BulbCollector Forums
BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Antique Bulb Discussion => Topic started by: Tim on September 17, 2000, 12:11:00 am
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Here's another weird one I came across - see pictures below. It doesn't look old (Philips, made in Belgium) but I wouldn't mind learning more about it, and possibly firing it up to see what it looks like. Appears to be a gas vapor lamp since there isn't a filament and a ballast resistor is wired in parallel with the elements. Base is marked TUV 200-240v 6W-E F6 Anyone know what it's used for?
Thanks in advance.........
(http://www.bulbcollector.com/photos/tube-lamp2.jpg)
(http://www.bulbcollector.com/photos/tube-lamp1.jpg)
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-Tim
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Hey Tim!
What you have there is a Philips TUV6 lamp, the rest of the code means it was made at Turnhout factory in June 1986. It is a germicidal ultraviolet lamp which is used for mainly killing germs in things like water sterilisation units, EPROM erasing devices etc. It is a low pressure mercury lamp with an internal resistor so it can operate directly from the 240V mains supply, similar to a neon glow lamp.
The glass is made from a very special grade which has the iron oxide impurity removed, this means it will transmit the deep UV radiation from the mercury discharge at 253.7 nanometres. *On no account should you attempt to light the lamp and look at it without suitable protection*. The shortwave UV rays are extremely dangerous, not only do they kill germs but a lamp of this power will also kill the cells on the surface of your eyes in seconds leading to possible permanent loss of vision, and lead to acute sunburning where it comes into contact with the skin.
I do not wish to put you off playing around with deep UV lamps, but if you do light it make sure you take the necessary safety precautions. A sheet of ordinary window glass between you and the lamp will be sufficient to remove the harmful rays, but make sure you cannot see any reflected light which is not passing through the glass screen. These bulbs really are very dangerous in the wrong hands, and it should have a warning notice clearly printed on it somewhere but maybe that has worn off.
FYI you may like to know that there is another lamp similar to this which is made from black Woods glass. This one is used in banknote checking devices etc. and only emits longwave UV so it is safe to look at for short periods.
Philips handed manufacture of these lamps over to Cathodeon in the UK quite recently, you can find details of the full product range at www.cathodeon.co.uk (http://www.cathodeon.co.uk)
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James,
Thanks (as usual!) for the info on this lamp. I should have known it was a type of UV lamp. Thanks for the warning too - this is one I think that's better left OFF!
Interesting info on the link you provided....
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-Tim
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Very interesting ! A bacteria "Death-Ray" bulb !
Ha Ha Ha.....sounds monsterous eh ?