Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

[Shawn]

Looking for schematic for a 4-6 watt or equiv. short and long wave UV light for rockhounding. Prices for these things are over $300.00, WOW. Thanks.

[Paul (Luxembourg)]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

I don't know anything about, but isn't that just a question of bulbs emitting in the UV spectrum?
What about some resistors and UV LED's?
I think there are LED's with different wave lengths.
You could combine some different high power LED types. LED's would even contribute to a lower battery drain.
The question starts interesting me.
But anyway, we are off topic here.
What about asking at an electro forum?
Regards,
Paul

[Shawn]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

Do you know what kind of distance you would get out of an LED? Some of the dual band UV handhelds are expensive (I think its mostly because they are compact and rechargable) but they go up to 6 watts and, based on the descriptions, seem to emit light a few feet away. Wanted to build one for rock hounding but would like to cover a decent area. Thanks.

[Paul (Luxembourg)]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

Shawn,
I actually own a cheap commercial flashlight that can be fixed on the forehead with a strap.
There are just 3 LED's that still perfectly illuminate the soil at 10 meters ahead.
Just an idea: Why not taking a lowcost commercial LED flashlight and modifying it?
I guess if you take around 10-20 LED's at 9V, you could get a faily good beamer.
Here some links, but I guess that you have already made your own search:
http://www.ledsupply.com/l4-1-u5th15-1.html
http://members.misty.com/don/ledbl.html
http://www.theledlight.com/UV.html
http://www.elektor.de/miniproj/details/020427.htm
http://shop.dotlight.de/shop/advanced_search_result.php/keywords/uv/sort/2a/language/en
http://www.eska-technik.com/shop/pi505842317.htm?categoryId=7
Hoping this helps and HH,
Paul

PS: OK, I agree that good UV LED's are not cheap. May be there are some for sale on eBay.

[Mrand]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

Look this:

Mrand



Click Here

[Shawn]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

Thanks! Thats a great idea. I'll check into it. Thanks again. -Shawn

[Ivars Kums]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

You may possibly take a look on a blacklight below and try to modify it for continuous operation (heatsink with small fan on power transistor and disabling timer may be more or less all that's necessary) To get a short wave UV just pop in appropriate tube.



Blacklight

[Ivars Kums]

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light

Re: Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light
Posted by Ivars Kums
Thursday 15 July 2004, 11:42:58
In Reply to Anyone have schematic for handheld short and long wave UV light - Posted by Shawn on 7/07/04

The big dark well kept secret that allows to sell blacklights for outrageous sums is...

UV tubes in fact are exactly the same thing as ordinary fluorescent lighting tubes, just lacking luminophore that converts UV to visible light. So, you may simply buy some camping light that uses standard 6 inch 4 W size fluorescent tube, change it to same size blacklight tube and voila - you are in business. For shortwave UV one uses bactericidal tubes and it may be necessary to remove any glass/plastic shields, because unless made of special material they do not pass short UV well.

For building by yourself, see link:



Click Here

[Unregistered]

Shore long UV

Looking for schematic for a 4-6 watt or equiv. short and long wave UV light for rockhounding. Prices for these things are over $300.00, WOW. Thanks.

I make one that I sometime sell on eBay, $40 for the set. Both are 8 Watts
Both run on 12V (8 AA cells) or and external supply for outside and caves and at home I use a standard 12V DC 500 + mW. When I'm out searching I personally use and external supply and feed the short wave about 18V.
The filter window (the expensive part) for the short wave is aout .5 X 6.5 inches. Works better than most others I've seen costing a lot more. Both lamps use 12" tubes and I include the 12V DC adapter.
Don [email protected]