bigclive
patreon
Inside a radical alternative to traditional UVC lights
🕑 Added 2024-10-09 03:29:57 +0000 UTCSome good things came out of the pandemic. One of them was the sudden market created for UVC LEDs and the new excimer 222nm light sources.
Naomi Wu has sent me a 222nm excimer light that she has been developing in an attempt to make it more affordable than the high profile medical versions. The result is a well designed 6W unit that puts out a very narrow spike of UVC light centred around 222nm.
This wavelength is long enough to effectively deactivate airborne bacteria and viruses , and also sterilise adjacent surfaces. But it is short enough that it can't penetrate the outer layer of dead skin cells or the film of liquid on your eyes.
That means it's currently considered safe for use in occupied spaces.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4a_kJkVUis
Comments
Big Clive
It does sound like an insulation breakdown in the driver. If it was bought fairly recently it may be worth contacting the supplier as they should have the correct replacement parts.
Tommy Zaharakis
If anyone can help, i have two of these units. One stopped working about a hour after i took it out of the box. what looks like what I would interpret to be a "ballast" or driver seems to have failed /melted and exposed copper wire through epoxy. Anyone know what this ballast is called? part #? place to buy it at?
Dave Frederick AKA @amorphuc
No matter, I'm so glad there's conversation with you. Please tell her we love her and hope she's fab. Should we still send support?
Dave Frederick AKA @amorphuc
Fucking Cool OMG Big Clive. Thank you. It's so encouraging and wonderful that Naomi Wu is still in conversation with someone and somehow okay. THANK you for this and I'm so glad you are there for her. Not sure the situation nor should I should know. But knowing she's around is really cool. I really hope she's well and have feared for her well being. Wait. Might have gone off there. I think somewhere else you said she's okay? Is she? Naomi has been working on this stuff for a while. Very interesting.
Jim Hewlett
A useful device. I suppose we'd have to check on whether there are any viruses or bacteria that we don't want to kill. One of the worries that emerged after WWll and the rise of antibiotics was that our immune system needed something to fight to keep it in good condition. I'd guess if we needed them they would already be on or in our bodies.
Eric Woodley
UV damages the DNA itself, bacteria would have to develop a method of blocking out the UV to prevent it from penetrating the nucleus.
Big Clive
Looking at a manufacturers website suggests a 4000hr lifespan for the emitters.
Big Clive
At this point I don't know the failure mode or lifespan of an excimer lamp.
richard ockman
Looks well built , went to the KUKIT web site This model was $154.95 US and they also sell a unit that is smaller called The Torch in a pack of Four was listed $344.75. The question is how many hours of life from the units?
Big Clive
There is that risk. But theoretically the UVC nukes everything.
Mike Hughes
I assumed she had done that through trial and error to arrive at the final product- maybe I mis-interpreted the narrative, but it would be great for her to actually get the patent- then she could license it or mass produce herself. She desreves it after all she has been through.
Mike Page
Antibiotics exert selection pressure on bacteria promoting "the fittest". Why would widespread UV sterilization not do the same?
Mike Page
Patents follow a problem-solution-claims format. If there's a problem with existing designs that this new design solves and the solution isn't obvious, it could feasibly be patented.
Cookie
Another excellent Viral video BC. Finally a perfect product I will seek out.
Mike Page
Love the name
Curtis Hoffmann
Still, sterilizing humans... I may be ok with that...
Big Clive
I've just tried that and there was strong stimulation of the UVC phosphors.
AlfaGuy
Have you tried the light with your UV test papers?
Mike Hughes
I didn't realise that, I misunderstood. I thought she had devised a new way of testing with the lamp safely, by designing the construction of the light unit.
Big Clive
I doubt she could patent the concept. It seems to be an established technology.
Mike Hughes
I hope Naomi has applied for a patent for it as that looks to be a winner. A bit pricey at $344 but with mass production price should be much lower.
Kevin Horne
When I saw the thumbnail, I was convinced that “NUKIT” was a tongue-in-cheek ‘Clive-ism’! 😂
Bill Kerr
I first heard of 222nm UVC during TWiV (this week in Virology) #666 on YouTube 4 years ago (I had to look that up again). In that podcast the virologists learn the science of 222nm from a guy working to get those lights accepted and marketable. I need to rewatch it. They were starting to do tests installing 222nm LEDs (I think) in elevators, a natural since that's where people crown together in a small space. I found the (expensive) Nukit lights at nukit222.com
Big Clive
It's a trace level.
NN Thomas
How safe is the glass? Chlorine is an exceptionally poisonous gas.
Glenn Achten
excellent thanks for sharing
