[alankk]

Hi all,

I got an idea from a friend for building a box to disinfect items coming into the house with UV-C light. I've done a lot of research to figure out how to build it and how long it takes to kill coronavirus with UV-C.

The way to do it is to build a box, lined with aluminum foil and install the lights. The box needs to be sealed so no light leaks out. UV-C is very dangerous and can burn skin and cause eye damage. Some bulbs produce ozone as well.


I have purchased two 8W Germicidal bulbs but I am confused about how I need to use them. They are the size of a small T5 base fluorescent bulb. Do you know if I can use them in a standard 8W fluorescent fixture of do they need a special fixture with blast?

I really want to figure this out and then spread the word.

 

[Windows on Wash]

Build it and post the video of its construction up. Could be helpful to some folks.

 

[Nealtw]

How will you test to prove it will work?

 

[Windows on Wash]

Electron microscopes aren't normal household items in these parts.

 

[alankk]

How will you test to prove it will work?

I don't know of a good way to test for killing viruses without a lab. It would be pretty straight-forward to let some food rot and zap it to see if the rot stops. Maybe some milk or something in a dish. But I am not planning to do that. I know from all the studies and applications of UV-C in medical and other laboratory environments that it does kill germs.

 

[Nealtw]

I don't know of a good way to test for killing viruses without a lab. It would be pretty straight-forward to let some food rot and zap it to see if the rot stops. Maybe some milk or something in a dish. But I am not planning to do that. I know from all the studies and applications of UV-C in medical and other laboratory environments that it does kill germs.

Is that what they use in hospitals for surgical tools. Why aren't they using that for cleaning masks?


You would want a door switch on the box so you can't turn the light on unless the door is closed, like a MWave.

 

[alankk]

Is that what they use in hospitals for surgical tools. Why aren't they using that for cleaning masks?


You would want a door switch on the box so you can't turn the light on unless the door is closed, like a MWave.

There are studies that show you can use it on masks without degrading the filtration. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/#R6.

Last week, a new study confirmed you can bake masks at 70 C / 158 F in a kitchen-type of oven for 30 min, or hot water vapor from boiling water for 10 min, are additional effective decontamination methods.

Edit: the article about baking masks is https://www.livescience.com/sanitizing-medical-masks-for-reuse-coronavirus.html

 

[alankk]

Is that what they use in hospitals for surgical tools. Why aren't they using that for cleaning masks?


You would want a door switch on the box so you can't turn the light on unless the door is closed, like a MWave.

Yes, this is the same UV-C light. I ran power to the outside of the box and plugged it into a power strip with switch.

 

[Nealtw]

Yes, this is the same UV-C light. I ran power to the outside of the box and plugged it into a power strip with switch.

I think if you going to build some for friends or put the plan out there for others you want to include some off the shelf switch for the door, As you say the light is dangerous.

 

[alankk]

I think if you going to build some for friends or put the plan out there for others you want to include some off the shelf switch for the door, As you say the light is dangerous.

Yes, I attached the power strip to the box. Ideally, I would have a timer switch but I haven't been able to find one with the right resolution. Exposure will be in minutes. Most timers too long.

 

[huesmann]

A WiFi smart switch (or outlet) can be set for minutes...

 

[Nealtw]

Yes, I attached the power strip to the box. Ideally, I would have a timer switch but I haven't been able to find one with the right resolution. Exposure will be in minutes. Most timers too long.

Bathroom fan timer.

 

[ChuckF.]

Viruses and bacteria will respond differently to UV, some are remarkably impervious to UV and many die quickly. This piece of information re COVID-19 should be in development somewhere. The fact that most other corona viruses are susceptible to UV is encouraging. This is one of the reasons that cold and flu seasons tend to get beaten down when warm weather and long days come.

 

[Calson]

If someone comes home who is infected and sneezes on you or anyone else in your house or touches a faucet and then you touch it then it is game over. What works is to avoid contact with people outside your household and to wash your hands for 20 seconds or more as much as possible. If you smoke or are obese then start working on your will.

 

[seharper]

What definitely kills viruses is temps above a certain point, around 60C (140F) or a bit higher. My oven goes as low as 170F. I just throw things in there.

I have purchased two 8W Germicidal bulbs but I am confused about how I need to use them. They are the size of a small T5 base fluorescent bulb. Do you know if I can use them in a standard 8W fluorescent fixture of do they need a special fixture with blast?

I really want to figure this out and then spread the word.

A fine notion that has come up before. So here's the deal with fluorescents. Consider the tube and the fixture. You pick one and that forces you to the other to fit the plug Lastly, the tube tells you which ballast you need. For instance F40T12 and F32T8 tubes fit the same sockets, but take different ballasts.

Now, those germicidal lights *are* fluorescents. However, they're tuned to make UV-C so they use a wackadoodle ballast. So if you find a fixture that takes that physical size of tube, you'll need to check the ballast to make sure it supports that bulb. If not, change it to a ballast that does.

 

[Oldmaster]

I would think if UV kills the virus some one at a higher pay grade than mine would have invented it.

 

[Nealtw]

I would think if UV kills the virus some one at a higher pay grade than mine would have invented it.

Today. Trump talked about a new machine that will clean 10s of 1000s masks per day. This idea came to mind.

 

[seharper]

I would think if UV kills the virus some one at a higher pay grade than mine would have invented it.

This is a tough one. I don't know if you've heard the word "novel" used to describe this virus, it means "new to any of us". So they're learning as they go along.

 

[FrodoOne]

Is that what they use in hospitals for surgical tools. Why aren't they using that for cleaning masks?

While it cannot be used for conductive materials, for non-conductive materials (such as face masks) why could not one use a Microwave Oven (with a part tumbler of water as an indicator and protection for the oven concerned)?

Place the mask and the part tumbler of water in the oven and "run" the oven until the water in the tumbler boils.
Any water borne particles on the mask will then have been at least equally boiled, and (possibly) "boiled away", which should result in sterilization.

 

[Nealtw]

While it cannot be used for conductive materials, for non-conductive materials (such as face masks) why could not one use a Microwave Oven (with a part tumbler of water as an indicator and protection for the oven concerned)?

Place the mask and the part tumbler of water in the oven and "run" the oven until the water in the tumbler boils.
Any water borne particles on the mask will then have been at least equally boiled, and (possibly) "boiled away", which should result in sterilization.

The problem with any of this stuff, is we don' know what we don't know.


If the public starts wearing masks, most of us don't know what protocols we should use with them. Until nurses and doctors have enough to get close to following their protocol, it shouldn't be considered.