How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
How can one safely tell if a UV lamp is working? This is a UV tube in a pond filter system which lives in a lightproof (well, UV proof I suppose) tube with the water going to the filter flowing past it. It has standard fluorescent gear, a choke and a starter. -- Chris Green |
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
|
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article , writes: How can one safely tell if a UV lamp is working? This is a UV tube in a pond filter system which lives in a lightproof (well, UV proof I suppose) tube with the water going to the filter flowing past it. It has standard fluorescent gear, a choke and a starter. Often they have a little fluorescing plastic indicator in the case, to show it is picking up UV. You should change the tube annually anyway (assuming 24x7 operation), as UV output drops, and in continuous operation the output will become too low before the tube fails in the conventional ways (i.e. not starting). If you are doing this and the unit is drawing roughly the right current, I would assume it's working unless you have some other reason to suspect it (e.g. pond going unexpectedly mankey). When operating, it may generate some ozone which you might be able to smell from the casing, but they don't all do this. I hope the unit has interlocks to prevent you looking at the tube operating, which is dangerous. However, if you are tempted to try defeating the interlocks, put a sheet of glass (not plastic) between you and the lamp, stand well back, and only operate the lamp for a few seconds. There is normally a dim visible glow from the clear tubes. Thanks, we have two spare tubes (it's ex. my mother-in-law) and I doubt very much if the tube has been replaced within living memory so I'll change it anyway. -- Chris Green |
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... I hope the unit has interlocks to prevent you looking at the tube operating, which is dangerous. However, if you are tempted to try defeating the interlocks, put a sheet of glass (not plastic) between you and the lamp, stand well back, and only operate the lamp for a few seconds. There is normally a dim visible glow from the clear tubes. I would have thought most plastics would block UV more than glass. Most UVB and almost all UVC are blocked by virtually any material apart from quartz. |
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
|
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
|
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
|
How to tell if a UV lamp is working?
raden wrote: White material especially after having been washed should fluoresce when exposed to the light It really needs to phosphoresce though (e.g. zinc sulphide), not fluoresce (e.g. washing powders). Fluoresecence is immediate, phosphorescence has a time delay. If you could see something in the act of fluorescing you'd probably be able to see the blue glow. Phosphorescence allows you to open it, close it, put the power back on, open it up and then see afterwards if it had illuminated. |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:05 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2014 DIYbanter