9 Watt UV Lamps

Product Features

Single, Dual, or Triple Bulb
Runs on 110 VAC or 12 VDC
Rugged Construction
Made In USA

Product Specifications

The single-tube/bulb/lamp unit is about 7.5" long, 4.5" wide, and 2.5" high (190 mm x 114 mm x 64 mm). The handle adds an additional 2.5" (64 mm) to the height.
The dual and triple tube/bulb/lamp units are approximately 8" x 6" x 3" (203 mm x 153 mm x 76 mm). The handle adds an additional 2.5" (64 mm) to the height.
The original formula Hoya U325C filter glass is about 1-9/16" by 5-5/16" (40 mm x 135 mm), and the Kokomo long wave filter glass is about 1-1/2" by 5-5/16" (32 mm x 135 mm).
ABS plastic enclosures

How to Order

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Product Description

One of our most popular products is the 9 watt UV lamp fixture. These lamp fixtures are ideal for fluorescent rock & mineral collecting; forensics; biological research; fossil and artifact verification; nondestructive testing; detecting leaks and pet stains; hunting scorpions; checking currency, stamps, passports; and many other applications requiring a source of ultraviolet radiation.

These lamp fixtures are custom built in our shop in Arizona and they feature one, two, or three tubes/bulbs/lamps in any combination of UV A/long-wave, UV B/medium-wave, or UV C/short-wave wavelengths. The lamp fixtures feature Philips 9 watt 2 pin (PL-S 9W 2P) compact fluorescent "H" tubes/bulbs/lamps being slightly over-driven with 13 watt ballasts. According to the Philips catalog (at 100 hours of use) a 9 watt UV C tube/bulb/lamp emits a total of 2.4 watts of UV (overdriving them using a 13 watt ballast, causes them to emit about 3.2 total watts of UV). My preferred brand is Philips.

Philips has stopped making the 9 watt tubes in the UV B wide band /12 phosphor. Philips has also restricted the 9 watt tubes in the UV B narrow band /01 phosphor strictly for medical use. The standard WTC 9 watt fixtures use a wavelength transforming sleeve with Nichia UV B phosphor embedded throughout to convert UV C tubes/bulbs/lamps into UV B. See Patent #8558203B1 for additional information about the various phosphors and their wavelength spreads at: https://patents.google.com/patent/US8558203B1/en.

The companies that were making the 9 watt AC ballast have gone out of business due to the switchover to LEDs vs. compact fluorescent tubes. We are phasing out the 9 watt AC versions - but we have a small quantity of these lamps in stock. The DC version uses a circuit board ballast that is custom made for WTC.

The ABS black plastic enclosure is drilled and routed to make the holes for the switches, the fan, the vent, and the power entry port. All of the 9 watt lamp fixtures have individual switches for the tubes/bulbs/lamps and the fan. The power entry port varies a little with the specific fixture and can be customized. All of the dual and triple AC versions have a standard IEC connector to energize the fixture with a standard computer type power cord. These power cords are available in various lengths and with ends to fit any countries power outlets. All of the DC versions use Anderson power connectors rated at 15 amps. The convention used is red right tongue top (RRTT). The single wavelength version is available in DC or universal input. The Universal input fixture has both an Anderson connection for the DC input and a standard IEC connection for the AC input.

Operating Procedure

Any combination of UV wavelengths can be turned on separately or all at the same time. The tubes/bulbs/lamps have an optimum temperature for maximum UV output. If they are either too hot or too cold, the UV output decreases. From room temperature, it takes a few minutes for the tubes/bulbs/lamps to heat up to their optimum temperature for maximum UV output. After 15 minutes or so without the fan, the tubes/bulbs/lamps would start to get hot enough that the UV output would start to drop. At room temperature it is important to run the fan to keep the components the correct temperature. If the lamp fixture is being operated out in cold weather, the fan may not be necessary.

The way to tell if the tubes/bulbs/lamps are either too hot or too cold is by the color of the UV C/short-wave filter glass. You must protect your eyes from the UV - DO NOT look at the filter glass without eye protection. When the tubes/bulbs/lamps are first turned on, the filter glass will appear a reddish purple/violet. As the tubes/bulbs/lamps warm up, the color of the filter glass changes to a nice purple/violet. If the tubes/bulbs/lamps get too hot, the color again shifts to a reddish purple/violet.

A Word About Voltages

The 9 watt series of lamp fixtures are available in 12 volt DC versions or universal input versions. To operate a 9 watt lamp fixture in a country with 220-240 volt AC, either the 12 volt DC version is used along with a 12 volt DC output power supply energized from a universal 100-250 volt AC input power supply or the universal input fixture is used which has the 12 volt power supply built in.

The ballasts are currently instant start ballasts which means the tubes/bulbs/lamps can be operated for an average of 3,000 on/off cycles before burning out the tube/bulb/lamp. The 9 watt tubes/bulbs/lamps have two pins with a starter circuit built into the base of the tubes/bulbs/lamps. The starter is necessary for AC operation with a clamp core transformer. However, for the DC ballast, the starter causes it to seem as if the battery wears out too soon. For the DC lamp fixtures, the tubes/bulbs/lamps are modified by removing the starter circuit and re-connecting some wires inside the base of the tubes/bulbs/lamps. For use in the field, while holding one of these at waist high, the lamp fixture will illuminate an area with about a 6 foot diameter semi circle in the direction the lamp fixture is pointing. These will do a good job of illuminating a display case approximately 1' x 1' x 1'.

How to Order

9 Watt Single - DC Power

This is a reasonably powerful hand held unit with a 9 watt bulb/tube. The ballast is rated for 13 watts and it over-drives the bulb/tube for more UV output. This single-bulb unit is about 7.5" long, 4.5" wide, and 2.5" high (190 mm x 114 mm x 64 mm) and is made out of black ABS plastic. The handle adds an additional 2.5" (64 mm) to the height. Click an image to view larger size.

9 Watt - Universal Power

The same great output of our 9-watt Single lights is now available with greater versatility for power. The Universal Power lights run on AC or DC voltage without the need for a separate external adapter. Simply plug in the IEC power cord or DC cord (Anderson connector) and select the power type using the rocker switch.

9 Watt Dual - DC Power

This is a reasonably powerful hand held unit with two bulbs/tubes - a 9 watt short wave and a 9 watt long wave (368 nm) UV bulb/tube. The ballasts are rated for 13 watts to over-drive the bulbs/tubes for more UV output. The dual-bulb lamp housing is 8" long, 6" wide, and 3" high (203 mm x 154 mm x 76 mm) and is made from lightweight black ABS plastic. The handle adds an additional 2.5" (64 mm) to the height. Click an image to view larger size.

9 Watt Dual - Universal Power

The same great output of our 9-watt Dual lights is now available with greater versatility for power. The Universal Power lights run on AC or DC voltage without the need for a separate external adapter. Simply plug in the IEC power cord or DC cord (Anderson connector) and select the power type using the rocker switch.

9 Watt Triple - DC Power

This is a reasonably powerful hand held unit with three bulbs/tubes - a 9 watt short wave (254 nm), a 9 watt mid wave (315 nm), and a 9 watt long wave (368 nm) UV bulb/tube. The ballasts are rated for 13 watts each to over-drive the bulbs/tubes for more UV output. This is a Stock item and usually ships in 2 weeks or less. The dual-bulb lamp housing is 8" long, 6" wide, and 3" high (203 mm x 154 mm x 76 mm) and is made from lightweight black ABS plastic. The handle adds an additional 2.5" (64 mm) to the height. Click an image to view larger size.

9 Watt Triple - Universal Power

The same great output of our 9-watt Triple lights is now available with greater versatility for power. The Universal Power lights run on AC or DC voltage without the need for a separate external adapter. Simply plug in the IEC power cord or DC cord (Anderson connector) and select the power type using the rocker switch.