It’s very nice to know that my test is interesting to you guys. I stated in my conclusion about the necessary of wearing UV protective glasses but I think I haven’t emphasised it enough. I think your skin is safe ( just don’t point the flashlight directly to you at close range and prolonged, and be aware of highly reflective surface as wle noted)
But please wear your UV protection glasses when using UV flashlight, djozz and Henk did an excellent job in explaining the reason.
I also found that my prescription glasses did quite a good job of filtering out the UV, i will post more test results here
Very interesting test. Actually, I’m somewhat surprised the flashlight is as strong in UV as sunlight. But, I suppose the 5x7135 configuration does produce a fairly strong beam. I still find it hard to believe that reflected UV flashlight light is much of a concern, unless you’re using it a lot.
Even more surprising is this comment:
I’m not sure what to make of that. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Closest is the sandpaper-effect that people get on their corneas from being exposed to UV-C. But that’s a real physical effect. UV should be basically invisible. Maybe some skin-burning after prolonged exposure on the retina, but that would be an after-effect.
Always thought it was just my imagination, in that playing with my UV lights (shining on walls, floors, etc., to discover any… “leavings”), that I’d get a headachey feeling, or actually an eyeachey feeling, within just a few minutes.
Kinda like “sunlight headache” when you’re outdoors in bright sunlight, surrounded by light-colored sidewalks, walls, etc., and the brightness of the light all around you is just too overwhelming.
After I saw similar comments from people here, I decided it in fact wasn’t my imagination.
Are you sure it’s not from the visible violet light that is also emitted from the UV source?
Or, is it possible it’s an imaginary effect? Like people that claim they are sensitive to EMR from cell phones or wifi, but when they are actually given a blinded test, there’s no effect.
I dunno, maybe it is a real thing. I’m just surprised that something invisible could cause an immediate effect of pain. I get that extended exposure might cause pain, perhaps from a “sunburned” retina.
Wasn’t expecting any effect at all, as I’ve still got a few “black lights” (eggplant-purple fluorescent tubes) that never gave me any issues.
Playing with a bare UVLED in a ’501 host, I noticed the “headache” after a few min. Chalked it up to anything but the light. Every time I’d do it, though, same dealy.
S2+ with ZWB2 filter, same dealy. Okay, not a coincidence anymore… Ain’t violet light nor “leakage”, but whatever’s coming from the both the bare UVLED and now with the filter. That pretty much leaves UV.
That’s just it, I don’t want to get blinded, so I keep UVing to a minimum.
Wellp, I’m a bit of a hyperæsthete. Bright lights can give me migraines, loud sounds bother me (even soft sounds when it’s otherwise quiet). I gotta wear a baseball cap at work because the damned overhead fluorescents flicking at me in my peripheral vision will give me headaches/eyeaches by lunchtime.
I joked that I was part Reman, but nobody got it.
Anyway, it doesn’t surprise me that I’d be sensitive to UV.
Yeah, polycarbonate should filter something like 99%+ of UV. I was considering building a S2+ UV triple until I remembered. I know someone did it with a C8F once, would work much better lol. My other concern was that the Vf of the UV emitters tends to be pretty damn high, and I'd want some sort of compatible buck driver to do it.
Dont think so. Various gas layers around earth are more or less consistant.
UV level depends from the angle of sunlight. So all factors like season, distance to the equator and time do matter, but sometimes they may give same angle in different regions.
With the exception of politicians, most humas only have two eyes. So take good care of them.
I try to do so as good as I can. Nevertheless, there is always that itchy feeling after using a UV flashlight.
Your eyes can’t help it, they just don’t respond (contraction of pupils) very well to UV light.
For those who care, and not just down under, here is something you might wanna read.
Dr. Ruth Westheimer used to say: “Always Wear Protection”. And Jane would add: “Because You’re Worth It.”
Well, I remember a friend traveling to Australia in Summer. He said without head or long sleeves he got a sunburn within MINUTES.
He is a normal middle European guy with dark hair.
So I do think be very careful with the sun down under.
I also get headache within a minute when I use my UV S2+ light without glasses.
