ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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There's a cheap handheld fluorescent UV lamp that works great called the
Avon Derma-Spec (used in cosmetics for curing?). It runs off 12V (or
batteries) and has a 50 sec cutoff timer.  
$7.95 http://tinyurl.com/2qugun

Note: If it comes with a bulb that puts out the shorter spectrum of UVB
light, you'll need to buy a replacement fluorescent bulb marked BLB (Black
Light Blue) that puts out a safer spectrum of 350-375nm (longer wavelength
UVA light).  BLB is the common blacklights you find at novelty shops.
http://tinyurl.com/2ruzms (Bulbs.com)

Also, UV LEDs can be dangerous, since they don't put out much visible light.
You could be staring at one and not really know that it's bright in the UV
spectrum and sizzling your eyes.

As a side note, if you are looking to cover a UV light with plexiglas, most
plastics use UV stabilizers which block UV light.  We have used cheap
plastic from CD cases that do not have the UV stabilizers.  "Wood's glass"
is used in high-end equipment that passes UV but it's very expensive.

-Eric
Exhibit Developer 
The Children's Museum of Portsmouth

p.s. Just a little info on UV lamps
http://members.misty.com/don/uvbulb.html#sp 


-----Original Message-----
From: Michelle Nichols [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 9:22 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ISEN] Source for UV lamps

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
****************************************************************************
*

To add to the sources mentioned for UV lights, if you are looking for an
extremely portable UV light source, check out Educational Innovation's long
wave LED UV flashlight.  We've used it very sucessfully with heir UV decting
beads, wi
for doing that activities indoors or in the darkwhere they may not be any
other UV light available to change the color of the ebeads, and with
fluorescent mineralsthat readct to long wave UV.  The UV LED flahliht uses
AAA batteris, which is also grevery
much appreciatedND weawe've used it with a UV camera.

If you can consider this a downside, the colors of the beads aren't as
vibrant with the flashlight, but only because it's not at the intensity of
the un's UV ligh.x

If you want more info, go to http://www.teachersource.com.  The flashlight
is relatively inexpensive and is perfect for on-the-floor activties.  Ilike
it much better than other small hand-held UV lights since the light is more
concentrated

Michelle

Michelle Nichols, Master Educator for Informal Programs
The Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL  60605
312-322-0520 
312-322-2257 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org

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For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.

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