UV LEDs

[CynicalMan]

I have an ultraviolet LED that I got cheap from a surplus store and I'd like to know if it is safe for use as an indicator LED. It is almost as bright as a white high-brightness LED, so I doubt there is much UV coming out. I've seen a few threads on this subject but none of them answer my question, since they concern the small bear violet LEDs.

[runmikeyrun]

aside from the tan you might receive, i'd say it's ok as long as you don't stare at it. 

[trixdropd]

maybe an expert will tell me I'm wrong, but they aren't true uv i don't think. it's a purple led only isn't it?

[CynicalMan]

maybe an expert will tell me I'm wrong, but they aren't true uv i don't think. it's a purple led only isn't it?

I believe they have mostly purple wavelengths and some UVA wavelengths.

[DUY1337GUITAR]

Does UV wavelengths cause noise in stompboxes?  Someone told me that but I thought he might have mistaken it for IR light.  I did some research and read that UV could cause noise, but if these are mostly purple rather than UV, then I guess it's fine.

[space_ryerson]

I have a LED UV flashlight, and it is something you definitely wouldn't want to shine in your eyes! I don't know if just one UV LED would do much harm to you, though

A bit OT, buy it's amazing how well you can see flaws and repairs on guitars using the flashlight. I originally bought it to try to locate a cat piss smell. (cat piss glows under UV light).

[~arph]

I originally bought it to try to locate a cat piss smell. (cat piss glows under UV light).

Ok, now where can I get it? 

[Lurco]

I originally bought it to try to locate a cat piss smell. (cat piss glows under UV light).

Ok, now where can I get it? 

what? the catp*ss? or the smell? 

[~arph]

Hahaha, getting those is not the issue

[darron]

did you end up finding the cat piss?

going OT huh?

i made a uv lamp out of 52 LEDs.... it hurts to be in the same room as it even if you aren't looking at it. seriously....

[newfish]

Holy cr*p!

a UV Lightbox.  As if Australia didn't have enough sunshine?

Seriously though - do you have problems with Vampire infestation?

[darron]

Seriously though - do you have problems with Vampire infestation?

not anymore? dah...

[Ice-9]

did you end up finding the cat piss?

going OT huh?

i made a uv lamp out of 52 LEDs.... it hurts to be in the same room as it even if you aren't looking at it. seriously....

Ha i build one of them as a light box for exposing uv to PCBS for etching. Wasn't very impressed with the results but i expect some UV leds are diff to others.

[darron]

did you end up finding the cat piss?

going OT huh?

i made a uv lamp out of 52 LEDs.... it hurts to be in the same room as it even if you aren't looking at it. seriously....

Ha i build one of them as a light box for exposing uv to PCBS for etching. Wasn't very impressed with the results but i expect some UV leds are diff to others.

SAME....  don't feel so silly for spending all the money now since someone else had the same idea and went through with it! lol.


BACK ON TOPIC:

Here are the specs for the LEDs I used:

ED 5MM CLR UV 60MCD

Emmitted colour: UV
Lens colour: clear
Wave length: 395
nm:
Pd W:
If mA:
If mA (peak):
Min:
Vf (V) Typ: 3.7
Max: 4.2
IV Min:
MCD Typ: 200
Viewing Angle: 30


ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA

Ultraviolet (UV) light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than x-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm....


So it seems that the UV LEDs that we buy are right on the edge of visible and invisible wavelength and are probably mostly for show more than effect.

That's my science for the day. How does that sound to you guys?

[darron]

ah why not... more pictures!

[petemoore]

  Do substrates with frequency filtering/bending work with it
  Do they become 'reactive' uch as like with a black-light ?
  Since the bulb itself and other immediate objects lit by the bulb are 'hard to look at', what about indirect lighting effects ?

[trjones1]

I never understood the fascination with the high brightness LEDs.  I stopped using them after burning my retinas one too many times by looking at a stompbox the wrong way.  Why bother?  The problem with UV light is that it's invisible, so you really have no way of knowing how much you're getting.  You may look at a UV LED and see that the visible light isn't too bad, but how do you know you're not destroying your vision with the UV.  Doesn't seem worth it to me.

Anyway, I prefer the look of the classic red/green/yellow LEDs.  Of course, when I make pedals for friends they always demand the water clear/high brightness LEDs.

[jacobyjd]

I prefer the high brightness ones--I limit them enough so that they don't hurt to look at, but they're still pretty bright. The problem with standard diffused ones for me is that any ability to see them disappears in sunlight. I've played outdoor shows that have been a huge pain because I can't see what's on and what's off at the start of a song. Now it's all high brightness for me.

[ayayay!]

For water-clear LEDs:  UV LEDs are UV.  Purple LEDs are purple.  There is a difference, and you cannot see it.  Do not look into UV lights.  If you don't have a spec sheet and/or don't know which is which, do not use them where visible. 

[space_ryerson]

Ok, now where can I get it? 

Where you can get everything; Amazon.com

Lurco: heh

did you end up finding the cat piss?

Yes, I did. That smell drives me INSANE, and I was smelling it in my studio. I went crazy with the UV light trying to locate it, and eventually realized that the smell was coming through the window. Some alley cat was pissing in the...alley. I had to apologize to my cat for suspecting him, but he doesn't understand English very well

Just to see the UV light work, I went over to someone else's house where the cat had indeed pissed on the couch, and the piss does glow under UV light. Enough to find it, at least.

...back on topic