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Can Ultra Violet tubes be used in lightboxes ?
I have been asked to quote for a 1220mm x 300mm internal light box to be displayed in the front of a shop window. It is a very simply sign, just blue translucent text on a standard white(opal) acrylic panel.
The customer has quite strangely requested that the box has UV tubes fitted. His reasons for suggesting UV tubes is that he say’s it will make the opal (white) acrylic panels extremely bright.
I haven’t come across UV tubes being used in light boxes before. I would have concerns about the UV reducing the life of the vinyl & acrylic also I would have thought there might be regulations regarding the use of UV lights in public areas.
Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated, in the mean time I will continue to advise the customer that it will be bright enough on standard tubes.
cheers
Dave
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10 Replies
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I dont know if you can get different types of UV tubes, but the sort used in sunbeds are UVA tubes and for health and safety reasons there’s no way you could use it in a sign. They are all printed with a warning on them.
He could always put a warning next to his sign saying that you’re only allowed to look at it with sunbed goggles on! 😎 😉strange request eh!
As for the effect on the vinyls ….. I’m pretty sure it would eventually discolour the vinyl.
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I guess blacklight (UV) tubes would be fine as they’ve been used in discos for years….and we’re not blind!?
Adam
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No idea why he’d want UV tubes in it.
If it’s got to be bright just put in an extra tube or two, or higher wattage tubes, going for ‘cool white’ (blueish tinge) instead of ‘warm white’ – or get opal with a higher L.T.
As far as I was aware Opal and standard vinyls doesn’t react significantly to a UV source…some of the really weird colour tints do slightly, and obviously photoluminecent vinyl.
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The opal Pex will block a large percentage of uv light so uv radiation wont be an issue but it will NOT flouresce under uv (like ladies underwear does at discos)
We spray paint flourescent tubes if we want light of a particular colour and it works real well.
A real nice way to do that sign would be to sandblast 6mm clear pex , apply the letters and edge light it top and bottom wth LEDS and the blasting and lettering WILL flouresce (provided you have enough LEDS with a decent spread)
Will be very slimline too. -
Wouldn’t the UV degrade the acrylic as well as the vinyl.
Are you allowed to have black lights outside?
The blasted LED ides sound like a good idea to borrow -
Well guys we made one for a disco and the second night we changed the covering vinyl and used white tubes. It was a complete disaster 050 acrylic completely blocked the UV effect
regards Adrian
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Thanks for all you comments.
This afternoon I did a quick experiment with an off-cut of opal acrylic and a UV backlight tube borrowed from a mates disco hire shop. The results were basically as suggested. .. nothing.
I will advise the customer of this and suggest having a lightbox with an extra row of standard tubes !
Thanks again
Dave
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Hi Dave,
not sure if you know or not but there is different colour fluros in the white range. if you want the real bright white, need the get the triphosphor Daylight tubes. they have a rating of 6500K- standard fluros Cool white are only 4200K and are much cleaner and brighter in colour
and yes the UV tubes dont work behind the acrylic as you found out. Sorry I read the post to late.Not sure but you normal electical wholesaler might not carry the brighter tubes, may be special order
tim
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Hi Tim
In the end I had the light box manufactured with an extra row of tubes. The tubes were daylight tubes. ( not sure of the rating but they were standard 58w ) The sign is very bright, but now I have the customer worrying about his electricity bill. 🙄
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Hi Dave,
No Worries, sorry for the late response.
all the best!
tim
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