Gallery of Lights
Lamps => Modern => Topic started by: LampLover84 on October 14, 2011, 06:20:27 PM
-
I picked up a GE UCF13/EB/DX 13" (Thrift-Store Score $1) Fluorescent Under Cabinet fixture and I plan to use it as a blacklight fixture. I already had a F8T5/BLB lying around from another fixture whose ballast fried. I have a question though what is the difference between BLB and the BL fluorescent lamps. Is there other differences other then the color of the glass or phosphors as I noticed that the /BL is white and the /BLB has a purple color to it.
Thanks
-
The Blacklight Blue (BLB) contains Woods Glass will only let out one narrow spectrum of UVA. More details at Black light (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklight_blue) at the Wikipedia site.
The Blacklight (BL) only contains ordinary glass with certain phosphor coating that use most of the UVA emission area.
I hope that answer some of your question :)
-
So I take it that a plain /BL lamp will let more light through then? I just want to light up my posters and not the room so I take it I should stick with my /BLB lamp then?
-
The big difference between /BL and /BLB is the UV output, which is lower for the latter. I'm not sure if /BLBs will emit UVBs, but as UVAs are not extremely harmful, there's no real risk of using both models.
Basically, the greater the UV output, the brighter things will glow under the lamp LOL.
-
A example of a BL lamp is those bluish lamps you see inside bug zappers.
-
They use UV lights when you get braces to harden the glue they use, but i'm not sure if those are BL or BLB.
-
Those are usually germicidal lamps, which are made of quartz and emit raw UVC light, very nasty! O_O Those must be used with care, as UVCs are quite harsh and actually are close to X-rays!
-
Germicidal lamps should look like a clear merc when lit (DON'T TURN ON WITHOUT A SHIELD)
They look like clear fluorescents.
/BL lamps are usually bluish when lit, on place where you can often see them are bug zappers.
They look like regular fluorescents when off
/BLB lamps are black when they're off because of the Wood's Glass that they use.
-
What is the purpose of germicidal lamps if they're so dangerous? ??? :o
-
They're intended to be used in a enclosure with interlocks to prevent the UV light from leaking out.
The main application of these is to sterilized objects, although I've seen that are designed to sterilize fluids such as drinking water and HVAC air returns.
-
Ahh. Are those the normal "tanning lamps"? Where can you get those? I'd imagine they're quite expensive as they don't seem to be used by the average comsumer.
-
No the tanning lamps are different from these, the BLs are occasionally sold as replacement lamps for bug zappers so you should check around where the bug zappers are in the home centres.