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F15t5s ballasted with modern electronic ballasts last a looooong time and are pretty cheap.  if you want a directional beam, you can mount them flush to the inside of a piece of 4" S&D pipe that has been split down the middle and lined with shiny Aluminum tape (no not "duck tape")  these things project amazingly well for an improvised optical system.  It's safe and effective to mount the ballasts remotely.  You do need to use high quality wire between the ballasts and the lamps or arcing and  fire hazards may result.  I've found everything I've ever needed for this type of lighting in stock at Loews or Home Depot.   In general, you wire the two pins at the ends of the tubes together since there is no provision for a heater circus with most inexpensive electronic ballasts.  Starters are not used with these circuits.  beware of blacklight spotlights.  Some of them have very short lived lamps.   All I'm suggesting is normal lamps run at normal currents.   You can run standard lamps at high currents if you cool the tubes with air or water but the tube life will be short.

Reagan Cole
Exhibits Engineer
Museum of Life and Science
433 Murray Avenue
Durham, NC 27704
(919)220-5429 x371 (phone)
(919)220-9639 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
www.ncmls.org

 


-----Original Message-----
>From: Rich Fedele <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Aug 27, 2007 3:52 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: UV Light
>
>ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
>Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
>*****************************************************************************
>
>Hi everyone,
>
>We have a 5' rotating globe of the Earth that we need to illuminate 
>with a UV light from one side to simulate nighttime.  The globe has 
>been painted with a special paint to simulate the Earth at night so 
>major cities will light up once a UV light is shined on 
>them.  Anybody out there have experience in choosing a UV unit and 
>bulb that lasts?  Words of wisdom are also accepted.
>
>
>Thanks so much!
>Rich Fedele
>
>
>
>Richard Fedele CIG, CIT, CIP
>Manager, Public Outreach Dept.
>Kitt Peak National Observatory/NOAO
>950 N. Cherry Ave.
>Tucson, AZ 85719
>520-318-8163
>fax 520-318-8451
>[log in to unmask]
>www.noao.edu 
>
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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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