LED

[Rodney]

Anyone use this LED and how did you like it and use it?

Rodney

[75RR]

I find that getting one of the brand LEDs is worth the extra cost as they not only have a very large selection, enabling one to tailor the LEDs to ones needs, but they also come with documentation. This is important as it avoids potential unknowns such as the amount of UV it might emit.

Have a look at this link, choose a LED and download the pdf to see what I mean.

http://www.cree.com/XLAMP

[Rodney]

Good gosh, this LED technology has really taken off over the last 5 years. I wonder if they have started making junk LED`s that will burn out quicker, so more money for them. Anyway I will test this one out slowly over time. Cost right at 4 bucks for this one, but I really think I like LED`s to experiment with and I use them a lot for microscope light.

Rodney

[75RR]

This is the one I bought. As you can see the one from RadioShack was about the same price.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-Cree-XLamp- ... AQ:US:1123

[Rodney]

Oh ok I see it, 30 in one for 3.50. I have never used one like that.

Rodney

[zzffnn]

I could be wrong, but I heard most LEDs cannot emit true UV light. Manufacturer may have to make them specifically for UV. I am actually looking to buy a UV LED torch for auto fluorescence - the UV ones are easily 2x or 3x more expensive for the same output/quality.

[75RR]

I could be wrong, but I heard most LEDs cannot emit true UV light.

I mentioned UV as one of the things that a Branded LED's documentation would mention.
Did not mean to imply that it was a UV LED, just that it was important to know how much if any UV the bulb emitted as a safety measure, among other useful information the documentation has.
No name LEDs might or might not be harmful if used in a microscope. Without documentation one would not know.

[zzffnn]

^ Sure. I understand. It is always better to be safe than sorry.