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Are UV LEDs actually UV?

C

CrashGawker

Gawd
Joined
May 30, 2002
Messages
630
Hey, working on a mod project currently not revealed because of lack of progress. One issue in my planning stages I'm having is getting UV light to a plexi tube based res outside my case. I COULD cut a window, or mount a CC externally, but I don't like the idea because I don't feel like it would meld well with the overall look of things.

Here's my question in a nutshell. If I put say 6 UV leds in the end cap of a 2" plexi pipe, would they indeed emit true UV light, and would it be powerful enough to light a good 2 feet of said 2" pipe? Keep in mind there will actually be two end caps, so if you think more leds with part in either end cap would be better speak up.

TIA
 
Yes and no. UV light is litterally out of the visual spectrum of a human. So the purple color you see is not UV light. However, the UV LED's do emit UV radiation.
 
Yes, they will generate UV light. You won't know how much it'll light up until you do some testing with the actual LEDs you buy; there's a lot of variance.

Also, remember, like most LEDs they're focused. Light comes out mostly in one direction. If you point the LEDs straight from the endcap, you won't see too much; better to angle them.
 
I'm not really interested in the purple, and I don't think focused or unfocused is really going to matter much.

Simply put I'm thinking a clear acrylic pipe 2 inches in diameter. In the end caps, probably standard PVC fittings painted to match the mod, I could mount the LEDs pointing down through the middle of the tube. This would flood the UV directly INTO the water with the dye lite in it making it flouresce as desired.

Basically, I just want some way of putting light into the res from outside the case without having to mount anb external UV cold cathode. I figured this would be the easiest way to achieve that end but was unclear as to the properties of UV leds.

This has been pretty helpful, and even gives me a way to improve my mod slightly I think. Any more input on the idea would be appreciated, if anything needs calrification just ask.

EDIT
what are the most powerful UV leds for the money? Like what brand and where do I get them?
 
I never could get a good UV effect with em.

I have the Vantec Spectrum fan card which SAYS it has UV LEDs in it, but nothing in my case lights up with just this installed. I have to have my UV CCFLs on for everything to glow.

The spectrum card looks like it has BLUE LEDs instead of UV. It floods the case with blue light, but - as I said before - nothing glows unless the CCFLs are on.
 
That's one of the concerns I had as well. I'm a little wary about the LEDs though they would be ideal for the application I'm looking at. However, for the price they would have to be highly UV reactive to my dye lite in my res in order to be worth the money.

Maybe I can figure out how to water proof a cold cathode...anyhow I'd really love some more input on the UV properties of UV LEDs cause it'd really be the easiest way to accomplish the project.
 
The UV LEDs I got freebied from lsdiodes are rated at 395nm peak wavelength (I think that's within the UVA range), they do glow a deep purple but they definately cause stuff to flouresce. However not all materials flouresce at the same wavelength. 395nm is kinda long but most things will flouresce. 370nm or so might work better.
 
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