Is it posible to make a uv sterelise out of uv leds

[schoondy]

Hi there all
I'm wondering is it possible to make a uv sterilizer out of uv leds as I have over 100 of them . (I plan on using about 10)
Luminous Intensity (typical): 510 mcd
Viewing angle: 20 degrees
Peak emission wavelength: 395 nm
Forward Voltage (typical): 3.6 V
Forward current (typical): 20 mA (maximal: 30 mA)
I will be using 12 volts as main power supply
and plan to put the leds on the bottom of my filter in some sort off watertight container but before I go any further Is there anybody out there that could tell me if this will work or not the advantage of using leds far outweights the use of a bulb as these leds have been rated out to 100 000 hrs so never have to worry about replacing a bulb also if 1 led doesn't work the others still will
Any info will be much appreciated
Cheers Martin

[taksan]

Well I know UV's used for disinfecting water are a specific wavelength and require certain periods of resonence. Its a complicated issue for example most UV's require approx 5 watts of power per 250 l/ph of water flow to actualy work.

[Proteus]

Peak emission wavelength: 395 nm

won't work... (sorry - wrong type of UV light)

(easiest way to tell if you have the right type of light tube, or cell, it will have a radiation warning on it)

For germicidal eradication you need short-wave UV radiation with a peak at 253.7 nm (much more above or below renders the emission useless)

Also, to ensure that the right wavelength is carried through the protective membrane (glass sleeve) the correct filtering must be used (to filter out the 185 nm ozone-forming line)

HTH

[schoondy]

Bugger!!!!!!!!
I wil just have to put this back on the drawing board and leave it till they do design a led with a 253.7nm wave length (just did some more research and found out that just recently a manufacturer has invented a new led in this wave lenth but its only got about 1000 hrs life in it compared to 100 000 for some leds and isnt available just at this time to your avarage customer) but maybe in a couple of years this might be a good litle diy project when they are available ..............cheers Martin

[Proteus]

Whilst DIY is great, I think when it comes to specialist applications, especially relating to materials that emit a type of radiation, the uptmost care should be taken, and in all honesty, personally I would leave things like UV sterilization to the pro's. This is not saying it cant be done, just something I wouldnt be messing around with.

[schoondy]

I absalutly agree with you there and my apologies for not mentioning the dangers with UV light WARNING IT WILL BLIND YOU IF YOU LOOK INTO IT .SO DONT ATEMPT THIS YOURSELF UNLESS PROPERLY PROTECTED But as I had these uv leds and thought about the advantages of having a UV stereliser being made out of leds rather than a bulb I thought It might be worth a mention.
At least I now know not to bother making one out off the leds I do have
Thank you all for your advice on this matter ..................cheers Martin