1.5M views · Jun 27, 2018 · 8:46 · 1 HN recommender · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2024
BigClive tears down and tests a germicidal UVC lamp from eBay that floods a room with narrow-band ultraviolet and ozone. He warns of the eye and skin hazards.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN points to BigClive as a source for how cheap UVC lamps actually work and what they emit.
“BigClive has some interesting videos on these kinds of lights”HN comment, 2023
“BigClive has some interesting videos on these kinds of lights”
BigClive has interesting videos on germicidal UV lights
BigClive has some interesting videos on these kinds of lights this video He also works in events/lighting and has mentioned the risk of events inadvertently sourcing 'cool-looking' lights without understanding what they actually are (germicidal UV lights)
“See biglive about it”
BigClive on E27 UVC lamps popular in China
E27 UVC lamps, basically in this case a long CFL with proper UV quartz glass, but without the fluorescent coating, seem to be popular in china to be screwed into the ceiling. See biglive about it: this video
“YouTuber Big Clive has had several videos on UVC lamps”
BigClive has made several videos on UVC lamps
Personally I feel the use of the term "far uv" is very misleading because the 220 nm wavelength is within UVC, and not too far away from 254 nm germicidal UVC. It is always helpful to consult a chart: link So, from a public health/public education standpoint, I find it troubling that scientific research, which the article points out, is limited in this area. For decades, general advice has been that all UVC is dangerous to all life. We don't know below which wavelength does UVC no longer become harmful to animal (human) cells. Nor do we know if 220 nm wavelength light damage/weaken other materials. I'm not a chemist/engineer so I don't know if theoretical calculations can be made or if a massive scientific effort needs to be done to verify the impact of 220 nm UV light on lots of materials/life. If there is an animal/human cell safety region, perhaps a rebranding or subdivision of UVC into a "UV-D" is better than calling this "far uv". This has the added benefit of the "D" meaning "Death to germs/viruses". YouTuber Big Clive has had several videos on UVC lamps, I'd like to see someone get a 220 nm light into his hands to see if he smells like burnt meat. this video link Edit: maybe I am a bit alarmist, some comments did share additional information about products offering this technology... I still hold that the branding/messaging is a problem by lumping it all together
