UV, Black Light, Dangers?

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Hi Everyone,

 

I was looking around in my closit, and found an old black light.

 

I was wondering:

-What harm could it cause to myself if I turned it on?

-How harmful is radiation from typical black lights, does it matter if this one is old, like maybe 15 years?

-What common materials may I store it inm ore does it need to be stored in a UV absorber at all?

 

THE MODEL IS A: 365nm Spectronic B-14N with a BLE-220B Long Wave UV Tube.

Is that dangerouse at all, is it too powerful???

 

I look foward to reading your responses... they will save me (or cause me) much worrying.

[Rakdos]

safe blacklights = black/purple tube when off.

BAD NO NO BAD UV lamps = grey when off.

from http://episteme.arstechnica.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=77909585&m=2130977762

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Oh good, mine is dark violet when off.

One more question, after a black light is used, will potentially harmful radiation be left in the area, if so, for how long.

[Rakdos]

not very long scince that radition travels @ the speed of light

[YT2095]

I have a 6 foot black ligh in my front room, it`s on 24/7. it`s perfectly harmless, they`re also used in advertising and nightclubs, you can buy a bulb version, it`s just like an ordinary lightbulb with that filter coating, it block all light except the UV, and an ordinary clear bulb wont hurt you

[swansont]

I don't know about "perfectly harmless." UV radiation is tied to cataracts, and the problem with filtering out the visible is that you perceive the area to be darker, and your iris opens up to let in more light, which includes the extra UV.

 

This is the reason that cheap plastic sunglasses are potentially bad for you and especially kids (who are more likely to be given cheap plastic sunglasses)

[DeoxyriboNucleicAcid]

Good point swansot:)

Thanks for your help and input, YT2095 and Schrodngr's cat

[5614]

so the final conclusion is::::: what?

 

i think: unless ur paranoid, black lights are cool!!!

[MolecularMan14]

I have a 6 foot black ligh in my front room, it`s on 24/7. it`s perfectly harmless, they`re also used in advertising and nightclubs, you can buy a bulb version, it`s just like an ordinary lightbulb with that filter coating, it block all light except the UV, and an ordinary clear bulb wont hurt you

 

Thats friggin sweet! whats the model?!

[YT2095]

I dunno man, it was made in the USA by GE (general Electric), it`s a 6 footer, at 80 watts. that`s all I can read without switching it off, and I don`t want to do that as the starter`s broken and I need to use a cap and screwdriver to trigger it again (yeah I could buy a new one, but I`m lazy).

it was bought from a UK company called B&Q, and was only about a tenner with the fixings

[5614]

WHAT??? lucky you, can u buy another one and send it to me

[YT2095]

5614, B&Q is UK wide, you`ll be able to get the same deal I did at your local outlet. just wait for a sale

[5614]

ill have a look, on their website..... if the deal is still on, thnx

[YT2095]

well mines over 4 years old, so you can expect another fiver to go ontop now!

[MolecularMan14]

whats the website? Im not in the UK but I can still get the model #, and look for it here

[5614]

i dunno, but B & Q dont seem to sell black lights anymore, or not like yt's anyway....

 

6ft high, and only £10,,,,,, im jealous of you! that was a wicked deal! even though it was a while back,,,,, nice buy!

 

[make ur wife jealous of ur shopping skills!!!!!]

[MulderMan]

well i was in B&Q warehouse today to buy a toolbox and 'supplies' and i see no backlight, but like yt said it was a few years back.

[badchad]

In the U.S. they sell them at Wal-Mart. 6 footers, only like 20 bucks (dunno the conversion but thats pretty cheap). We have four in our basement for parties...good times.

[MulderMan]

might have a look in argos or index in town tomoro

[YT2095]

In the U.S. they sell them at Wal-Mart. 6 footers, only like 20 bucks (dunno the conversion but thats pretty cheap).

it`s about £14 here (give or take a few coins)