Ultraviolet lamps have long been used to treat rooms in medical institutions. Later they began to be called bactericidal and used at home. Devices are often purchased by parents after the birth of a child to protect him from harmful microorganisms.
As interest in UV lamps grew, different types of devices began to appear that met the specific needs of buyers. For example, some devices used in hospitals are not suitable for use at home. You should consider the types of emitters, operating principles and purpose.
What is a UV lamp
An ultraviolet lamp is a device that emits artificial light that has bactericidal properties. The lamp emits part of the spectrum of sunlight - a neon purple glow is formed in the bulb. When the device is connected to the network, the mercury vapor inside the bulb begins to interact with electromagnetic discharges, emitting ultraviolet light.
Fig. 1 – UV irradiator.
Instead of mercury, cadmium, indium or bismuth is sometimes present inside the housing. The light emitted is in the range between X-rays and rays visible to the human eye. The UV lamp has the form of an elongated bulb, along the edges of which electrodes are installed that create a discharge to interact with mercury. Outwardly, it resembles a standard fluorescent lamp.
Power
If when choosing most household appliances (heater, boiler, vacuum cleaner, blender) it is recommended to choose a device with a higher power than is necessary in reality (so that the device does not work at its maximum capacity), then with UV lamps the opposite is true. It is better not to exceed the power.
For a room of 20-35 m2, a lamp with a power of 15 W is suitable, for a room of 40 m2 - 30 W.
Principle of operation
The operating principle of an ultraviolet lamp is almost identical to a quartz lamp. The main difference is that here, in most cases, special uviol glass is installed instead of quartz. It is necessary to filter aggressive UV radiation. Thanks to this, the device does not emit ozone, but only harmless soft ultraviolet light.
Inside the housing there are molybdenum current-carrying threads and electrodes in mercury vapor. The case is sealed and equipped with a durable base.
Disassembly.
unscrew the screws
disassemble the radiator, lightly press the thermal paste (see photo), apply it to my GD900
radiators weight 140g
out of curiosity, I weighed the glass for LEDs
here they are closer
and here are the lights themselves
power and control board
Varieties
Among existing UV emitters for disinfection, bactericidal and quartz lamps have become the most popular. In classical instruments, the flask is made of quartz glass. During operation, the device releases harmful ozone into the air.
The main difference between a UV lamp and a quartz lamp is different glasses.
Such devices are more often used for treating medical and industrial premises, where a person does not necessarily need to be present at the time of treatment. A uviol glass flask is installed in the bactericidal emitters. Structurally, ultraviolet lamps are as follows:
- portable . Due to their compactness and light weight, they are widely used in everyday life. Used to treat toilets, tables, sinks and shoes;
- open . Kill pathogenic microbes in the air and on all surfaces. There should be no animals, people or plants in the room when the device is operating. Suitable for processing large spaces;
- closed . They are called closed-type recirculators. They are often used in everyday life, since processing can be carried out in the presence of a person. The lamp design includes a fan. It is necessary to draw air inside, where disinfection with ultraviolet rays occurs. Next, the purified air goes back into the room.
Fig. 3 – closed type lamps.
In addition to design differences, ultraviolet lamps are divided by type of installation. They can be:
- floor . Best suited for disinfecting large spaces. They are often placed in a corner of the living room, hallway, bedroom or nursery. Sometimes used to disinfect wardrobes;
- mounted _ Installed on the ceiling or wall. The lamp must be mounted only on a reliable mount. Thanks to the large number of shapes and colors, the device can be selected taking into account the design of the room. The devices are characterized by increased efficiency;
- desktop _ They usually have a laconic design and small size. Such models can be used in any room, regardless of whether there are people there or not.
Fig. 4 – desktop UV irradiator.
Some models of ultraviolet color lamps are equipped with an automatic connection mechanism. If the disinfectant will be used at home, it is better to choose a portable model.
Ultraviolet lamp device
The ultraviolet lamp consists of the following elements:
- flask made of uviol or quartz glass;
- tungsten electrodes;
- metal base;
- molybdenum threads;
- coupling (ceramic);
- connector
Fig. 5 – design of an ultraviolet lamp.
What is it for?
Ultraviolet lamps are used:
- for medicinal purposes. For laryngitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, non-purulent otitis media, influenza and tonsillitis. In the midst of an epidemic, ultraviolet lamps are used as a bactericidal agent. Ultraviolet radiation therapy is not recommended for children under 3 years of age. But this is possible if the newborn has a mild form of liver dysfunction (manifested as jaundice). For a runny nose and sore throat, a model with a short wavelength is suitable. Often included are attachments;
- for water purification. The devices look like a tank with a lamp. The disinfector treats the liquid with rays, destroying harmful microbes. The output is clean and usable water. It is important to learn how to determine the amount of ultraviolet light needed for cleaning. In addition, you need to change the lamp when it begins to weaken;
- for plants. When they suffer from a lack of ultraviolet radiation, the issue can be solved with the help of a phytolamp. Artificial radiation will help ensure the process of photosynthesis, which is necessary for full development.
Fig. 6 – device for water purification.
What does ultraviolet lamp kill?
Thanks to ultraviolet rays, the device is able to kill dangerous viruses, bacteria (staphylococci, bacilli, enterococci), fungi (yeast and mold) and mold.
Fig. 7 – microorganisms susceptible to radiation.
The antibacterial effect is explained by the property of short-range ultraviolet rays (up to 280 nm). They are able to penetrate the DNA of pathogenic microorganisms and destroy it from the inside, preventing further reproduction.
Also read: Differences between a recirculator and a quartz lamp.
Reviews
Anastasia, 32 years old: In our family we have two ultraviolet irradiators: open and closed. Got used to using both. We quartz the room with one, and use the second with attachments. We bought the lamps because of health problems, mine and the child’s. The goal of the purchase was to get sick less, and we achieved this. Quartzing just saved us!
Sergey, 28 years old: A year ago I bought a device with attachments to treat a child who went to kindergarten and was sick all the time. The runny nose began to go away much faster, there is something to compare it with, I have no doubt about the effectiveness of quartz treatment. Once I caught a very bad cold, but with the help of a lamp I quickly recovered.
How to use a lamp correctly at home
It is believed that ultraviolet radiation, even in minimal quantities, can be harmful to health. When using a disinfection device, you must adhere to safety precautions. Rules for using the disinfectant:
- the bactericidal device should be turned on only if there are no people in the room and only for the period of time specified in the instructions;
- If you need to treat any parts of the body with ultraviolet light, you need to make sure that the device is intended for these purposes. Before turning on, you should put on special glasses (often they are included) and close your eyes. It is also worth adhering to the recommended mode, distance to the lamp and treatment time;
- If a spectrum “C” lamp was used, it is necessary to ventilate the room after the procedure. This is necessary to remove accumulated ozone;
- When using a household recirculator, just in case, you should make sure that it is truly ozone-free. If this is not the case, you cannot turn it on in the presence of people in the room.
Fig. 8 – areas of application of recirculators.
Application area.
Sanitation.
- In medicine, antibacterial devices are used to disinfect premises from pathogenic microbes. Turning on the device for just 30 minutes ensures sterility in offices for up to 12 hours. The devices are also used for sterilizing medical instruments, in operating rooms, etc. For maximum efficiency, open type devices are used.
- In the food industry, catering establishments. Including in the canteens of children's educational institutions.
- In children's educational institutions, antibacterial devices, when used daily, help reduce diseases among children.
- For disinfecting a house or apartment. Ultraviolet light successfully defeats microbes, viruses, and larvae of linen mites. UV treatment reduces the number of potential allergens.
- Water disinfection. Ozone, which is released when a quartz lamp operates, effectively disinfects water. The treatment 100% destroys microorganisms and unpleasant odors during the preparation of drinking water and wastewater treatment.
- In laboratories to create sterility in experiments.
- In cosmetology: artificial tanning and manicure. Manicurists use ultraviolet devices to dry the coating. UV lamps for nails dry almost any coating. Ultraviolet light is especially often used when applying gel polish. Drying takes 2 to 4 minutes.
- Sanitation in public places.
How long can you stay under the lamp?
To disinfect the room, the device is turned on for approximately 15-30 minutes. Even if it is a harmless ultraviolet lamp, it is better to leave the room while it is working and take plants and animals with you. Upon completion of the procedure, the room must be checked. If a child has signs of acute respiratory infections, the doctor may prescribe treatment with ultraviolet rays.
Fig. 9 – Lamp for treatment “Sun”.
To do this, the child is put on special glasses, seated or placed on a couch (10 centimeters from the device) and the procedure is carried out. It lasts no more than 10 minutes. The general course of treatment is 3-4 days. After 3 sessions, cold symptoms should disappear. When treating the nasal mucosa, it can be irradiated only after the amount of discharge has decreased. Depending on the intensity of symptoms, the daily radiation dose can be reduced to 3 minutes, then to 1.
Criterias of choice
Before purchasing this device, you should decide on the purpose of purchase and consult with your doctor. In the autumn-spring period, the lamp will help cope with colds. It will be very useful if there are bedridden patients in the house, as it will help get rid of not only bacteria, but also eliminate the unpleasant odor. The UV lamp also helps in the fight against ENT diseases, dermatitis, psoriasis, etc. But all this should be done only after consulting a doctor.
Now you need to decide on the power of the device. It should be chosen based on the area of the room and your goals. If the area of the room is about 15-35 sq.m. and at the same time there is a standard ceiling height, then a power of 15 W will be quite enough. Also, the manufacturer usually indicates on the packaging how much room a certain lamp model is designed for.
An important criterion will be the radiation range. If the device is planned for disinfecting a room, then the optimal range will be 280-410 nm. For devices that have a special purpose, this range may differ.
Also, if the device is purchased for home use, then it is better to give preference to ozone-free models. Otherwise, during work, plants will need to be taken out of the room and the presence of people or animals is unacceptable. And for use at home for therapeutic and health purposes, it is better to purchase small-sized devices, so it will be more convenient to perform the procedures. But in this case, before purchasing, you should make sure that you have a protective screen and safety glasses.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of ultraviolet bactericidal lamps, several main ones can be distinguished:
- due to their diversity, the devices can be used in different fields of activity, as well as in everyday life;
- most models last a long time at a low price;
- devices almost instantly reach operating radiation power levels;
- modern recirculators are safe for health; they can be turned on without leaving the room.
Disadvantages include the release of ozone into the air. If you do not follow safety rules, you can harm yourself. In addition, lamps should not be simply thrown away with the rest of the trash. To do this, they are taken to specialized reception points. Also, do not forget that you need to constantly monitor the correct operation of the lamp, gradually it will begin to lose its properties.
Video: Are you sure that you have chosen the right UV lamp for your animal?
pros
UV lamp is the most popular for home manicure. The lamp can be easily found and inexpensively purchased. A starter kit will cost no more than 3-5 nail treatments from a specialist.
What are the advantages of a UV lamp:
- prevalence, accessibility, can be found even in small towns;
- with a power of 36 W or more, it dries all materials;
- The classic case is roomy, suitable for manicure and pedicure;
- you can change light bulbs;
- subject to repair, not all other types can boast of this.
A plus is the variety of colors. On sale there are lamps with blue, pink, red and any other shades of the body, designs, and unusual stickers.
Life time
On average, bactericidal lamps last 8000-9000 hours. It depends on their purpose and design. The service life depends on whether the emitter overheats during operation or not.
Fig. 10 – service life of UV irradiators.
During operation, the lamp gradually wears out. This is reflected in the radiation spectrum, so over time its properties will begin to change. If deviations in the operation of the device are noticed, it is better to replace it with a new one.
