How Can We Help?

Blacklights for Pickleball Court

I would like to use blacklights on a pickleball court for a fun, night game. The court is about half the size of a tennis court. I have read that 365nm lights work best for fluorescent. Do you have a product that will cover the court? Will I need more than one? How much do I need in terms of total luminous/wattage?

Our 365 nm UV flood lights sound like a great starting point for your pickleball lighting installation!

​It's a bit difficult to know how many lamps would be sufficient to cover the entire court, but we would roughly estimate that one lamp is sufficient for approximately 100 square feet.

We would suggest perhaps purchasing one lamp to test to see if you achieve sufficient coverage and whether the 365 nm wavelength is an effective option to properly illuminate the area, and building up from there based on those results. We do offer a 30 day free returns policy, so if the first lamp doesn't work out, we'll gladly assist with a return and refund.

Short Wavelength Light for Fluorescent Rocks

I need to purchase a short wavelength light for fluorescent rocks. Wanting to make sure the proper LED strip and to know if other accessories/connectors are required. (I am aware that 12V DC power supply is required.)

Based on the details provided, we would indeed recommend the referenced 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights for your installation, which are able to produce the greatest fluorescent effect upon targets. 

​In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a few LayoutMap diagrams below which illustrate the most common installations of the realUV™ LED Strip Lights. These pages also include links to the most commonly used connectors and accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

​As a further note, please be aware that the polycarbonate materials used on the diffusion panels of our Aluminum Channels will naturally block the transmission of ultraviolet light. This is also true for the polycarbonate covers used on most diffusers. As such, we would likely recommend using an alternate bandpass filter or omitting the diffusion covers entirely. 

Safe UV-A LED Lights for Black Lighting

I am manufacturing parts that get adhesive applied to them. This adhesive has a UV additive that highlights when exposed to black light. I am looking for a light that is safe to use that someone can use to inspect for the presence of the adhesive on the parts. Light has to be bright enough to highlight but still safe. The person will be able to hold part close to the black light.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend either the 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light or the 5W 365nm realUV™ LED Flashlight with BLACKOUT™ Filter Technology for your installation. 

That being said, it is difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly. As such, we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns.

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight. As such, there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.

That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:

Black Lighting for Music Studio and Bedroom

I am trying to outfit both my music studio as well as my bedroom with black lighting. I know that there is a difference between 365nm and 385nm and higher but my understanding is the true black light effect is around 365 and something with a little more of the hazy glow is 385 and above.

Studio is 20x20 and I have some sweet fluorescent street art that I believe will really pop but I don't want it to be completely dark in there so I believe I would want something a little bit above 365 NM for the studio and bedroom with the 365nm lighting. The bedroom is about 25 by 25.

I believe I want strip lighting to replace what I currently have on the studio floorboard tops but I'm open to suggestions if a single flood light for example might accomplish what I need.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend the 395nm option of our realUV™ products. While the 365nm option will provide a greater fluorescent effect against targets, the 395nm option will provide a more visible output. 

If you would like to exclusively illuminate the artwork on the wall, we might recommend the 395nm realUV™ LED Flood Light, as it is easy to install and direct toward an illumination target. Unlike the LED Strip Lights, this product does not require additional power supplies, though it also cannot be paired with wall dimmers. 

As the realUV™ products are not intended as primary illumination, it is slightly difficult to recommend an order quantity for the spaces referenced. As an alternative, we might recommend purchasing one 16.4 ft reel of the 395nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights, as well as one unit of the 395nm realUV™, LED Flood Light to test the output against your expectations. 

365nm Blacklight for Ascertaining the Age Period of American Brilliant Cut Glass

I am looking for a 365nm black light to be used in ascertaining the age period of American Brilliant Cut Glass.

This was produced in America circa 1870-1920. The preponderance of American-made lead crystal included manganese, in contrast to European-made glass. Manganese will fluoresce under 365nm black light.

The light source should not produce other wavelengths that would interfere with observing fluorescence.

If the sample fluoresces, it will be a strong indicator that the glass is genuine from the period. Do you have any items to suggest? I am thinking the 365nm flood might be good.

Based on the details provided, it appears that the 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light could be a great fit for your installation purposes. We have attached a link to the product's photometric report and UV irradiance patterns below, in the hopes that they prove to be helpful. 

Photometric Report

UV Irradiance Pattern

If you would like to try out this product for your fluorescent testing, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide prepaid return labels for any unneeded items from domestic orders. 

365nm vs 395nm: Which is recommended for room black lights?

I'm looking at putting blacklights up in my room for a couple of blacklight posters. I want the most powerful glow, I can get off them without overpowering everything with a bright purple light, so have been leaning towards 365nm. Also, does that mean only the parts in fluorescent paints really light up? My room is about ~10x~15-20ft, would the 365nm strip lights or floodlight be better for illuminating the room completely? 

Also for a separate occasion, if I had a black light party would you recommend the 365nm or 385nm? I'm really so torn between both options of 365nm and 385nm because the purple glows cool but think the more subtle glow is better for less eye strain as blue light gets annoying after a bit sadly, but figured I could use my hue light on purple or really any color if I wanted the extra effect of 385nm right? 

We generally recommend the 365nm option for any installations where the maximum fluorescent effect is desired as the output is further from the visible wavelength. As such, the 365nm option will not have the same visible output as the 395nm option, since the latter is closer to the visible spectrum starting at 400nm. 

If you have a specific target that you would like to illuminate, we would recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light. If you would prefer a more diffused fluorescent effect, we would alternatively recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

About how much distance could a 16.4ft 365nm LED strip light cover they seem super expensive so was wondering if I could place it somewhere evenly in a ~10ftx~15-20ft room. Trying to ideally get it to hit all the walls as I want to hang up posters that are UV reactive. Would the 395 be better for posters you think as well? 

We have attached a link to the realUV™ LED Strip Lights UV Irradiance Pattern below, which charts the ultraviolet output the further a target is from the source. 

If you would like to try both options, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. So long as the LED Strip Lights are from a domestic order and have not been cut or altered, including the adhesive backing being removed, we will gladly provide a prepaid return label. 

As a further note, it might be helpful to know that polycarbonate material naturally blocks the transmission of ultraviolet light. As such, any diffusion panels used on the products, such as those found on our aluminum channels, will block the ultraviolet light and limit the effect upon targets. 

365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights - UV Irradiance Pattern

Which of the 365nm and 395nm will get UV color paint & taps to pop?

I've done my basement staircase in all black light stuff. Tapestries on the top side wall, uv black light paint on the stairs I bought uv black light tape & did designs on the outlets & a few stairs. I bought a 48" blacklight from Spencer that bulb is at the top of the stairs & makes the Tapestries & tape & paint all the colors pop. I bought 3 small 24" black lights tubes & those aren't getting any of the colors to really pop or stand out. I've been reading up on led black light strips & they seem to be better than the tubes. My question is which will get my uv color paint & taps to pop to really stand out the 365nm lights or the 395nm lights? I really want to get my paints & tapes/Tapestries to pop the colors to stand out.

Our realUV LED strip lights sound like a great option for your blacklight installation!

​Generally, our 365 nm LED strip lights outperform the 395 nm versions for fluorescence applications. It's hard to say with certainty as different fluorescent materials will respond to different wavelengths, but the 365 nm almost always produces a stronger glow effect and will likely be a better option for you. Additionally, the 395 nm version emits a bit of a purple hue, which may be a distraction from the intended visual effects.

We do offer a free 30-day free returns policy, so I would strongly recommend taking advantage of that to test the two wavelength options before deciding on one of them!

UV Lighting for Illuminating Fishing Line and Rods

Im looking for a 12-volt system that I can install on a kayak for illuminating the fishing line and rods. Only one fishing rod PER SIDE, so looking for a light for each side. Do you offer a product that would work for this application and if so, what system and components would you recommend? 

As our realUV™ LED Strip Lights are not IP rated for protection against the elements, they unfortunately may not be the ideal product for your onboard kayak installation. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchasing process. 

As an alternative, you may also be interested in the handheld realUV™ LED Flashlight with BLACKOUT™ Filter Technology, which features the same 365nm output as our realUV™ LED Strip Lights and realUV™ LED Flood Lights. 

UV Cabinet Light for Drying and Adding Color to Violins

We are changing the lights in the UV cabinet we use for drying and adding color to violins. It is a small cabinet 700mm High x 500m wide x 500mm deep. The real UV LED strips, I can cut to size, I will then need adapters, 7095, and the LED jump strips. I am unsure say if I have 4 x 600mm strips in the cabinet. What I would need with the PN 3091 PSU? Can I daisy chain off this PSU? I am in the UK so want to be sure I get all I need in one order. 

We can confirm that multiple connected segments of LED Strip Light products can be connected to a single FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip using accessories such as the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Connectors. 

​So long as the hardware-defined maximum combined length is less than 5 meters, no voltage drop or reduced output should be encountered. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have provided a LayoutMap link below for an installation that utilizes multiple connected segments of realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

In our use, we would have 4 individual strips in a small cabinet. We can use the strip-to-strip connectors, 3071, to do this. But do you have any longer than 6”?

Though we do not have longer LED Strip to Strip products available, two alternatives come to mind that might be helpful alternatives. 

Primarily, the LED Strip to Wire Connectors could be connected together using wire nuts or soldering to create expanses that are 11.8 inches in total. 

If the ideal wire expanses between the LED Strip Lights are to be greater than 11.8 inches, you may alternatively be interested in soldering or connecting the aforementioned LED Strip to Wire Connectors to our 16 AWG wiring. 

That being said, please note that long lengths of wiring within installations can cause voltage drops and reduced lumen output per subsequent foot of connected LED Strip Light products. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning process, we have attached a link to our Voltage Drop Calculator below. 

Voltage Drop Calculator

UV LED Light for Fluorescent of Different Minerals

My girlfriend has tried all kinds of I guess black light market crap. Her cardio display has azurite, amethyst, serpentine, and many other fluorescent minerals (rocks). Which light up huge when a UV flashlight is held up to them. I've read your entire website and learned a huge amount of knowledge. 

While we are not well-versed in the relative fluorescent effects of different minerals, it does appear that our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights would be a great option for the cabinet described. As the 365nm option is further from the 400nm visible wavelength point than the 395nm option, it will be able to produce a greater ultraviolet effect upon fluorescent targets. 

For your installation planning, it might be helpful to know that the realUV™ LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters). As such, when lengths greater than this are paired to a power supply they will encounter voltage drop and reduced output. 

As each foot requires 5.5 watts of power, we usually recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of product. If the lights are to be paired with an in-wall dimmer or smart home dimming system, we would recommend the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. Multiple units of this power supply can be connected to a single wall dimmer, as is noted within the below LayoutMap. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

UV LED Light for Rally Car Lighting

I build and race rally cars where we often have night stages where the codriver needs to read notes during the race. I thought blacklight would be a good way to illuminate the notes while not flooding the cockpit with light that would distract the driver. A little advice on our specific needs would be much appreciated and we'd love to use your lights in both our car as well as our customers cars. 

As a starting point, it might be helpful to know that the 365nm and 395nm versions of our ultraviolet products offer different benefits. 

Where the 395nm is closer to the 400nm visible spectrum cutoff point, it will offer a moderate amount of visible purple illumination. Contrastingly, as the 365nm option is further from the visible spectrum it will offer a greater fluorescent effect upon targets that react to ultraviolet light. 

UV LED lights for Finding Dog and Cat Urine on the Floor

Can you tell me which of your UV LED lights would be the best for finding Dog or cat urine on Floor. No carpet in home. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Flashlight with BLACKOUT™ Filter Technology. 

As alternative options, you may be interested in the realUV™ LED Flood Lights and realUV™ LED Strip Lights products.

The LED Strip Lights would require an additional power supply for operation, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or in-wall TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, and can also be paired with in-line or in-wall dimmers. 

I do like the price of the Strip much more than the very first option you gave me, however, the power supply is more expensive than the strip. Is that power supply the only option to power the strip? If so, I understand and will order it, but just wondering if it takes batteries?

Although we do not have any batteries that we could recommend at this time, there may be third-party plug-in power supplies available elsewhere that would be compatible with the realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a link to the product specification report which lists the power requirements. So long as the power supply (or battery) is able to afford 4.5 watts per foot of 12V power at 400 mA per foot, the products should be compatible. 

LED Lighting to Illuminate a Space of 10,000 sq ft in Black Light.

I'm looking to illuminate a space of 10,000 sq ft in black light. We have black light-reactive inflatables that I am trying to light throughout this space. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our realUV™ LED Flood Light product. 

If you have a specific illumination target for your installation, please let us know and we would be happy to recommend an order quantity that could meet the target. As you will note, the ultraviolet output decreases the further the targets are from the light source. 

With the hope that it proves to be helpful in the interim, I have attached a link to the product UV Irradiance Pattern, which charts the mw/cm2 output of the realUV™ LED Flood Light. 

We might also recommend ordering a single realUV™ LED Flood Light for your installation before submitting your full order so that tests can be performed to determine whether the output is sufficient for providing a fluorescent effect upon the targets below. 

Do you have optimal spacing and distance from the strips to the material that is being exposed?

We have just bought your 365nm light strip. We would like to cover an area with even exposure. Do you have specifications on the spacing of the strips and the distance from the strips to the material that is being exposed? 

For uniform illumination, we generally recommend that the LED Strip Lights are installed no further apart than the distance between them and the illumination target. 

As such, if your illumination target is one foot from the lattice of realUV™ LED Strip Lights, we would recommend that each strip of realUV™ LED Strip Lights is spaced no further apart than one foot. 

It might also be helpful to reference the UV Irradiance Pattern document if you have a specific mw/cm2 target to be reached in your installation. ​

365nm UV Lights to Illuminate Yooper Lite Rocks

If you are aware of yooper lite rocks that react to the 365nm uv wavelength light. I wonder if something like the strip lighting could be used to illuminate them in a display case. 

We are happy to confirm that many of our customers have chosen to utilize our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights for the illumination of mineral displays for fluorescent effect. While this product is also available in the 395nm version, the 365nm version can produce a greater fluorescent effect as it is further from the visible spectrum. 

These LED Strip Lights are designed to be easily segmented into ideal lengths, can be installed within our aluminum channels, and paired with either DC-Power or in-wall power with wall dimmer control. Often, these lights are installed on the tops of each shelf for uniform illumination of the items arranged below.

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, I have attached some LayoutMaps below which illustrate the different installation types:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B

UV LED Light Option for Reactive Collectibles

I have an 8-wide by 6-foot tall shelving unit full of “black light” reactive collectibles, and I want to illuminate every possible inch of this with the “brightest” UV Light so that all of my collectibles have the strongest glow possible. Could you recommend the proper type of lighting fixture? I’m torn between a wall washer and a flood light.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light, as the focused output may allow for a superior effect upon the targets than the downward-cast and dispersed wall washing method, depending on the orientation.

For visualizing the difference in output between the realUV™ LED Flood Light and the realUV™ LED Strip Lights, we have attached links to each product’s UV Irradiance Patterns below. 

By reviewing these documents, you will note both the comparative scope of the output as well as the gradual reduction of microwatts per square centimeter. Hopefully, this helps visualize the effect that each would have on your collectibles.

realUV™ LED Flood Light - UV Irradiance Pattern 

realUV™ LED Strip Lights - UV Irradiance Pattern 

When considering the 395nm and 365nm options it might be helpful to know that the 365nm option can provide a greater fluorescent effect on targets, as the output is further from the visible spectrum than the 395nm option.

How far away would you suggest mounting the light? As well as from what direction?

Based on our review of the LED Floor Light UV Irradiance Pattern, we would suspect that the light would function best at 2-3 feet from the target to avoid reduced output that further distances may result in.

To wash the shelf contents evenly, we would recommend installing the food light in front of and angled towards the shelf. This could be accomplished by installing the light on the ceiling using the metal mounting bracket. 

​If you would prefer evenly-distributed light using in-shelf lighting, then you may want to consider the realUV™ LED Strip Lights and aluminum channels as an option for installing lighting within your shelf. We have attached a LayoutMap below for an installation that utilizes connected segments of the ultraviolet LED Strip Light products, if that is helpful for visualizing the installation. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C - realUV LED Strip Lights

365nm UV LED Strip for Fluorescent Mineral Display

Do these emit enough light at 18 distance to rocks to make them glow sufficiently bright? My area is 18 x18" to illuminate against a black background. Could cut the 1-meter strip in half for 2 rows. I don't see this application for them mentioned in your customer feedback. Any info? Thanks. I already have UV-A LED flashlights with blocking filters.

We have attached a link to the UV Irradiance Pattern for the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights, which we hope helps chart the optimal distance between your light source and target. Based on my review of the document, it appears that an object which is 18” from the light source would receive roughly 82 μW/cm2. 

As a further note, we are happy to confirm that the LED Strip Lights can be installed in a parallel pattern to provide doubled output. An example of this configuration can be found in the below LayoutMaps, which also contains links to the recommended connectors and power supplies. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

What frequency of light do your UV LED Flood lights operate at?

I am running a UV crayon grade mark reader. It is an enclosed cabinet with a video camera feed that reads fluorescent crayon marks that are manually put on the boards to determine lumber grade and trim marks. I am currently using 2 "UV" LED flood lights, but they emit far too much visible violet light. My software needs to pick up only the fluorescence of the crayon marks so this is an ongoing problem. What frequency of light do your LED lights operate at? I have control over the shutter speed of my video feed but have noticed in the past that the wrong frequency will cause the fluorescent brightness to fade in and out. 

While we can confirm that our realUV™ LED Flood Lights operate at 50-60Hz, it would be helpful for our troubleshooting to know whether your installation utilizes the 395nm or 365nm version of the product. 

For reference, the 365nm version will not emit nearly as much visible output as the 395nm, as it is further from the visible spectrum. This version of the product is able to produce the greatest fluorescent effect upon targeted subjects, which is why we would likely recommend changing to the 365nm option if not already in use. We have attached a blog post regarding the topic below: 

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights?

BlackLights for Research and Oil Paintings

Wonder what are good black lights - to use to study and research oil paintings? And where to purchase one? 

We can confirm that we sell many ultraviolet products that could be a match for your oil painting research. 

While most of our ultraviolet products are available in two versions, (395nm and 365nm), we find that the 365nm versions are able to produce the greatest fluorescent effect upon targets. This is due to the fact that the output falls almost entirely outside of the visible spectrum. 

For your installation, we might recommend either the 365nm realUV™ LED Flashlight with BLACKOUT™ Filter Technology, or the 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light. 

While the realUV flashlight can be valuable for quick ultraviolet output or spot-checking, the realUV floodlights can be securely installed using the mounting bracket and powered via DC power. 

365nm UV LED Light for Curio Cabinet

I’m lighting a curio cabinet that is 6’ tall 28” wide and 12” deep for a uranium glass collection. Would I be better suited to use two one-meter strips of your LED product or your 20w flood light down firing into the case?

Given the dimensions of the curio cabinet, we might recommend installing several strips of the realUV™ LED Strip Lights within (or underneath) the individual shelves, to provide uniform distribution of ultraviolet output. 

While the realUV™ LED Flood Light could also be a good option, the output might be reduced when transmitting through each shelf and each item upon the shelves, which may result in providing only minimal fluorescent effect to the items on the lowest shelf. 

While both products are available in 365nm and 395nm, we typically recommend the 365nm option for the greatest fluorescent effect upon targeted subjects. 

We have also attached a LayoutMap below for installations using segmented realUV™ LED Strip Lights connected to a single power supply, which we do hope proves to be helpful. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

UV BlackLights Glow Put School Project

I enjoyed reading your things to consider before buying UV Blacklights. My son is working on a Glow Put school project. My experience has only been with fluorescent tubes (GE and SaberLux). His project involves a 60x80 foot room with 14" ceilings. How does the throw affect radiation values when applying the 1wt UV per 100 sq ft rule? Just trying to help him educate his "team" on what it is really going to take to make this successful. 

Our realUV LED strip lights sound like a great alternative to UV fluorescent lamps for your son's project!

Our general recommendation to provide 1 watt of UV radiation for every 100 square feet assumes that the UV is relatively diffused and distributed across the entire space. As such, it does not account for the directional nature of the LED strips should they be used to illuminate a specific area.

Below is an irradiance pattern document showing the irradiance values at particular angles and distances relative to the LED strip light. For general fluorescence, we recommend aiming for a minimum of 10 µW/cm² for sufficient "glow" effects.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/BP_7021.pdf

Do you have a black light for an industrial setting inspection table?

I am struggling to find retail or whole sellers who can help me with black/UV lights. I am looking for a black light for an industrial setting for an inspection table. Do you ship to Australia or can you recommend someone in Australia who could help? Or do you have a product that could help? 

You might be interested in our realUV™ LED Strip Lights and realUV™ LED Flood Lights, which are available in both 365nm and 395nm. 

365 nm vs 395 nm UV LED Strip for Halloween Decorations Blacklight

I would like to buy a blacklight for my Halloween decorations. I have read the article on your site and I am still having a hard time choosing which to get. I know the 395nm has more visible purple/blue light and I am wondering if getting the 365nm is worth it. I can get 4 of the 395nm for less than 2 of the 365nm. I have an open-concept kitchen/Living room and want the whole area lit up in UV. Would it be better to get 2 of the 365nm or 4 of the 395nm? I would like to use them outside too when not in use for the party. 

As each floodlight is able to cover a 10x10 ft area, you may find that utilizing several units of the 395nm option to be a more cost-effective solution. 

The being said, we can confirm that the 365nm option will offer the superior fluorescent effect between the two, as the output is further from the 400nm visible spectrum. 

realUV LED strip for Keypad

I'm planning to use the realUV to illuminate a keypad during the night though the reflection of white bits. Can you please tell me which one would be the best approach for this? I've read your comparison although I'm still a bit unsure.

For optimal fluorescent effect upon the keypad, we would recommend the 365nm option of the realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

LED Black Lights for Shadow Box Picture Display

I'm looking to insert an LED black light source into an 11x14 shadow box (around the edges) to display a picture. The 3 concerns I have are heat build-up inside the frame, a clean and neat electrical connection to a power source, and the intensity of the fluorescent display. What would you recommend?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights, as this version of the product can produce the greatest fluorescent effect while emitting the lowest amount of visible light. 

Generally speaking, we can confirm that the LED Strip Lights do not emit a large amount of heat while operating. We have attached a blog post from our website below on the topic, in case it proves to be helpful. 

How Hot Do LED Strips Get? Is It Normal?

For power, we would recommend the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. As the LED Strip Light and power supply both use barrel jack adapters, we would not assume that the installation would require additional wiring for power.

We have also attached two LayoutMaps below, which contain configuration layouts, descriptions, and links to the products and optional accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4A

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

LED lighting for Rocks and Mineral Display

I have a display cabinet (about 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide) with 7 glass shelves (38" x 13") that I display rocks and minerals. I would like to add LED light strips. What would you recommend?

For mineral fluorescence, we usually recommend our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

In the event that you would like each of the seven four-foot shelves to be lit evenly, we would recommend two divided 16.4 ft reels powered by two power supplies, mounted within the aluminum channels for uniform light diffusion.

We have attached a layout guide below, illustrating an installation that utilizes a segmented reel of LED strip products powered by a DC-Plug power supply. This page also contains links to each recommended product and optional connecter. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

I am not planning on fluorescent display. Just general lighting. I understand that something in the natural light range is best. And I am interested in evenly lit shelves. Currently I have 3 lights at the top but the light diminishes below the first 2 or 3 shelves.

If you would like to let us know what color temperature lights are currently being used in your display, we would be happy to provide a few product recommendations to match the output. 

Based on our review in the interim, it appears that gem displays may benefit from different color temperatures depending on the color of the stones, though the daylight color temperatures of 5000K and 6500K appear to be popular options. 

As such, we might recommend the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail for your display.

As you mentioned that the current light output diminishes beyond the second or third shelf, we would recommend installing a strip of LED lights above each shelf, or alternatively above every second shelf, for an evenly illuminated display. 

real UV LED Strip for Interior Car Glow

Some black lights don't make white glow and some make them glow a lot. I am currently redoing the interior of my car white, and I want to install black lights to make the interior of the car glow (a lot, not a little). Will you're black lights do that? How many would you suggest that I need? I also saw that if we don't like them that we can return them as long as we haven't cut them. How long do I have to return them? 

For installations where the optimal fluorescent effect is desired, we would recommend using the 365nm version of our realUV™ LED Strip Lights. We have attached a blog post below regarding the differences between the available options, in the hope that it proves to be useful. 

Generally speaking, while the 395nm version will emit more visible purple hues from the LEDs due to being closer to the visible 400nm visible wavelength of light, the 365nm will emit very little visible light but will produce the most pronounced fluorescent effect as it is further from the visible wavelength.

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights? 

In regards to returns, so long as the LED strip lights have not been cut or altered, simply reach out to us within thirty days of delivery and we will gladly provide a prepaid return label so that the items can be returned for a refund. 

As you can tell from the irradiance pattern document below, the fluorescent effect diminishes the further the subject is from the lights. As such, the ideal quantity of light strips for your vehicle installation might vary depending on the size of the vehicle as well as the distance between the lights and the targeted subject. 

realUV™ LED Strip Lights Irradiance Pattern

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of the ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight, so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges. That said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following: 

The ultraviolet emitters have a very high intensity when used at a very short distance, but less so at longer distances. Therefore, ensuring that people or animals do not come in close proximity to the UV source can help reduce the risk of any eye safety issues.

As Ultraviolet energy is mostly invisible to the naked eye, it can be difficult for the vision system to recognize a high level of UV “brightness” and produce a natural response to squint or look away, in the way that natural white light would.

What eye protection glasses do you recommend for UV-A flashlights?

I am interested in buying your “Blackout flashlight." What eye protection glasses do you recommend?

If I’m looking for reflected UV light from animals ( scorpions) or animal traces (urine, etc.), is the UV reflected light in the visible range so if my glasses totally block UV, I will be able to see it?

We are happy to confirm that the reflection of the fluorescent effect that ultraviolet has when targeted upon subjects should be visible when viewed through standard UV protection eyewear. 

Though we do not have any specific models to recommend, the standard UV protection sunglasses should offer sufficient protection against UV-A output. 

How many feet of realUV LED strip would I need to cover a 15x12 room?

I plan on buying some UV light strips. How many feet would I need to cover a 15x12 room? Would it hurt to put them inside a LED strip channel?

As the 365nm and 395nm versions of the realUV™ LED Strip Light product output irradiance that is below the visible wavelength barrier at 400nm, and therefore mostly invisible to the naked eye, we would not recommend them for installations in which they are intended to be used as a primary illumination for visibility.

As such, it is difficult for us to estimate the quantity of realUV™ LED Strip Lights that might be beneficial for the 15x12’ installation area. 

I'm not sure what I can say about the area. All 4 walls are painted white. I was thinking of running (2) 16 strips. One on the very top of each 15-foot-long wall. My goal is that the entire 12x15 foot area reacts to the blacklight and creates a glowing effect.

Based on the details provided, it appears that our realUV ultraviolet products could be a great match for adding fluorescent illumination to the room. 

We would specifically recommend the 365nm version, as it can offer a more visible fluorescent effect than the 395nm version. For your calculations, the below irradiance chart might prove to be useful. Within this chart, you will find illustrations displaying the pattern of irradiance emitted by the strip lights, measured by ‘microwatts per square centimeter’.

UV Irradiance Pattern

For your installation, we would also likely recommend placing the LED strip lights within the flat aluminum channels, as that will easily allow for the fluorescent illumination to 'wall-wash' directly down upon the wall surface. It might also be helpful to know that these lights can be powered using in-wall 12V power supplies and in-wall dimmers for more permanent installations. 

365nm realUV™ LED for Photography Studio Black Lights

I'm disappointed that it seems the old F40 black light bulbs seem to be dead. No more cheap fun black light bulbs. I was going to build an array of four to six f40s for a black light body painting shoot. I know LED is different but as you guys are the 365 nm experts. Would you recommend the flood light style or strip style LEDs for this application? Do you think one LED flood will compare? Wattage seems kind a low compared to 240 watts of florescent.

Based on my review of the details provided, it appears that either the strip lights or flood light products could be a great match for your installation, depending on the preferred configuration. That said, the floodlights would likely be easier to install and adjust than the strip lights. 

​As such, our primary recommendation would be to compare the UV output of the previously used F40 light sources against that of our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights and 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light products.

Though the wattage may be significantly less, there is a chance that the measured ultraviolet output of our products is greater than the previously used items F40 lights. To help with the product comparison, we have attached links to the irradiance patterns of both products below for your reference.

365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights Irradiance Pattern

365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light Irradiance Pattern 

Do you know whether the 395 or 365 nm lights will produce better fluorescence for scorpion hunting?

I'm going to visit Arizona and want to do some scorpion hunting for fun. Do you know whether the 395 or 365 nm lights will produce better fluorescence? 

We are happy to confirm that the output of the 365nm versions of our ultraviolet lights will be able to create a more visible fluorescent effect upon the illuminated subjects. 

In case it proves to be helpful for your purchase planning, we have also shared an informative article regarding the technical differences between the 365nm and 395nm product versions below. 

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights?

UV LED Strip for Back-lighting Under the Canvas

I am interested in your company's UV LED light strip and think I need two of the 3ft ones (to start) and am wondering if these would work as backlighting under the canvas of a 3x6 ft painting with a frame depth of 1.5 inches. Do you think that would be enough space to give the effect of having the painting glow from within? 

Based on our review of the details provided, it might be helpful for your planning purposes to note that we have not performed any back-lighting or transmission testing for the realUV™ LED Strip Lights as of yet. In considering the installation, the primary consideration that comes to my mind would be that the ultraviolet effect may not be able to transmit through the canvas as well as any potential paints that have been applied upon the surface to be externally visible. 

That being said, you may find interest in the below irradiance pattern document for the product. For a 3x6” frame, the canvas should theoretically be able to receive a moderate-to-high amount of ultraviolet irradiance for the illumination effect. By reviewing the below pattern document, you will see that the effect is reduced the further the subject is from the light origin. 

realUV™ LED Strip Lights Irradiance Pattern

realUV LED Strip vs Floodlight for Small Display Cabinet

Looking to light a small display cabinet with 365 nm. Would you recommend the LED strips as a better way. How is the floodlight mostly used?

For installations such as displays, many of our customers prefer to utilize the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights product due to the low profile within the displays and flexible installation options.

Alternatively, some customers prefer to utilize the floodlight for directed spotlight illumination. Often, the floodlight is installed on ceilings for artwork ultraviolet illumination using the pre-installed bracket. Other customers prefer to floodlight for outdoor installations, as the product is IP rated for protection against the elements.

UV Blacklight LED Replacement for Fluorescent Bulbs

I’m looking for the closest UV-LED option to potentially replace a fluorescent blacklight bulb that we use for artificial weathering of materials like plastics, sealants, adhesives, and the like. We currently use a F72 T12 / BL HO 350 fluorescent bulb. 

I have not been able to find a 350 nm UV LED, but I have found 365 nm which may work. The LED option would not have to be 72” long like our current bulbs. Other form factors would work.

Though we currently do not have ultraviolet products available in the T8 or T12 form factors, we do offer the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights product which might be of interest for your installation. 

Further, we have recently spoken to other customers who have applied the above product within pre-existing T8 and T12 fixtures to reduce the need for new fixtures or hardware. 

The cabinet I would use these in runs at 140 F. Would that pose any issues for the LEDs?

The power vs. run time chart is a good one as we would run these 24/7. Do you have any data beyond 2000 hours? Do you have any ideas on how long they would last in a 24/7 application?

We can confirm that our LED products and components can withstand temperatures of 185 degrees Fahrenheit (64 C).

As such, we expect that the products would be able to safely operate within the 150-degree environment mentioned.

Though, we have the performance test results listed within the 365 nm realUVTM LED Longevity Test Data document, we currently do not have any data above 2000 hours. We apologize!

UV LED Lighting for Mineral Display

We are adding a florescent mineral display in our gift shop. We wanted to know what LED lights would work best for this type of application. We plan on mounting the lights under each shelf. 

We do not have any drop-in replacement lamps for display cases, but we have seen many of our customers successfully implement UV LED strip lights for mineral display cases. I've linked to the product below:

realUV™ LED Lights and Accessories for Imaging Application

realUV™ LED Strip Lights - 395 nm / 3.2 ft (1 m) realUV™ LED Strip Lights Wavelength: 395 nm Length: 3.2 ft (1) I need to use this for imaging. Can you recommend what parts I need to buy to install this?

I have provided a few links from our website below, which contain configuration diagrams for the realUV™ LED Strip Lights. Each of the diagrams below contains written instructions, as well as links to each of the accessories used within the installation.

Waveform Lighting LayoutMaps™

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4D

Do your UV lights have energy to reach the bottom of the swimming pools to charge glow products?

We are a manufacturer that produces glow artistic products. We service commercial builders and pool builders. I plan to possibly use your 395 or 365nm floods or strip LEDs to charge them up throughout the night hours. They will be on a timer that will turn them on and off at different intervals. My question is, do you think your UV lights have enough energy to reach down about 6 feet to the bottom of swimming pools to charge our glow products? Please see attach drawing that has attached for you to better understand the process. 

Based on the diagram provided, we would likely recommend our IP65-rated 365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light product, as our realUV™ LED Strip Lights are unfortunately not suitable for installations where they might come in contact with water or condensation.

Though the realUV Flood Light is designed to output ultraviolet output for an area that is roughly 10x10 feet, we have not performed internal tests regarding how water depth can affect or scatter the UV output.

As such, it is difficult to say whether or not the ultraviolet wavelengths could successfully reach the glow oxides. In this instance, we might recommend trying them out and taking advantage of our 30-day return policy. If the products don’t work out, simply reach out and we will gladly provide you with a prepaid return label.

365nm UV LED Lights for Exposing Photo Polymer for Braille Signs

I'm wondering if these will work for exposing photo polymer for braille signs. The manufacturer recommends 350 nm.

We unfortunately do not have any data on photo polymers for this specific application, but do suspect that there may be some cross-compatibility between 350 nm and 365 nm.

I would perhaps recommend testing and taking advantage of our free returns policy. If for whatever reason you find that the LED bulbs are not going to work for your project, we would be more than happy to pay for return shipping and offer a full refund. 

Any Ideas to temporarily mount 32" to a metal plate?

The one idea I can think of would be to see if a small section of the photopolymer cures effectively under a single row of the UV LED strip light. This of course would not be the same as the final installation, but may be helpful in getting an approximation on cure times and proof of concept.

Do you have a way off measuring Milli Watts/Square Meter Irradiance of the lights at 2" inches away?

Please see below for our irradiance charts. 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/BP_7021.pdf

Our closest measurement was from 12 inches, where we observed 228 µW/cm². This is equal to 0.228 mW/cm², or 2,280 W/m².

While we do not have any measurements at 2", one quick way to roughly estimate is to use the inverse square law, which states that the irradiance values increase by the square of the distance. Therefore, at 3" away (1/4 the distance), we would expect a 16-fold increase in the irradiance values.

UV-A LED Light Irradiance and Black Panel Temperature

I have a customer that wants to run a UV test on their product. Their requirements are 1) Black Panel: 60C 2) Air Temperature 38C 3) Humidity: 50% 4) Irradiance: 0.6W/m2. Do you have a product that will give me the irradiance and black panel temp I need?

Our 20-watt UV flood light may be a good fit for you here. The product has a measured irradiance of 650 µW/cm² or 6.5 W/m² at a distance of 12 inches. 

Please see below for additional information:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/BP_7022.pdf

​We do not have any data on black panel temperature but believe that the product will remain well within the 60-degree C requirement. The product is rated for humid environments and the 50% rating should not be an issue.

UV-A LED Strips to Expose Photopolymer Plates

I am looking for UV LED strips that allow me to expose Photopolymer plates that are sensitive to 365nm wavelengths. My application calls for about 15-20 meters. The LED Pitch should be higher than 60 and preferably 120-130. Is there a specific model I should be looking at? Do you have standard and high-output versions? 

We are happy to confirm that the LED density per meter of our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights product is 8.3 mm. It might also be helpful to know that this product has a 120-degree emission angle.

For more information on the products, you might find value in the product specification sheet and photometric reports, which I have linked below.

Specification Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

365nm Photometric Report: https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7010.365.pdf

365nm real UV-A LED Rechargeable Head Torch

We are seeking a rechargeable head torch of this specification order strip light/tubes of the same specification for use in the UK. Could you assist/recommend a product?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend the 365nm realUV™ LED Flashlight with BLACKOUT™ Filter Technology product. 

However, please note that the battery option is not available for shipping to all territories, given the international air freight restrictions on batteries. As such, we would likely recommend the ‘no battery included’ option for your UK destination order.

For more information regarding this product, we hope that the below article from our website proves to be helpful.

Everything You Need to Know About UV Flashlights: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/everything-you-need-to-know-about-uv-flashlights

Do realUV™ LED Lights have rainbow lights too?

This might be a silly question but I’m a little confused. Are these lights just black lights or do they have rainbow lights too?

We can confirm that our realUV™ LED Strip Lights are specifically designed to output ultraviolet light wavelengths, whereas other 'ultraviolet' products have been known to simply pair red and blue LEDs to create a purple-colored light output.

If you were hoping to include an RGB LED strip light product in your installation, we might recommend the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. This product can be combined with third-party controllers or our 'FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output' product for color configuration.

For more information regarding our LED strip lights and the realUV™ products, we have provided links to two helpful blog posts from our website below.

LED Strip Lights: Everything you need to know before you buy

https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-strip-lights

realUV™ LED Lights

https://www.waveformlighting.com/real-uv-led-lights

UV LEDs for Wildfire Painted Artwork

What would you recommend for an LED UV strip with an av 110v power plug-in or battery-powered supply? For a painting with UV and acrylic artwork to go around the canvas perimeter. To switch from natural light to UV light.

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. As most fluorescents are strongest within the 320-380nm range, we believe that this product would allow for the most effectiveness in your photography.

As this product utilizes 4.5 watts per foot, an entire 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel should only utilize 73.8 watts in total. As such, the 110-watt power supply should be more than sufficient.

Black Light with Fluorescent and Blue Visible Light for Pool Setting

I want both a strong "black light" color pop with fluorescents, but also some nice "blue visible light" to accent a pool setting. The product likely needs to be waterproof or water-resistant at least as it will be mounted outside for about a week. Some illumination of the area would actually be nice but still want some good black light effect. Also, do you have a submersible pool light option?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend the 395nm realUV™ LED Flood Light product, as it would emit more visible light than the 365nm version while still offering fluorescence effects.

For more information regarding the differences between the two options, the below article from our website might prove to be useful.

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/what-is-the-difference-between-365-nm-and-395-nm-uv-led-lights

However, please note that while these products have an IP65 rating, they are not designed to be submerged.

Do you have an RGB+W led light strip that is suitable for outdoor use?

While we do offer products such as the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights, these products are unfortunately not designed for outdoor use, or for installations where they may come into contact with water or moisture.

UV-A LED Strip Light to Glow a Painting Studio

I have approx. 10×10 room with a 2×4 panel drop ceiling - black acoustic) I would like to have independent white and fixtures or another way to control white and UV independently. I plan on filming in there so need lots of white light preferably on a dimmer. The blacklight/UV would be useful to have both 365nm and possibly another wavelength (this is one major question) I'm using strontium aluminate pigments but maybe it might help to have another wavelength in there as well. The wall switch can be changed, in fact, everything is open with bonus points if I can control them via remote control. 

The closest alternative option would be to incorporate our LED strip lights, which are offered both in 365 nm UV-A as well as in various color temperatures in white. This would require some rewiring and modification of the fixtures as well as familiarity with low-voltage wiring systems.

Based on what you are looking for, the Lutron Caseta remote control system to control our LED strip lights may be a great option for you. (See article here: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/dimming-led-strip-lights-and-led-bulbs-using-smart-lighting-systems)

I just need advice what to put on the switch or if there's a primary fixture for the dimmable bright white lights with the ability to daisy chain for power only to the UV. If 10,000 lumen is overkill that's beyond overkill (I plan to keep it dimmed, but would like option of brightness for the microscope) I can be flexible.

We do not have any fixtures that would meet your needs, so everything would need to be a custom build / installation on your end.

​Our LED strip lights can be a viable option and can be connected to a wall dimmer as shown in the layout chart shown in the link below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

​​I've input your room dimensions in our lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator) and the 10,000 lumens would provide you with roughly 100 footcandles across the space. This is certainly on the high side but may be preferred or even needed, depending on how much light you are looking for your film and photography needs.

Each 1 ft section of the white LED strip lights emits approximately 450 lumens, so you would be looking for approximately 22 ft of LED strip lights to achieve 10,000 lumens.

Outdoor UV LED Blacklight Sign Lighting

I'm working on lighting up a music venue sign with blacklight LED strips. The strips will be under a metal awning. Do you have a UV blacklight, weatherproof, LED strip?

Although our UV LED strip lights would be a great fit for a backlight sign, they are unfortunately not waterproof so even for use under an awning, they would not be a good option for outdoor use.

​Our UV flood lights, however, are IP65 rated and can be used outdoors. I'm wondering if this might be a viable alternative product that you may want to consider.

​We've included the product link below for your reference:

UV-A Flashlight for Pet Stain Solution

I was wondering how visible dog stains are with your UV light in normal house lighting with lights on and how far the beam reaches. 

Our UV flashlight at 365 nm is a great wavelength for observing fluorescence effects. Pet stains are quite reactive to UV wavelengths and our product would be a great option for your needs.

​The beam reaches more than 15 feet, so the product should be more than sufficient for inspection of standard indoor spaces.

UV-A LED Strip Lights for (Gum Bichromate) Photo Printing Processes

I am trying to construct a UV exposure unit for historic photo printing processes (gum Bichromate). I think the best wavelength is 365 nm because it is firmly in the UV window. Do you have any experience with this application for UV LED? I think I will need a 5 m reel to adequately cover a 20x24” surface. The distance to the image from the lights would be about 6”. Would you be able to suggest the maximum gap between strips that provide even illumination? Could you recommend a power supply that I could order at the same time that is sufficient for the 5 m of the LED? 

Our UV LED strip lights sound like a great option for your installation. While we do not have any data or specific recommendations for the gum bichromate process, we agree that the 365 nm wavelength should be a good fit based on what is generally known about its sensitivity to UV wavelengths.

The 5-meter length (approximately 16 ft) should be sufficient for the installation surface. Based on a 24" width, you could, for example, install eight sections of 2 ft each. 

To ensure even coverage, we generally recommend spacing the LED strips no farther apart than the distance away from the irradiance surface. In other words, for your installation, the LED strip sections should be placed no farther than 6 inches apart.

​Our 12-volt power supply has sufficient power capacity to operate a 5-meter reel of UV LED strip lights.

Finally, I've included a link to a layout diagram for a similar configuration, which may be helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C

I plan on cutting and soldering the sections together with the wire. Is there any specific wire that you would recommend for this application and the current? Over the 5m is there much of a voltage drop and corresponding drop in UV power across the length of an LED?

The primary thing to look out for when soldering the sections together is to use wire with the sufficient thickness (gauge). Our 16 AWG wire, for example, would be a great option for connecting the LED strip sections together. Please see below:

​In terms of voltage drop, we do not see any significant decrease in UV across the 5-meter run, as long as the connections between the LED strip sections are made securely and with wires of sufficient wire gauge. 

If consistent UV intensity is a significant concern, however, we may recommend powering the LED strip running from both ends, thereby effectively reducing the max run length to 2.5 meters each.

Can a UV Flood Light be made available with a VIS-blocking filter?

Can this be made available with a VIS-blocking filter per your UV flashlight?

We do have a new UV flood light model at 50 watts with the Blackout filter that is used on our flashlight.

Does the filter have an IR leak? (As do the Wratten 18A and the equivalents)?

We do believe that the filter does allow IR to pass through.

Therefore, depending on the sensitivity of your equipment, incorporating an additional IR filter may be required.

​We would imagine, however, that the infrared produced by the UV LED would be limited to the thermal radiation component only (as the LED chip itself heats up), as all of the radiometric output would be confined to the UV-A band.

How safe is UV-A LED Light?

I am considering realUV™ LED Strip Lights in a custom bookshelf to make some vaseline glass fluoresce. I read on your site that 365nm is better than 395 for this application. How safe is UVA? I thought about putting the fluorescent items and LEDs behind the glass (which I know *passes* UVA) and applying a UV-blocking film to the glass which would pass the visible fluorescence. Is this kind of protection necessary? Is there a distance from the LEDs where the amount of UVA hitting a person would be negligible?

Our UV-A LED strips sound like a great fit for your vaseline glass fluorescence project!

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.

​That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:

UV exposure is usually not an issue as long as a reasonable distance is kept between the UV source and human skin and/or eyes, and as such, we do not anticipate any significant safety risks arising from the proposed installation. We recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns.​

365 nm UV Lighting for Imaging Failure/Cracks

I'm looking to know if you might have any 365 nm UV lighting that could be of assistance for the detection of cracks/failures when imaging (using a Canon camera set for UV conditions). 

We, unfortunately, do not have any test data or literature for the application you mention, but we do expect that our UV LED products are well suited for installations that require the use of UV to visually inspect and fluorescence effects. In particular, we would recommend our 365 nm version over the 395 nm version, as this provides additional visual contrast of fluorescence effects without as much visible, purple light.

We would perhaps recommend testing and taking advantage of our free returns policy. If for whatever reason you find that the LED lamps are not going to work for your project, we would be more than happy to pay for return shipping and offer a full refund. 

UV-C LED Strip Light for Fluorescent Mineral Display

I want to install UV shortwave lighting for my fluorescent mineral display. The minerals are on two shelves, each about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. I believe the UV-C LED strip light will work. I am planning to buy the Filmgrade DC power supply. Is that the right power supply for what I want to do? How do I hook up the two strips (each 1/2 segment of the original)? Is there a way to do this without having to buy two power supplies? 

I am happy to confirm that the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip is indeed compatible with the realUV™ LED Strip Lights.

Please feel free to utilize our return policy, if the realUV™ LED Strip Lights wind up not working well for your mineral display. For your testing purposes, please note that we are unable to accept returns for LED strip light products that have been cut or altered, including the removal of the adhesive liner.

Regarding installing multiple strips, there are a few configurations that might work for your installation. I have provided layout links below which illustrate these configurations further. To utilize two strip segments powered by one power supply, you may benefit from using the LED Strip-to-Strip product.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4B?px=-2278.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1557&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2278.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1557&ph=1491&s=0.1

Do I have to unroll the entire LED strip to test it? I would like to test it using just half the length, then test using just 15 inches and finally test it using just 8 inches. 

Can I daisy chain two pieces (one will not have a DC connector) for my display and then use the third piece (with the second DC connector) somewhere else?

We're happy to confirm that the cleanUV™ UV-C LED Strip Light item can be removed from the reel, as well as tested without altering the product.

To daisy-chain the individual UV-C barrel jack lengths together, we sell a product called the Daisy-Chain DC Connector for UV LED Strips, which might prove to be useful.

Further, to connect the individual cut segments, we might recommend the LED Strip to Strip product.

For powering the product, we recommend a 12V DC power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product.

Short Wave UV LED Strip Light for Fluorescent Minerals Display

I would like to set up a display of my fluorescent minerals. Most of them fluoresce under short-wave UV which I believe is 250, not 365. In looking over your website I saw nothing at that wavelength. Did I miss it? I would really like the LED strip for my display. Given how many mineral collectors there are I would hope there is a strong market for such a product.

We currently offer the following UV wavelengths:

​395 nm:https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/real-uv-led-strip-lights

365 nm: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/real-uv-led-strip-lights?variant=12339996721254

​275 nm: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/cleanuv-uv-c-led-strip-light

The 275 nm wavelength option, while typically used for sterilization applications, may fit your needs well.

LED Black Light for Vehicle Electrical System

I'm looking for a black light strip or bulbs that can be used in a car. I have a beautiful forefoot tube with black light chips but it's made for the house and my stereo installer can't make it work. So I'm wondering if yours can be used in a vehicle's electrical system. 

While we don't have any official installation or use support for our UV LED strip lights in vehicles, our LED strip lights operate on 12 volts DC and should integrate quite seamlessly into a 12-volt electrical system.

​We've included the product link below:

LED Light Recommendation for Cyanotype Exposure

I am looking for a light source for a photographic enlarger that will work to expose cyanotype prints. Hopefully it would be able to fit a normal sized light bulb socket and be the size of a standard light bulb to fit inside the enlarger housing. What light might work for this application?

While we do not have any official support for cyanotype applications, our understanding is that a 365 nm wavelength UV blacklight would work best.

​While we don't have a screw-in solution, our UV flood light will likely be a great, straightforward product that can be mounted almost anywhere, and simply plugs in without assembly required. Below is the product link:

LED Lighting for Finding Pet Stains

I'm looking for a good light to find pet stains in the basement apartment that I rent out. Which level of light, 365 or 395, would I need? And would the flood light work well for that? Or is there a better product option?

We generally recommend 365 nm for this application, as this wavelength provides stronger fluorescence and therefore more visible contrast of the stains. For additional insights on comparing 365 nm with 395 nm, the following article may be helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/what-is-the-difference-between-365-nm-and-395-nm-uv-led-lights

​The flood light can be a nice option, but for a portable option, our UV flashlight may be an even better option​. Please see below for the product link:

UV floodlights or LEDS for Fluorescent Wood Pieces?

I've got a 12-foot-tall cedar log standing in my garage. I've inlaid several pieces of very fluorescent wood into it. I don't know which would highlight this the best, the LEDs or the floodlights. 

Our realUV LED lights sound like a great option to bring out the fluorescence effects from your fluorescent wood pieces. We would generally recommend the 365 nm option, as this version would produce less visible light but stronger fluorescence effects, which would produce a nice level of contrast for your installation.

​Please see below for the product link:

UV-A realUV LED Blacklights for Body Paint Application

I am a professional artist that works in multiple medians. I recently started looking into UV body paint and will use Krylon day glow UV body paint. Will your black lights work for this right now? 

We're happy to confirm that our UV-A realUV™ LED products, such as the realUV™ LED Strip Lights and realUV™ LED Flood Light products, work well with fluorescent paints.

If it proves to be useful, here is a link to a blog post from our website, which explains the ultraviolet blacklight products in further detail: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/top-4-things-to-consider-before-buying-uv-blacklights

How do I daisy-chain the realUV™ 365 nm LED strip light?

I'm looking to purchase the realUV™ 365 nm LED strip. What exactly do I need in order to cut the strips and daisy chain them?

As you mention, our realUV™ 365 nm LED strip can be cut to length in 1-inch increments and is a great option for a wide variety of UV applications.

You may be interested in our PN 3071 LED strip-to-strip connector, which will allow you to reconnect any cut segments back together (i.e. daisy-chain). Please see below for a connection diagram showing an example of how this can be accomplished:​

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-5247.758879792562&py=-1572.6183425460667&s=0.45241870901798

Correct UV wavelength for mineral fluorescence

I would like to use your UV lights to illuminate bornite or peacock ore. I want them to have as much fluorescence as possible. What is the correct ultraviolet wavelength for this?

We would recommend our 365 nm wavelength for your project. Many of our customers have found that the 365 nm wavelength works very well to product fluorescence in a variety of minerals and gemstones.

In general, shorter wavelength UV works best for brighter fluorescence. Longer wavelengths (400 nm and higher) tend to produce purple and violet light, reducing the strength of the fluorescence effect. As a result, 365 nm has been the most popular UV wavelength among our customers.

For more information comparing our two wavelength options (365 nm and 395 nm), please see our article here:

UV LED strips that don't emit purple or violet light

Ultraviolet (UV) LED strips I have purchased in the past emit a lot of purple / violet light. Does your product emit any purple or violet light?

We would recommend our realUV LED strip lights with the 365 nm wavelength option to minimize the amount of visible purple or violet light. Many LED strips on the market will market themselves as a UV light strip but will have an actual peak wavelength at 400 nm or higher. The result is a significant amount of violet and purple light emission.

We also offer a 395 nm version, and you can read more about how wavelength affects the amount of visible light emitted: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/what-is-the-difference-between-365-nm-and-395-nm-uv-led-lights

Our 365 nm LED strips emit most of their energy in UV region, which is not visible to the naked eye. A trace amount dull, bluish-white light can be observed from our 365 nm sources.

Materials that allow UV to pass through

I am building a custom UV LED lamp housing, and I need to allow both the 395 and 365nm UV wavelengths to pass through without any absorption. It appears that most of the polycarbonate materials on the market will absorb these wavelengths and will not work for me. Do you have any recommendations?

UV transmission is indeed a bit challenging, as many materials are engineered primarily for transmittance of visible wavelengths only. As you mention, polycarbonate will almost always be a poor option if UV transmittance is desired as UV absorption is a fundamental property of many plastic materials.

Many commercial glass materials will also absorb a significant amount of UV-A wavelengths, but we are aware of some "quartz glass" materials which are commonly known to have a high rate of UV transmission. We unfortunately do not have any test data or additional solutions at this time, but this may be a viable avenue for exploration.

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