Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Ultraviolet Light

Should water used by the public be disinfected with chlorine or ultraviolet germicidal light? This post looks at the pros and cons for each approach. Whether it’s water used in food processing or water that comes out of a faucet for drinking or water in a municipal swimming pool, elimination...

Most germicidal bulbs look like linear fluorescent light bulbs. They have the same shape. They share similar base types. Both use low pressure mercury arc technology. They both have hot cathode and cold cathode lamp types. They both use external ballasts to regulate voltage between the building and the lamp....

The fluorescent blacklight category consists of bulbs with phosphors that create a peak wavelength at 365 nanometers. This part of the spectrum is called UV-A, and it is just inside the boundary with visible light. However, UV-A bulbs are considered ultraviolet bulbs as their peak wavelength is in the ultraviolet...

Purification of water has become a hot topic in recent years, as new studies have shown that most chemicals that are commonly used for water purification, for example chlorine, are slowly losing the battle against certain bacteria and pathogens. These bacteria have become immune to these chemicals over time. In...

With Spring finally here in most of the United States, one concern of many homeowners is pond maintenance. Having a pond in backyard can be a great addition to a property's landscaping, especially if there are Koi and other colorful fish in the pond. A water purification system usually includes...

With the arrival of Spring and sunnier skies, it is worth a reminder about the power and harmful effects of ultraviolet light. Sunlight contains both UVA and UVB radiation. These are invisible wavelengths beyond the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum. UVA, the tanning (and skin wrinkling) portion of the...

The sounds of Spring. Rain and thunderstorms, birds that are finally coming back after a long winter, and ZAP! That's right, it's time to talk about bug zappers, an invention that has come a long way since it was first patented in 1934. How Bug Zappers Work Bug zappers, despite...