BURN-BABY-BURN :-)
RUSSELL
DONE
On Sun, 4
June 1995, Judy Seigel wrote:
l> Hi again,
>
> Looking through lighting folder for the word "Voltarc" (for which
> thanks to Thaddeus), I came across two items. First, the fluorescent
> bulbs are rated for nine thousand (not two thousand) hours. Output does
> diminish, but gradually.
>
> Second, I have some typed notes made years ago after a conversation with
> Sylvania about a "par 38 mercury lamp." This my notes say gives a cone of
> light, uses 100 watts, costs $45 plus $50 for the black box ballast
> (10-year old prices), runs
> 16,000 hours, looks like a flood lamp, gives radiation about the same as
> a sun lamp & about as much light. Since then I haven't come across the
> bulb that I know of. Does anyone know more about this bulb? If it's
> still made, sounds like a better bet than a sunlamp. (But with any "cone
> of light" source, be sure to test the perimeter exposure against the
> center exposure for fall-off. )
>
> Also a couple of afterthoughts on plateburners. If you do get an offer
> you can't refuse, be sure the model has vacuum bleed. The normal vacuum
> (about 25 lbs psi) crumples your paper. Also, the kind that inverts gives
> the worst of both worlds -- all the disadvantages of a plateburner and no
> possibility of dodge and burn. (I do both with the NuArc, wearing
> UV-proof sunglasses.)
>
> And for safety generally: I have a 1982 brochure from Westinghouse that
> says "contrary to popular belief UV light is not harmful to humans." Of
> course last year Phillips, which bought Westinghouse, said the equivalent
> of "YIKES!!!!! We said that!!!!????" It's interesting, however, that when
> pressed, the man said frankly we really don't know about the harm of UV
> rays to the eyes, and reading between the lines I gather that just in
> case someone gets cataracts 5 years from now they're going to say "don't".
> The official instructions now are that more than 40 inches distance (100
> cm?) is safe.
>
> There's some confusion because we are warned about UV rays from the sun.
> The difference is that glass filters out most of the harmful rays, or so
> it is presently believed. Outdoors there's no glass, and precious little
> ozone layer it now seems, between us and the sun. The UV bulb, however, is
> covered with glass.
>
> I note also that the AQA bulb from Voltarc is made for aquariums. People
> sit and stare into aquariums all day for THERAPY!
>
> Happy hunting,
> Judy
>
> And PS to Adam: Congratulations on graduation!
>