UV leds

[Warlock]

Has anyone used the UV leds for Halloween lighting and willing to share video on how they look and the effect they give ???

[griffixdc]

I have used UV leds for grow lamps....they produce UV rays just like the sun...not recommended to do the black light effect if that's what your going for. :) a black light is alot better and produces a lot less harmful rays .....Please dont hold me to this though that is just my recommendation and experience. Although i have herd the SMD flux power Black light effect UV LED's are great for the black light effect and are better than florescent black lights....there light paths travel further hence more flux lumen distributed

[frankv]

I haven't used LEDs, but have used UV lights. For Xmas. We made up a tree decorated with balls and stuff painted with fluorescent paint, with 3 UV lights (total about 50 watts). These were the curly mini-fluorescent tubes that plug into a standard light socket.

We did need to set it up in an area shaded from the rest of our lights, but it looked good.

Here's where we got the idea from: http://www.festivaloflights.co.nz/photos/Blacklight%20area.JPG (ours didn't look anywhere near as good as this though).

Getting back to LEDs... typically LEDs have a narrower beam, so they would make more intense spots of UV light, but wouldn't illuminate much outside the spot. If your LED wasn't lined up properly, you would be in trouble. But if it was lined up right, it would look better.

[budude]

Most of the "UV" LEDs that you get are really "almost UV" and are typically at or just above 400nm - anything below that is where the bad stuff starts happening and you get into UVA, UVB, UVC, etc that can cause sun burns, blindness or cancer if exposed long enough. You can get true UV LEDs but they are typically hideously expensive and used for medical applications (germ killers, etc).

There are a couple posts for some of the floodlights where some folks used UV LEDs to get fair to good results.

[Keith R]

I have a mighty mini with 40 8mm UV's from CeCe's and it works OK. I think for the cost, I could have bought 6 24" fluorescent black lights from Wal Mart. The trade off is that there is only one light (more compact and easier to hide) but you have to have a 24 volt power supply to run it, as opposed to six 24" lights that are much bigger, harder to hide, and more extension cords to power them. I would say that the Mighty Mini's output is equal to about 3 of the black lights in area of coverage and strength of lighting. It truly depends on the effect you are trying to achieve and the distance you are attempting to cover.
Does neon paint glow using UV LED's? Sure, but not as bright as you would think, or would like. But, it does work, given the number of 8mm or 10mm UV LED's used.
Keith

[Warlock]

Hi Keith,
Do you have any video's of these lights in action ????? If so could you please post one so I an see how they look..
Thanks for the info..
Joe..

[Braveit1]

I posted my results on the older thread here:
http://doityourselfchristmas.com/forums/showthread.php?12460-UV-LED-Showdown/page2

[Warlock]

Thanks that was sweet...
100psc mega bright uv led 10mm 11,000mcd right now are going for US $31.99
Might use em in my next build on these mighty mini lights..As far as getting a good angle it depends on what holder you use..On my site I used to of em with the mega bright blue and they washed the whole house easily with no hot spots...All depends on the holder and what reflector is inside I guess...I can't wait to use these for uv..Gonna be a blast...Thanks for the reference to the pics..

[michaelc]

warlock, can you post the source and details on these UV's.

[Warlock]

Sure here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/100-PCs-Mega-Bright-UV-LED-10mm-11-000-mcd-F-R-New-/220275211996?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33496cfedc

[Livermore-Dad]

Sure here is the link http://cgi.ebay.com/100-PCs-Mega-Bright-UV-LED-10mm-11-000-mcd-F-R-New-/220275211996?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33496cfedc


Just a note those are not all that bright and thus the cheaper cost. They have a more expensive option which are at least 1/2 watt with a tad more angle.

Remember " Braveit1's" used 48 1 watt LED's, which from my research currently are in the $5.00 a piece range (but heck he hit his target at over 65'!! hahahahah.. So Maybe consider the sellers 1/2 watt option UV, a bit more than twice the price, but my guess is a much better result and more uses.

Tory

[michaelc]

Unfortunately, I bought these: http://www.phenoptix.com/index.php/through-hole/superflux-piranha/5mm/superflux-piranha-led-5mm-dome-uv.html

They are woefully underpowered. I soldered up 6 super strips and the light they emitted is almost negligible. Live and learn. Anyone need a batch of these puppies for smaller effects?

Also has ANYONE had ANY success using UV leds in the superstips. I'd love to have a UV effect glowing down from my house soffits.

[fasteddy]

Another good use for UV LEDs is to create hidden messages and features within your display. Its only when you use a camera that these will be seen.

[LabRat]

Heh heh.. I had been wondering about a UV LedTricks...

But read a website (somewhere) that went on about the limited lifespan of the UV leds. It was remarkably short. So I ditched the idea.

[David_AVD]

Another good use for UV LEDs is to create hidden messages and features within your display. Its only when you use a camera that these will be seen.

You're probably thinking of IR (infrared) LEDs there Eddy. ;)

[LabRat]

D'oh...

[Braveit1]

You're probably thinking of IR (infrared) LEDs there Eddy. ;)
hey but the UV leds do have some ir light to them. :) It's just they also send visible light as well so you will see the message first. :(