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View Full Version : Strobing Black Light

Spookkid
03-16-2008, 04:55 PM
Anyone know where I can buy a Strobing Black light? It's for a project i'm working on. And I am trying to replicate an effect that my friend did in his dark ride. Thanks!
Otaku
03-16-2008, 05:28 PM
Sickie posted this device a while back and it came up again recently. This isn't exactly a strobe effect, but it will flicker a CFL. I understand that this will greatly (~50%) reduce the life of the CFL, though.

http://www.nfss.com/hfholicooufl.html
Spookkid
03-16-2008, 08:51 PM
Sickie posted this device a while back and it came up again recently. This isn't exactly a strobe effect, but it will flicker a CFL. I understand that this will greatly (~50%) reduce the life of the CFL, though.

http://www.nfss.com/hfholicooufl.html


Thanks for the link. Now, anyone know where I can get a good blacklight bulb? Every bulb that I have ever used has either burnt out, very fast, or has gotten way, WAY to hot.
Otaku
03-17-2008, 12:33 AM
You don't want to use those incandescent "blacklight" bulbs. They aren't true UV lights and they do get very hot. You can get 13 watt UV CFLs (coiled fluorescent lights) at some hardware stores. They go for about $15, sometimes less.
Revenant
03-17-2008, 01:19 AM
The only true strobing blacklights are the ones that use massive arrays of UV LEDs. They're great but pricey.

A possible alternative; a hassle but it works: Use a regular flourescent or CF blacklight bulb, and put a spinning disc with an opening in it in front of it. Or put a rotating drum around it with a cutout. It will alternately block and let light through, at a rate dependent on the speed of your motor. It'd be a whole project unto itself to build but it would do the job.
Otaku
03-17-2008, 01:18 PM
Revenant is correct. This blinking device does not actually strobe the UV light, it just gives you a way to make it blink on and off, and you probably don't get to adjust the rate. Some have used a secondary pulsing light that overrides the UV lights to negate the UV effect. This method allows you to have UV reactive paints fade in and out as the floodlight pulses.
Indyandy
03-17-2008, 09:47 PM
What about uv LED lights? Depending upon the amount of area you need to light up, these can be made to flash.