UV led?

[webley445]

Well I got hold of a UV led, at least I think it is UV. It shines purple and has a "blacklight" effect when used. SO now besides being able to say I have one, what use is it? I have no idea what I would use UV lighting for.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

If the one you have comes in a clear 5mm case, and glows a bright purple, you probably have an LED that emits its peak at 395nm to 405nm. If it glows a dim whitish purple, you probably have a 385nm one. And if it comes in a metal can with a glass lens, and glows a dim whitish purple color, you have a Nichia UV LED that emits around a milliwatt at 370-375nm.

As for uses, that's totally up to you. Whatever you'd use an ordinary blacklight for, you can use near-UV LEDs for.

Here are a couple of web pages that might give you some ideas of what to use your LED for:
Violet LEDs
UV LEDs

 

[McGizmo]

Shine it on a new $20 bill and see if you can see the strip inside. The RB luxeons will fluoresce but don't illuminate the strip in the bills. I believe you need real UV for this.

- Don

 

[EchoSierraTwo]

Counterfeit Bill Detection. The different denomination should have strips that reflect back different colors. I believe credit cards as well. travelers checks, etc. Experiment brother.

 

[Atomic6]

webley445,

Why the #1 reason to own a UV LED flashlight is for "Stink Detection" don't you know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Yep, it is true. Check it out for yourself:
Stink Finder Blacklight and Flashlight

I know I'm getting one /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

A-6

 

[flownosaj]

Try looking at your state issued driver's liscence under UV. I've got pretty writing all over mine /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Then go looking for bodily fluids /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif




-Jason

 

[The_LED_Museum]

If the UV LED is shortwave (under 400nm), you can find stray pee around the toliet, cat pee around the litterbox, dog pee around the bases of walls and doors, and other "messes" or "mistakes" that pets might leave behind around the house.

You can also take an LED like this and shine it at clothes at the thrift store. You can sometimes find "the hidden enemy" under the arms of shirts; assuming the fabric itself doesn't fluoresce and glow too. "The hidden enemy" should glow a bluish white color under the light of a sub-400nm LED - that's the shirt you *don't* want to buy.

 

[RevDavid]

You can also use portable UV illumination to hunt for scorpions or wind scorpions at night, as they have exoskeletons that glow under UV quite nicely. (Pale green/yellow)
David <><