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HOMEMADE BLACK
LIGHT UNIT |
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Putting
together your
own four foot black light unit is really quite easy.
Below are the step-by-step instructions for
assembling a dual tube, four foot black light unit
suitable for illuminating fluorescent Halloween
decorations and props.
Materials Needed
2 - GE Four Foot, 40watt
Fluorescent Black Light Tubes
1 - Dual Tube -
Four Foot Fluorescent Shop Light
1 - Flat Black Spray Paint
1 - Masking Tape
Shop light Fixture - Fluorescent shop light
fixtures are available at most hardware and some department
stores and are very reasonable in price, typically
fifteen to twenty dollars for a dual tube fixture. Just
be sure you buy the one that does not already have
regular fluorescent tubes in them, as you won't need
them. Check the box before buying to make sure that
the unit is rated for running two 40watt tubes.
These fixtures should be the type where the bulbs are
exposed, as those that have a cover will greatly
reduce the amount of ultraviolet light emitted from
the unit. There are basically two
type of the fixtures, simple Strip lights and Wide
Shield lights.
Strip Light fixtures
work well when you want the light to go in most
directions, about 300 degrees and don't need to hide the unit its self,
typically when you want to illuminate a room with
black light.
Wide Shield fixtures are
used when you need the ultraviolet light to be more
directable, about 180 degrees and want the actual bulbs to be hidden from
view. One example would be when you want a
black light reactive prop, such as a tombstone, to
glow, but don't want your guests to see the source
of the ultraviolet light.
Camouflage -
Every standard shop light we've seen has been
painted white by the manufacturer, so you will want
to paint the outside of the unit with flat black
paint to make it less noticeable. With no tubes
(bulbs) in the unit, start by masking off the inside
portion where the tubes sit, the connectors, the
switch and part of cord, so that no paint will end
up on these area's. Using a can of flat black spray paint, paint the outside of
the fixture. Do not paint the inside of the unit as
a darker color will lessen its ability to reflect
the ultraviolet light.
Black Light Tubes - GE makes both twenty-four
and forty-eight inch black light tubes. Twenty watts
each for the
twenty-four inch and forty watts each for the forty-eight
inch tubes. Both of these tubes have standard medium
size Bi Pin's allowing them to be used in off the
shelf fluorescent light fixtures. Needless to say, if the fixture you
buy is a dual tube fixture, you will need to buy two
of these black light tubes. Follow the manufacturers instructions for
inserting the tubes into the lamp fixture. A GE four
foot, 40watt tube usually costs around $20.00 at
your local hardware store.
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