60 Watts), we are most accustomed to describing UV light bulb power in terms of its electrical energy consumption. IMPORTANT: electrical watts does not equal UV light watts! As with regular household light bulbs (e.g.
For a 200 sq ft area, simply multiply the target UV levels by 2x for an estimated 2 watts of UV light energy needed. In this case, we are measuring the amount of light energy emitted in the UV wavelengths.įor most basic applications, 1 watt of UV light energy output is sufficient to create strong fluorescence effects over a 100 sq ft area. What is a "watt" of UV light? Watts are simply units of energy, and as you may recall from your introductory physics classes, energy can exist in a variety of forms - for example, electrical, kinetic, chemical, or light energy. For UV lights, the most accurate metric is "watts" of UV light output. Although lumens is typically the metric used to measure the amount of visible light, because ultraviolet light is invisible, this metric is essentially useless. UV blacklight "brightness" is a difficult metric to describe, because UV light energy is not directly visible. It may not appear like much, but the dim light you see is just a small fraction of the actual UV light energy hitting your eyes. Do not, for example, look directly into a UV LED blacklight when it is turned on, even if it does not appear bright. The amount and intensity of UV-A light energy emitted by blacklights is generally below dangerous levels, but be aware that the UV light energy emitted by the lamps is invisible. WARNING: Always use common sense and observe safety around the use of UV lights. Below, we discuss 4 questions you should consider before purchasing a UV blacklight. Generally, this means that a blacklight will emit primarily UV-A radiation, and very little visible light. Unlike regular white light bulbs, UV blacklights are unique in that they primarily emit ultraviolet radiation as opposed to visible light, and as a result, there are some additional factors you will want to consider before making a purchase.īlacklights are most commonly used when the fluorescence of objects needs to be observed, with as little visible light as possible. “Go with something you won’t hate too quickly and that’s not a pain to deal with in terms of the bulbs, and then pick way more interesting table and floor lamps.UV blacklights are great devices with a wide range of applications in the arts, industry, and scientific research. Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio, an experienced flush-mounted-light buyer, advises going subtle and solid over dramatic, and layering with other lighting: “They should still never be the only source of light in a room,” she says. In a home with low ceilings, they’re often a necessity, and there are some solid non-boob-light options on the market. (I only turn on my pallid, greenish overhead lights when I am cleaning, and the desire to turn them off makes me clean faster.)īut flush-mounted lights don’t deserve their bad rep - like any other light, there are good and bad varieties, and a lot of common complaints can be mitigated by picking the right fixture for your space and installing lightbulbs with a warm color temperature and good color rendering. Strongly associated with $15 Home Depot “ boob lights” in rental apartments, they have the reputation for being badly designed and producing bad light. It’s rare to hear someone talk with great enthusiasm about their flush-mounted light.
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