwZeVwtGTB6r5tajsndXVtCyO56yFqXUW5OBeqB6Jd-HKHqVp5XFqzN5yb]bvbates@u...[/url
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 5:16 PM
> To: basicstamps@egroups.com
> Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] UV Tubes
>
>
> At 1/4/2001 Thursday 04:25 PM -0600, Al Williams wrote:
> >We get UV bulbs from http://www.bulbdirect.com/ -- very
> inexpensive if you
> >can order enough to make out on the shipping.
> >
> >Just a word -- be careful with these bulbs as they can
> apparently blind you
> >if you aren't careful.
> Hi AL -
>
> Only if you get flying glass in your eye. Rumors like that have
> been around
> for years, and all are totally unfounded. A mercury ARC TUBE is ENTIRELY
> another matter ! Tanning beds are another matter as well. Any of
> the -BL or
> -BLB tubes are harmless light sources. In fact, they are used by Medical
> Doctors as a diagnostic means !
>
> Other uses include Fun Houses, fluorescing lighted signs, checking for
> certain dyes, checking for the presence of starches, verifying admission
> stamps, checking for counterfeit currency, setting UV adhesives, and more
> I've long forgotten.
>
>
> >Al Williams
> >AWC
> >* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller at
> >http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm
>
> Regards,
>
> Bruce Bates
>
>
>
learned that when you were 15
Al Williams wrote:
>
> Whoops, are we talking black light? I was talking about the germicidal bulbs
> we use in EEPROM erasers (yep, we still do EEPROMs). I've alwyas been told
> that you should not look directly into the bulb when it is operating. Is
> this true or not? Years ago we had a homemade eraser where I worked and I
> remember being able to see the blue glow but not the bulb directly. The
> eraser I have now has some sort of smoky plastic that I presume stops
> whatever is bad about it.
>
> Of course, ordinary black light is harmless -- otherwise half my class in
> college would be blind.
>
> Al Williams
> AWC
> * Control 8 servos: http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak8.htm
>
> >
Original Message
> > From: Bruce Bates [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=xLTnDKSld0WebJAt7OByaMdXl_-nzLwRiASqLRzzcnOEeU_LKsFdLnywTXYug17LZfKxEqCr2n80y2pzWTNs]bvbates@u...[/url
> > Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 5:16 PM
> > To: basicstamps@egroups.com
> > Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] UV Tubes
> >
> >
> > At 1/4/2001 Thursday 04:25 PM -0600, Al Williams wrote:
> > >We get UV bulbs from http://www.bulbdirect.com/ -- very
> > inexpensive if you
> > >can order enough to make out on the shipping.
> > >
> > >Just a word -- be careful with these bulbs as they can
> > apparently blind you
> > >if you aren't careful.
> > Hi AL -
> >
> > Only if you get flying glass in your eye. Rumors like that have
> > been around
> > for years, and all are totally unfounded. A mercury ARC TUBE is ENTIRELY
> > another matter ! Tanning beds are another matter as well. Any of
> > the -BL or
> > -BLB tubes are harmless light sources. In fact, they are used by Medical
> > Doctors as a diagnostic means !
> >
> > Other uses include Fun Houses, fluorescing lighted signs, checking for
> > certain dyes, checking for the presence of starches, verifying admission
> > stamps, checking for counterfeit currency, setting UV adhesives, and more
> > I've long forgotten.
> >
> >
> > >Al Williams
> > >AWC
> > >* Floating point math for the Stamp, PIC, SX, or any microcontroller at
> > >http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak1.htm
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Bruce Bates
> >
> >
> >
Long wavelength UV (320 nm or longer, roughly) is what most people refer to
as "black lights." This is relatively safe to look at. The shorter
wavelengths used in germicidal bulbs (~280 nm and below) are very dangerous
to both eyes and skin. You can get nasty "sunburns" of the skin, and do
very painful damage to both your corneas and retinas by exposing yourself to
these wavelengths. Plus it plays havoc with your DNA.
Just my $.02
peter
Peter C. Charles, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Rm. 730 Mary Ellen Jones Building, CB# 7290
UNC
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7290
Al Williams wrote:
>
> Whoops, are we talking black light? I was talking about the germicidal
bulbs
> we use in EEPROM erasers (yep, we still do EEPROMs). I've alwyas been told
> that you should not look directly into the bulb when it is operating. Is
> this true or not? Years ago we had a homemade eraser where I worked and I
> remember being able to see the blue glow but not the bulb directly. The
> eraser I have now has some sort of smoky plastic that I presume stops
> whatever is bad about it.
>
> Of course, ordinary black light is harmless -- otherwise half my class in
> college would be blind.
>
> Al Williams
> AWC
I want my EEPROM erased, not my DNA. Now Doctor, I have this pain about
here.....
Al Williams
AWC
* Expand your Stamp's I/O: http://www.al-williams.com/awce/pak3.htm
>
Original Message
> From: Dr. Peter Charles [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=zuCJWdxdUXwl78H6kyfxWxUTOXVRVO0tgyRDNGAebAyRHVNaxtbsOyXbyw_zhKyIDi9BRwRwIEzHMzk73A]pcharles@m...[/url
> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 7:11 PM
> To: basicstamps@egroups.com
> Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] UV Tubes
>
>
> Al-
>
> Long wavelength UV (320 nm or longer, roughly) is what most
> people refer to
> as "black lights." This is relatively safe to look at. The shorter
> wavelengths used in germicidal bulbs (~280 nm and below) are very
> dangerous
> to both eyes and skin. You can get nasty "sunburns" of the skin, and do
one at children's eye level?????
Steve Chlupsa
SMC Enterprises
Original Message
From: Dr. Peter Charles <pcharles@m...>
To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 7:11 PM
Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] UV Tubes
> Al-
>
> Long wavelength UV (320 nm or longer, roughly) is what most people refer
to
> as "black lights." This is relatively safe to look at. The shorter
> wavelengths used in germicidal bulbs (~280 nm and below) are very
dangerous
> to both eyes and skin. You can get nasty "sunburns" of the skin, and do
> very painful damage to both your corneas and retinas by exposing yourself
to
> these wavelengths. Plus it plays havoc with your DNA.
>
> Just my $.02
>
> peter
>
> Peter C. Charles, Ph.D.
> Research Assistant Professor
> Department of Microbiology and Immunology
> Rm. 730 Mary Ellen Jones Building, CB# 7290
> UNC
> Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7290
>
> Al Williams wrote:
> >
> > Whoops, are we talking black light? I was talking about the germicidal
> bulbs
> > we use in EEPROM erasers (yep, we still do EEPROMs). I've alwyas been
told
> > that you should not look directly into the bulb when it is operating. Is
> > this true or not? Years ago we had a homemade eraser where I worked and
I
> > remember being able to see the blue glow but not the bulb directly. The
> > eraser I have now has some sort of smoky plastic that I presume stops
> > whatever is bad about it.
> >
> > Of course, ordinary black light is harmless -- otherwise half my class
in
> > college would be blind.
> >
> > Al Williams
> > AWC
>
>
>
>
>
>If those germicidal bulbs are dangerous, why does my local Burger King have
>one at children's eye level?????
>
>Steve Chlupsa
>SMC Enterprises
Hi Steve -
Where is it located and why do you believe it's a germicidal lamp ?
Bruce Bates
It's right after you walk in.....blue colored tubes....what else would it
be??
Steve Chlupsa
SMC Enterprises
270-522-9376
Original Message
From: Bruce Bates <bvbates@u...>
To: <basicstamps@egroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 11:29 PM
Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] [noparse][[/noparse]OT] UV Tubes
> At 1/4/2001 Thursday 10:35 PM -0600, Steve Chlupsa wrote:
> >If those germicidal bulbs are dangerous, why does my local Burger King
have
> >one at children's eye level?????
> >
> >Steve Chlupsa
> >SMC Enterprises
>
> Hi Steve -
>
> Where is it located and why do you believe it's a germicidal lamp ?
>
> Bruce Bates
>
>
>
>
>
>Bruce:
>It's right after you walk in.....blue colored tubes....what else would it
>be??
Hi Steve -
Presuming they are being used with in an INSECT/FLY ZAPPER, they are
F15T8-BL bulbs (usually) to ATTRACT flying bugs, and insects to the HIGH
VOLTAGE SCREEN.
Insects are attracted to the UV from the tubes. These are NOT germicidal lamps.
BY LAW germicidal lamps MUST BE SHEILDED FROM VIEW.
I've seen dozens of different ZAPPERS and they all use a UV bulb of some sort.
Some are tubular, some are circular, and others are sahped like a Horse Shoe.
Hope that clears it up.
Regards,
Bruce Bates
18 years selling light bulbs : )
For making PCB like I recommend in my article, us the bulbs ending in BL.
Don't use the bulbs ending in BLB. The BLB's have a dark blue-purple
coating on them. The BL's have a off-white color.
My understanding is that the BLB's are safer to look at than the BL's. But
I guess someone here can straighten me out on that issue.
Paul
>So much about UV lamps!
You bet Paul -
>Good science is like that : ) TOMES have been written about UV and
>it's effects on humans. Almost every space lanuch has some sort of light
>experiments. And there are MANY more to come - I trust. Some high
>altitude balloons and blimps are also being used for researching
>near-space. Much of THIS research DOES have to do with the HARMFUL
>effects of the sun's UV-A
>and the UV-B. Here's a Medical Doctor's take on all this UV-A vs. UV-B
>business: [noparse][[/noparse] http://suntan.com/uv.html ]. More can be found under Skin
>Cancer research and Ozone Depletion (which see).
>For making PCB like I recommend in my article, us the bulbs ending in BL.
>Don't use the bulbs ending in BLB. The BLB's have a dark blue-purple
>coating on them. The BL's have a off-white color.
>
>My understanding is that the BLB's are safer to look at than the BL's. But
>I guess someone here can straighten me out on that issue.
The -BLB bulb have a visible light filter manufactured as part of the glass
envelope. Both -BL and -BLB bulbs produce the same harmless long wave UV
output at very low intensities. The -BLB bulbs are probably four times the
price of the -BL bulbs.
>Paul
Regards,
Bruce Bates