Adequate amount (of time) of UV exposure??

[VICTORYCC124]

Hey guys,
I just redid my lighting in my Bird Room and I have a question. I now have a 48" strip with a bulb with CRI 98, and I have (3) 24" strips with the "black" (it's still white) light UV bulbs. My question is, should I leave my UV bulbs on all day with my spectrum lights? Or should I limit their exposure? And if I should limit it, to what should I limit them to?
Thank you!

 

[Jottlebot]

Hi, I've recently read 4 hours minimum UV, but that 8 is probably best if possible. Not sure why you would want to limit? Unless you're having problems with hormones maybe when limiting by having an early bedtime can help?

 

[SailBoat]

Before you spend a ton of money on stuff, I would recommend that your read the following Thread located near the Top of the General Health Care Forum, titled: Lighting Information For Birds!

General Area Lighting on a 'dimmer' (LED) is a much better way to go and limits the 'Dark Side' of UV Lighting.

FYI: Take the recommended bulb in what ever you are reading and set in the same recommend distance from your eye and turn it on and turn it off - So, how many blind spots do you see?

 

[VICTORYCC124]

Before you spend a ton of money on stuff, I would recommend that your read the following Thread located near the Top of the General Health Care Forum, titled: Lighting Information For Birds!

General Area Lighting on a 'dimmer' (LED) is a much better way to go and limits the 'Dark Side' of UV Lighting.

FYI: Take the recommended bulb in what ever you are reading and set in the same recommend distance from your eye and turn it on and turn it off - So, how many blind spots do you see?

I have a few questions..

I did read that thread, that's where I started actually. I used the info from link titled "April Newsletter". I already have the room set up with the lighting from the recommendations from there.

Do you mean, I don't need to use UV lighting?? Just the fluorescent lights with CRI 98, would be sufficient?

Next, I looked for an LED 4' bulb with 90+ for CRI, but I didn't find anything. Can you give me some direction on that please? Specific things to look for, would help.
Thanks Sailboat!

 

[SailBoat]

I have a few questions..

I did read that thread, that's where I started actually. I used the info from link titled "April Newsletter". I already have the room set up with the lighting from the recommendations from there.

Do you mean, I don't need to use UV lighting?? Just the fluorescent lights with CRI 98, would be sufficient?

Next, I looked for an LED 4' bulb with 90+ for CRI, but I didn't find anything. Can you give me some direction on that please? Specific things to look for, would help.
Thanks Sailboat!

To keep this as basic as possible so that others will also get something useful out of this beside just you and I! Okay!

UV is a specific frequency that when viewed would look like a very long sign wavy (think very big (long) bell shaped curve)! We see it as part of the full spectrum light. To provide a true UV sign wavy would require a distance longer than 24' Its been a while since I looked at those specs, it could be a bit longer or shorter.

Point being, neither a 4' fluorescent light bulb or a tiny little LED light bulb is capable of creating a UV sign wavy! So, neither provide anything close to true UV. Fair statement?

At this point, it all come down to the film or tint on the bulb and the ability of the bulb to maintain a specific 'brightest' over an extended time period and that film or tint maintaining its 'color over time!

Lets be honest here! We all known that the devise that creates the light in a 4' fluorescent light fixture has been cheapened over the years. Lift an old fixture and a new one and the weight is the telling difference. The old ones had a half life of about a year maybe a bit longer if you can find a really old one. The new ones vary widely depending on type of wire wrap to the coating, to, etc, etc, etc... The half life on those produces are as short as the moment you pull them from the box (zero) to a few months. As the arc it creates begins to vary it begins to cause the film or tint to darken and the gas charge to fail. To get longer life requires that the 4' fluorescent light are left on continuously - that is what the tests are all based on. Add to this, the lower the watt out put, the more difficult it is to maintain its consistency.

Within months of installation, what 'UV' like light that existed anywhere near a 'UV' like color is fading fast or is gone. Buy top of the line Name Brands may get you a bit more.

LED's have a bit better life regarding its ability to supply something that resembles 'UV' like color. NOTE: Heat is the killer of LED's to provide 'UV' like color. When placed in a enclosed fixture they will loss their ability quicker as the heat in the chamber increases with time. So, unlike the tubes, LED inside of fixture will hold color a bit longer.

Either way, time is the killer of any bulb to create anything close to 'UV' like lighting!

Should you use LED or tube lighting? Personally, I like the 'Day Light' color that those LED's or Tube's provide. I place a screen (shade) over our lamp fixtures and a back opened cover over ceiling fixture. I use dimmers on all Ceiling fixtures and stepped voltage switches on the lamp fixtures, therefore dimming the lighting in the evening and increasing in the morning - follow the Suns example.

I hope this helps!