bitem2k said:
Hi,
Does anyone know if SAD lamps emit enough UV to expose photo pcbs
?
I don't know, it depends on the wavelength of UV light they emit, you need UVA light for developing PCBs.
bitem2k said:
I came across link (**broken link removed**), which describes using flourescent lights.
No, that project uses germicidal tubes they aren't fluorescents but low pressure mercury discharge lamps without the fluorescent coating; they're made of quartz to pass the 253.7nm shortwave UV radiation.
Do not use germicidal tubes, use blacklight or incest killer tubes. Apart from being very dangerous, it's the wrong wavelength for developing PCBs, you need UVA radiation between 350nm to 380nm to develop PCBs, 253.7nm is useless.
By all means build this project but subsitute the G15T8 tubes for BLB15T8 or BL15T8 tubes.
I have seen this project before on that website and have politely emailed them asking them to rectify it but they haven't.
I own one of these (**broken link removed**) sad lamps allready, and would like to use this if possible to expose pcbs.
I don't know, it depends on the type of UV it outputs, UVA is fine but don't bother if it's UVB, by all means try it but you're probably better of with insect killer tubes which are cheaper too.