Black Lights in Man Cave

PacAttack13

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Quick question guys. I have a standard double garage that has been converted to my man cave. How many four foot light fixtures/shop lights would I need to provide adequate lighting for blacklights in my man cave? I was thinking four light fixtures for a total of 8 bulbs but I could be wrong. I went to walmart and saw their shop lights are 10 dollars and their black lights (4 foot) in length are 11 dollars. Your help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks.
 
I'm running 4 bulbs in two fixtures in my game room, which is 25x12, or 300 square feet.

There's a few things to consider here: color of the walls, ceiling and floors, the type of fixture you're using (reflector, diffusing cover, etc), and the biggest issue - ambient light.

My blacklight floor looks GREAT when my gameroom is powered down. But when I turn on all 14 machines, the ambient light from the marquees, coin lights, CRTs, and playfield lights really tones down the effect of the black lighting. I'm considering disconnecting my marquee lights.

IMG_2318.jpg


Here's a video I shot last fall before my game room was painted blue. You can see the lighter shade of the unpainted walls really takes the 'oomph' out of the black light effect.

 
I have a tiny 11'x12' room and 1 2bulb 4' fixture lights it up good if that can be used as a reference.
 
I would say that yes, that would work.

Be sure to use fixtures that have a mirrored reflector on them, to direct the light downward. Don't use frosted diffusers, they'll block a lot of the UV spectrum.
 
I would say that yes, that would work.

Be sure to use fixtures that have a mirrored reflector on them, to direct the light downward. Don't use frosted diffusers, they'll block a lot of the UV spectrum.

where is the best/cheapest place to get the mirrored reflectors on them? Thanks bro.
 
I have a 18x20 room, 2 48 inch fixtures do just fine. Those 24 / 18 inch fixtures do nothing, don't waste your money.

thanks......I think a standard double garage is around 18x20.........still think I will get four fixtures and 8 lights to be safe....can always take a couple back if I dont need them....
 
My cave is 600' i am running 12 of the 48" black light tubes. I have painted my walls dark grey and my curtains are black. My roof is white and i think a lot of the black light effect gets eaten up there, i hope to paint the roof here shortly (it will be black). Here is a video of my room with the black lights on showing the Shock Wave back lite carpet.

 
I ended up buying a handful of smaller (~12") fixtures from Lowe's and mounting them horizontally with velcro under the control panels of games around the room. This works out well because it keeps the blacklight close to the carpet (for optimum reaction), they can't be bumped easily, and they are out of people's eyes. It also looks pretty cool when seen from a distance.

I don't have a picture, but the inspiration was zfcamaro's gameroom:
gameroommain2.jpg


LeChuck
 
Be sure you understand the effects of prolonged exposure to UV-A long waveform lighting to your eyes and skin. You may reconsider your lighting options.
 
Be sure you understand the effects of prolonged exposure to UV-A long waveform lighting to your eyes and skin. You may reconsider your lighting options.

And going out in the daytime.
 
And going out in the daytime.

LOL, no kidding.

Seriously, though, the only issue I've ever read about with using black lights is that some people can get a headache if they're staring directly at the light source. Since most of the light emitted is beyond the ability of our eyes to see, it can cause headaches. Something about your brain getting confused about what it can't see.

It's for that reason alone that I did not install lights on the side of my games. At least when they're overhead, you're not looking at the light fixtures.

I had my lights on for 8 hours straight during my last game night and none of the dozen or so people that were visiting for my party complained of any distress. Other than sore wrists and thumbs. :D
 
Do you have some documentation to support that claim?

You can always check with google.com, but here are some snippets:

* UVA is the safest of the three spectra of UV light, although high exposure to UVA has been linked to the development of skin cancer in humans.

* UVA is capable of causing damage to collagen fibers

* can accelerate skin aging and cause wrinkles

* UVA can also destroy vitamin A in the skin

(UV-A is the wavelength classification of consumer grade blacklight)

Eye damage caution:
"Black lights emit UV-A radiation and what is known as blue light. Elaine Kitchel, a Low Vision Research Associate, says that these light rays have been found to prevent the retinal cells from forming cytochrome oxidase. This chemical transports oxygen to the cells involved in vision. Without cytochrome oxidase and without oxygen, the cells of the eye begin to die. The lesions that occur may be scattered so it isn't until many have formed that vision loss is noticed."

An obvious link to check:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet#Harmful_effects

More on the topic of eye damage:
http://www.ehow.com/about_6711132_effects-black-lights-vision.html
http://www.cclvi.org/contributions/effects1.htm

Everything is bad for you. Especially anything cool or fun.
 
I've already read all of that. I still can't find anything that will specify intensity or duration of exposure.

Breathing smoke is bad for you too, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop grilling my steaks because of it.
 
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