Cold Cathode vs. UV

tmpearson · 11-August-04, 06:10 PM

Does a cold cathode light emit UV light or do I need a UV light to achieve the effect? Is it a good idea to have a cold cathode AND UV light in the same case?

FunkyFresh · 11-August-04, 06:17 PM

If you want UV light, you have to get a UV cathode (or UV LED's, or another UV light source). A blue (or red or green or...) cold cathode won't emit UV light.

By the way, UV cathodes are much dimmer than other colors, so if you have say, both a UV and a blue, the blue may drown out the UV.

TekXoID · 11-August-04, 06:20 PM

Blue cathodes emit some UV, but for a UV glow just use a UV cathode.

However they have not worked very well for me, you're better off with
UV LED's, because they give off a blue UV glow, not that nasty purple glow that UV cathodes do. Better UV glow too, just wire them up where you need them to light the UV-reactive items/cables in your case.

tmpearson · 11-August-04, 06:24 PM

Thanks for the quick replies!

I'm using yellow cathodes. I guess I should just stay away from UV since it is blue, eh?

TekXoID · 11-August-04, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmpearson


	Thanks for the quick replies! I'm using yellow cathodes. I guess I should just stay away from UV since it is blue, eh?

Or purple, if you choose a UV cathode.

Cyno01 · 11-August-04, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmpearson


	Thanks for the quick replies! I'm using yellow cathodes. I guess I should just stay away from UV since it is blue, eh?

UV is usually purple, and purple and yellow give a good contrast. Also, UV cathodes are very dim in the visible spectrum, the whole point is not to give off purple light, but to make everything UV reactive in your case (cables, fans, slot covers etc) light up.

carbongraphite · 11-August-04, 06:49 PM

if you want serious UV you should look into luxeon stars since a 1 watt star is like 20 regular leds in one. id run it off of an led driver since it adds some versatility. just make sure you dont buy a shortwave UV LED (shorter wave length than black lights used for killing bacteria, cureing adhesives, bug catchers, tanning etc.) or else it will fry your eyes and give you a tan. blue LEDs also work well with glow in the dark stuff too since blue is within most glow products activation range.

Dreyco · 11-August-04, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyno01


	UV is usually purple.

UV stands for Ultra Violet and violet is purplish so there ya go. And true UV you cant see because its above the visible light spectrum but you can see below it and thats why you see violet.

Just thought I'd add that...

:-D

mentyl · 11-August-04, 11:58 PM

Black Lights are basically UV also, and TEX maybe I like that purplish glow

I have a ton of UVs and one blue Cold cathode that strobes to music, but when I turn it on steady it drowns out the uvs'.

11-August-04, 06:10 PM		#1 (permalink)
tmpearson Apex Techie Wannabe	Cold Cathode vs. UV Does a cold cathode light emit UV light or do I need a UV light to achieve the effect? Is it a good idea to have a cold cathode AND UV light in the same case?

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11-August-04, 06:17 PM		#2 (permalink)
FunkyFresh 'Da Doctor of Funk	If you want UV light, you have to get a UV cathode (or UV LED's, or another UV light source). A blue (or red or green or...) cold cathode won't emit UV light. By the way, UV cathodes are much dimmer than other colors, so if you have say, both a UV and a blue, the blue may drown out the UV.

11-August-04, 06:20 PM		#3 (permalink)
TekXoID Banned	Blue cathodes emit some UV, but for a UV glow just use a UV cathode. However they have not worked very well for me, you're better off with UV LED's, because they give off a blue UV glow, not that nasty purple glow that UV cathodes do. Better UV glow too, just wire them up where you need them to light the UV-reactive items/cables in your case.

11-August-04, 06:24 PM		#4 (permalink)
tmpearson Apex Techie Wannabe	Thanks for the quick replies! I'm using yellow cathodes. I guess I should just stay away from UV since it is blue, eh?

11-August-04, 06:49 PM		#7 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa	if you want serious UV you should look into luxeon stars since a 1 watt star is like 20 regular leds in one. id run it off of an led driver since it adds some versatility. just make sure you dont buy a shortwave UV LED (shorter wave length than black lights used for killing bacteria, cureing adhesives, bug catchers, tanning etc.) or else it will fry your eyes and give you a tan. blue LEDs also work well with glow in the dark stuff too since blue is within most glow products activation range.

11-August-04, 11:58 PM		#9 (permalink)
mentyl Apex Tech Fanatic Supreme	Black Lights are basically UV also, and TEX maybe I like that purplish glow I have a ton of UVs and one blue Cold cathode that strobes to music, but when I turn it on steady it drowns out the uvs'.