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Why Are There No Real LED UV Light Bulbs?

Proper lighting is one of the most significant investments in any property. With great LED lights, you improve the look and desirability of the space and the mood. Now with covid you also have to have great, and safe, air as well.   UV-c lights are designed to kill all viruses and thus part of the great re-opening of the global world.    Unfortunately you have to be careful of scams.   UV light bulbs are one of those scams.

UV-C lights are primarily meant to produce radiations that kill germs and bacteria, leaving surfaces safe. These radiations are invisible to the eye, which explains why most buyers depend on the color to believe whether the bulb in the picture is LED UV or not.  Unfortunately the color is easily mimicked and thus cant be trusted.

So what about the bulbs?


If you are interested in UV lighting, you must have heard about the LED UV bulbs. They are controversial UV-C products which is a saddening fact, especially in this COVID-19 era in which everyone is applying all means to stay safe. Many other UV-C products have been proven to effective in disinfecting water, air, and surfaces.

The sad truth is that despite being said to be real, experts claim that it is impossible to produce real LED UV bulbs which makes all the available ones in the current market fake. If you choose these bulbs for any other reason other than lighting your home, then you will be scammed. With the rate at which these bulbs are being advertised in every corner of the market, most people are being lured into buying them. Most people buy them to supposedly disinfect their homes (indoor air and surfaces).

After several people purchasing them as a means to safeguarding themselves from dirty air and surfaces, most of them begun doubting the authenticity of these bulbs. A lot of reviews show that these bulbs are fake, and the real ones do not exist at all. Some buyers chose to return the sellers' products after ascertaining and confirming their inauthenticity. In contrast, all others could leave negative reviews and feedback to warn other buyers to invest in the bulbs.


Tips on How to Confirm That LED UV Bulbs Available in The Market Are Fake

Even though most companies producing LED UV bulbs claim that their products are real, lets be honest, they are all fake. In addition to the experts supporting this assertion, you can also prove these bulbs' fakeness both at home and in the market. The two major techniques that you can use are highlighted below:

• Asking for a datasheet: Considering that these bulbs are meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, you should not fall victim to fake products like most people initially did. The datasheet should say it all. When window shopping, the dealer should provide the datasheet, which shows the bulb's measured wavelength (usually around 254nm).  Note that none of these are UL listed for performance.   Ask for a data safety sheet.

Manufacturers always provide this datasheet, and anything that is not around this range is fake and will not deliver the best quality of services. Even in cases where the wavelength is as required (254nm), but you have some doubts about the data's legitimacy, you should move to the next source. Your instincts are always correct.

• Buying and using a UVC light meter: With the way things are (regarding the legitimacy of LED UVC light bulbs), the first thing you should buy is a UVC light meter. It is the most effective tool for determining if the bulb is real or fake. It measures the intensity of the bulb (wavelength should read 254nm), which indicates an output of UVC radiations from the bulb. Despite being slightly costly, they are a necessary investment for anyone buying UVC LED light bulbs which perform the crucial role of disinfecting and keeping all the dangerous pathogens at bay.

With so many reviews of people claiming that they bought fake LED UVC bulbs, and there are no real ones, the million-dollar question is, why are there no real LED UV-C bulbs available in the market?   Real LED UV bulbs are impossible to produce for multiple reasons, which explains why the market is full of fake ones.


Look for Very Large Bulbs or Fixtures


So there are no real LED UV--C bulbs, but there are good UV-C lights out there.  You should not be scammed by believing everything you see in the media and all over the market.    Look for UV-C Light Fixtures from a reputable brand with some certifications.


Reasons Why the Market Is Full of Fake LED UVC Bulbs

With the tips explained above on how to ascertain the legitimacy of LED UV bulbs and the feedback given by people who bought these bulbs, they are undeniable that they are all fake. But why this sad truth when at least one company should be making legit products? There are several reasons why it is impossible to make real LED UV bulbs, as explained below.

• Proper UV-C lighting requires huge heat loads that are not possible on a bulb:  UV-C lights require huge heat loads to function effectively. Bulbs cannot handle such high amounts of heat, which is among the biggest challenges manufacturers face trying to produce legit LED UV-C bulbs. Based on the heat requirements of these UV-C products, it is impossible to produce a bulb and fit it with the UV product features. With no other option, and yet customers are demanding the latter, most manufacturers choose to mimic the LED UV-C bulbs to meet the customer needs. The bulbs end in the product are not original LED UV-C bulbs even though everyone is convinced to think otherwise. Only a few cautious people sadly find out the truth.


By trying to produce real LED UV bulbs (meeting the heat requirements), the manufacturers face two major challenges, namely:
1. The bulbs end up overheating quickly due to the large amounts of heat. A fast overheating bulb cannot serve the clients effectively. It also means that users should be ready for higher lighting bills.
2. In trying to produce a real LED UV bulb, manufacturers also end up with a very oversized  bulb. A real 50W LED UV bulb should be as long as 15 inches which means that higher wattages would result in unbelievably long bulbs.


UV- C color is easy to fake! 

Characteristically, real LED UV bulbs should glow in a brilliant blue color that is somehow similar to dark purple hues.  Keep in mind blacklight is a UV light.  Its easy to take a corn light bulb and turn up the blue colors to fake the performance.

If you feel the need to own an LED UV bulb, you can get the ordinary bulb and color it blue. This is a win-win situation as you end up with a bulb that looks exactly like the LED UV bulbs (in features especially the hue of the light produced) being sold in the market, but you save lots of money. This technique is also convenient for anyone in need of a bulb with similar features to that of UV-C bulbs.

It is interesting that all these bulbs are fake but are being sold at unbelievably high costs. Instead of wasting so much money, the solution is to buy the affordable bulbs in the market (colored blue as said above) and then invest in other effective germicidal measures. There is no need to risk staying in a home full of germs and bacteria, all in the name of these fake LED UV bulbs all over the market. Blue-colored ordinary bulbs and effective germicidal techniques are the way to go. It is also no crime not to own an LED UV bulb, especially where other solutions are involved. Do not kill yourself.

So, What Is the Best Solution to Dealing with The Fake LED UV Bulbs?

Considering that there are no real LED UV bulbs in the market, so what next? Should you continue getting scammed or find a way out?

Choose a UV light fixture from a Good Brand!

UV-C lights can be built into larger LED Light fixtures that can manage the heat load.   The can also add features such as aiming the light up, or motion sensors to turn it off.    Remember that you dont want to see UV lights or be exposed to them.



References 
https://hackaday.com/2020/04/15/buyer-beware-this-led-bulb-sold-as-germicidal-doesnt-emit-uv-c/
https://www.powerelectronictips.com/when-it-comes-to-uv-c-led-lights-buyer-beware/
https://www.prolampsales.com/blogs/specialty-architectural-lighting/that-uvc-led-you-bought-on-amazon-probably-doesnt-work
https://www.quora.com/Are-UV-LED-corn-bulbs-actually-fake-and-emit-no-UV-rays







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