The Glowring FAQ: Clarifications inside...

OK, while spending time on CPF chat, I found the urge to make this post after discovering something (see below). So here goes (this may be really obvious to most of you out there):

<ul type="square">
[*]Glowrings are plastic casings (smaller than an Arc AAA) with a small vial inside.
[*]Glowrings do not need charging.
[*]Glowrings last for more than 12 years.
[*]Glowrings are RADIOACTIVE.
[*]Glowrings contain tritium, an isotope of hydrogen. It does not glow itself, but the radioactive particles hit a phosphor which glows.
[*]Glowrings do NOT harm you, the tritium cannot penetrate the glass or your skin.
[*]Glowrings are technically NOT LEGAL in the US.
[/list]

Well, here is part of the conversation with IlluminatingBikr:

<<I mention that the other person just found out that glowrings glow for 12 years without charging>>
[222110] <Ill_Bikr> glowrings last for 12 years?
[222115] <Ill_Bikr> they glow for 12 years?
[222116] <+logic> OH NO, NOT YOU
[222119] <Ill_Bikr> lol
[222127] <Ill_Bikr> are you serious?
[222221] <Ill_Bikr> glow rings glow for 12 years straight?
[222226] <+logic> ill, please tell me all you know about glowrings
[222228] <Ill_Bikr> how comes the ones at parties last a few hours?
[222228] <+rothrandir> nooooooooo
[222230] <+rothrandir> muuuuuuuuuch longer
[222232] <Ill_Bikr> i don't loggy
[222233] <+logic> WTF
[222234] <+rothrandir> differetns tuff
[222237] <Ill_Bikr> oh
[222243] <+rothrandir> glowrings have a halflife of 12years
[222243] <Ill_Bikr> what ones are you guys talking about?
[222244] <+logic> EVERYONE IS STUPID
[222245] <Ill_Bikr> link please
[222247] <Ill_Bikr> LOL
[222247] <+logic> (no offense)
[222251] <Ill_Bikr> ur just too smart loggy
[222253] <Ill_Bikr> that's all
[222253] <+rothrandir> which means in 12years, itw ill be half as bright as when it started
[222300] <Ill_Bikr> oh ok
[222303] <+logic> illy, glowrings are RADIOACTIVE
[222305] <Ill_Bikr> they are radioactive?
[222307] <Ill_Bikr> oh lol
[222313] <Ill_Bikr> are they legal?
[222318] <+logic> not in the US

The other person who didn't know will not let me release his name. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif EDIT: Person revealed below.

Dan

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

RADIOACTIVE /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/help.gif i dont want one a them

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

Yea, real nice log, making fun of us. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/whoopin.gif

No more help for you.

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

Exactly what is it you need to know about Glowrings?

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

[ QUOTE ]
jtice said:
Yea, real nice log, making fun of us. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/whoopin.gif

No more help for you.

[/ QUOTE ]

Us? Ticey, he is only making fun of me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

[ QUOTE ]
The LED Museum said:
Exactly what is it you need to know about Glowrings?

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't need to know anything; it's just lots of people don't know what a glowring is, so I put this out there.

Dan

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

see what fun you miss out on when you don't come to the chatroom? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

beside ticey, you are lucky because he did not post the conversation when you asked about "what are glowrings
?" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif


edit: post edited (again) to delete broken english post

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

I dont recall speaking such broken english. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif

Hey, you never learn unless you ask, right?

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

lol ticey, well, i was just trying to get my point straight. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

what IS glowrings?

LOL

try again shift /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

hehe much better,,,,
if you are going to make fun of me,,, get it right. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are...

lol
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif
i am not trying to make fun of you. I just want to tell the people the truth /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are... (long)

[213103] * rothrandir waves berts trout
[213142] <jtice> what are these glow rings i hear soooo much about?
[213201] <+logic> WTF
[213206] <+logic> you dont know what a golowring is??
[213210] * Bart slaps rosetta with another one, please ask first. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
[213227] <jtice> i think i do,,,, but if im right,,, i dont see what the fuss is about
[213239] * Bart slaps ticey even harder...
[213246] <+rothrandir> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
[213248] <+logic> what is a glowring, from what you know
[213338] <+logic> ...ticey?
[213345] <jtice> little cylinder,,, like a rod, that glows?
[213410] <+logic> yeah
[213415] <+logic> you know for how long?
[213442] <jtice> few hours?
[213446] <+logic> ?!?!?!?!?!?
[213446] <@Bart> :d
[213448] <+logic> ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
[213449] <@Bart> LOL
[213450] <+logic> !?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?
[213451] <+logic> !?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
[213454] <+logic> ?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?
[213459] <+logic> YOU <expletive> IDIOT
[213500] <@Bart> 12 years half time...
[213503] <+logic> (no offense)
[213506] <+logic> lol
[213515] <@Bart> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[213518] <jtice> battery powered?
[213521] <+logic> NO!
[213524] <+logic> RADIOACTIVE!!
[213529] <@Bart> NUCLEAR
[213535] <+logic> TRITIUM
[213536] <jtice> noooooooooooooooooo
[213538] <+logic> like in watches
[213538] <jtice> really ???????????????????????????
[213540] <@Bart> Tritium
[213541] <+logic> YEAH
[213554] <+logic> ticey, you are an idiot.
[213554] <+logic> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[213608] <jtice> so, you are ttelling me,,,,,,,,,,, that if i leave it in the light, charge it up,,,,, it will glow for 12 years !!!!!?????????????????
[213609] <shiftd> back
[213630] <@Bart> no charging needed
[213632] <jtice> or does it not need charging?
[213637] <jtice> ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[213644] <jtice> how big is it?
[213652] <+logic> lol
[213709] <shiftd> lolol
[213709] <+logic> not big
[213712] <jtice> details ppl details
[213715] <shiftd> just like arc AAA
[213717] <shiftd> shorter
[213720] <+logic> shorter
[213720] <shiftd> fatter a bit
[213721] <@Bart> 1.5"?
[213725] <+logic> 1"
[213729] <shiftd> ticey, you know tool
[213735] <+logic> the tube is 1"
[213735] <shiftd> but you don't know glowrings?
[213739] * rothrandir murders ticey
[213741] <+logic> the actual casing is 1.5"
[213742] <+rothrandir> lmao0 man!
[213745] <shiftd> dude, you cannot call yourself flashaholic
[213746] <shiftd> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif
[213748] <+logic> lol
[213752] <+rothrandir> the glow comes from the steady decay of the tritum gas
[213756] <shiftd> yea
[213800] <+rothrandir> it has about a 12year halflife
[213803] <+rothrandir> no charging
[213807] <shiftd> just about enough in frequency of human eyes
[213809] <+logic> ok, this conversation is going to be posted up on CPF
[213812] <shiftd> lolol
[213816] <shiftd> good job, loggy
[213818] <+rothrandir> the tritium gas is incased in a tube, wish phospher in the inside
[213821] <shiftd> lets ruin ticey's name
[213822] <shiftd> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
[213826] <+logic> LOLOLOLOL
[213831] <+rothrandir> different colors canbe acheived by using different phosphers
[213838] <+rothrandir> green, pink, purple, blue, amber
[213843] <+rothrandir> are the current colors
[213845] <+rothrandir> oh, and sky blue
[213846] <jtice> price?
[213854] <jtice> brightbess?
[213858] <+rothrandir> about $12 each
[213858] <+logic> not bright
[213859] <shiftd> DARN it
[213900] <+rothrandir> veeeeeeery brigh
[213908] <shiftd> i want a new light
[213908] <+logic> lol
[213910] <shiftd> /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
[213916] <shiftd> the more i think about it
[213921] <jtice> lol, well which is it
[213921] <shiftd> the more i want a new one
[213930] <+rothrandir> lol
[213933] <+rothrandir> quite bright
[213941] <jtice> bright as a chemical glow stick?
[213942] <+logic> its bright enough to see it glow in a semi dark place
[213944] <+logic> NO
[213945] <+rothrandir> brighter than the cheap glowpowerdr creap you get at kidy stuff
[213949] <+rothrandir> not as brigth as that
[213949] <+logic> yeah
[213953] <+rothrandir> but lasts longer
[213957] <+logic> lol
[214020] <shiftd> lol
[214023] <jtice> hmmmm
[214024] <jtice> sounds cool
[214028] <+logic> ticey, you mind if i ruin your name?

Yes, that is how rothrandir types. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif

Dan

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are... (long)

[ QUOTE ]
...Yes, that is how rothrandir types. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif...

[/ QUOTE ]

whatgever dood, that is t9omputerly inccuragte...

btw...can you say bandwidth? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Re: Clarifications of what Glowrings are... (long)

Glowrings are just one of the products made by MB Microtec under a variety of names based on sealed glass vials of various sizes with their interior walls coated with various phosphors excited by tritium gas (radioactive) sealed inside.

An often used brand name is "Traser." and these products come in a wide assortment of sizes and light outputs.

The "Glowring" is one of the smaller vials sealed inside a heavy plastic protective sheath for use as a key ring finder.

Any device containing a source larger than 25 millicuries in the USA is required to have paperwork filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commision listing it's permanent location and who (or what "group") is responsible for it.

My wristwatch (a US military issue field watch) has 14 'Traser' tritium vials in it for illumination. On the back is certification that it contains less than 25 millicuries and it's NRC registration number. It is legal in the US. (The face has two marks dealing with the tritium: A small radiation trefoil and "H3" showing the type of radioactive material.)

Luminox watches (made, BTW, by MB Microtec as are Traser watches and other products) are also legal to import, etc. They have less that 25 millicuries of radioactives.

Many of the larger tritium vials are legal only for certain fixed uses or for certain military uses in the United States. There are many products using tritium vials that are legal to posses and to use in a non-fixed location outside the USA that do not meet the US legal requirements and have not been passed by the NRC.

While the tritium is not a radiation hazard so long as the vial is not broken, it IS a hazard if the vial breaks and the contents are ingested or inhaled. Skin contamination with the radioactive contents is larger vials can also be a hazard.

I'm ordering another radioactive watch from MB Microtec as soon as the model I want is again in stock ... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif (Luminox doesn't import it.)

Here's a link to some Traser products from MB Microtec.

Here's a pic of some large tritum vials:



This is my current tritium-lit military watch:



One can usually find Traser Glowrings on eBay, but importing them into the US is a problem, since they are illegal here.

A google search on "traser" or "glowring" will probably come up with more info.

As a last pic, here's a "Traser Torch" from MB Microtec. A light source that puts out light contunuously for many years, reaching half brightness after 12 years (the radioactive "half life" of the radioactive hydrogen isotope, tritium) and half that in another 12 years, etc.

It's even got a dimmer (a rotating shutter) since you can't "shut it off" but only cover it up: