Even though I'm new here, and there was some UV light discussion in the past, I'm just going to dive in and post this... 'cause that's how I roll. (And past posts didn't answer my specific questions.)
So, what are your experiences re. fluorescent blacklights? And where can I get their technical data?
I've always hated the still-visible violet glow they emit, and wish a manufacturer could create an optical filter (either in/on the tube glass, or to cover the tube) that pretty much looks as black as the opaque paint on the metal fixture itself.
I tried F40T12BLB tubes from both Philips and G.E., and I found the Philips tubes had less purple spoiling the show compared to the G.E. But now I can't find any retailers here selling the Philips; they're all G.E. And even so, the Philips still wasn't as close to "perfect" as I'd like.
I tried looking up technical data on various UV fluorescent tubes (like emission spectrum graphs, phosphor chemistry, glass type (Wood's, quartz/silica, etc.), coatings on the tubes, etc.), but couldn't find anything. I also want to know more about their electrical properties, like filament resistance as a function of temperature, ideal filament temperature, gas breakdown voltage as a function of filament temperature, minimum sustainable arc current, maximum arc current without filament damage, etc. (The importance of this is evident in the next paragraph.)
High-pressure mercury vapour is not a solution for me, as I'm looking to build an instant-on/off, dimmable-down-to-zero UV lamp, that can be rapidly modulated across its brightness range (slew rate of 40W within 0.2s).
Of course I'm not 100% sure this is possible, but I believe it can be achieved... even if an instant "super dim" can only be achieved by firing a high-voltage arc across the tube in a carefully controlled high-frequency pulse-width modulation.
And I know all the rage is LED lighting now, but LEDs still suck for reaching small enough wavelengths, without spilling out a bunch of longer wavelength light and spoiling the desired UV fluorescence effect, and without destroying their own plastic/epoxy potting from the UV radiation, while still producing decently bright intensity, at a cost that's decently affordable.
So for this application, I think low-pressure mercury vapour fluorescent technology still reigns supreme.
...Anyone know just which ones have the least of that annoying purple glow? And where to find the technical data I seek?
So, what are your experiences re. fluorescent blacklights? And where can I get their technical data?
I've always hated the still-visible violet glow they emit, and wish a manufacturer could create an optical filter (either in/on the tube glass, or to cover the tube) that pretty much looks as black as the opaque paint on the metal fixture itself.
I tried F40T12BLB tubes from both Philips and G.E., and I found the Philips tubes had less purple spoiling the show compared to the G.E. But now I can't find any retailers here selling the Philips; they're all G.E. And even so, the Philips still wasn't as close to "perfect" as I'd like.
I tried looking up technical data on various UV fluorescent tubes (like emission spectrum graphs, phosphor chemistry, glass type (Wood's, quartz/silica, etc.), coatings on the tubes, etc.), but couldn't find anything. I also want to know more about their electrical properties, like filament resistance as a function of temperature, ideal filament temperature, gas breakdown voltage as a function of filament temperature, minimum sustainable arc current, maximum arc current without filament damage, etc. (The importance of this is evident in the next paragraph.)
High-pressure mercury vapour is not a solution for me, as I'm looking to build an instant-on/off, dimmable-down-to-zero UV lamp, that can be rapidly modulated across its brightness range (slew rate of 40W within 0.2s).
Of course I'm not 100% sure this is possible, but I believe it can be achieved... even if an instant "super dim" can only be achieved by firing a high-voltage arc across the tube in a carefully controlled high-frequency pulse-width modulation.
And I know all the rage is LED lighting now, but LEDs still suck for reaching small enough wavelengths, without spilling out a bunch of longer wavelength light and spoiling the desired UV fluorescence effect, and without destroying their own plastic/epoxy potting from the UV radiation, while still producing decently bright intensity, at a cost that's decently affordable.
So for this application, I think low-pressure mercury vapour fluorescent technology still reigns supreme.
...Anyone know just which ones have the least of that annoying purple glow? And where to find the technical data I seek?