UV Disinfection system question

[pontifex]

Yesterday my ATS EV-8E UV disinfection system started beeping continuously and flashing an orange light.

The manual says the lights are green, yellow, and red. There is no orange light in the manual. Also, the manual says the continuous tone is only paired with a continuous red light.

So I called the manufacturer today and they told me it sounds like the UV lamp is out and that I should open it up and check.

Well, the manual says never to look at UV light. it also says never to open it while the unit is powered on...wtf?

The guy I talked to also said that I just need to unscrew 2 Philips head screws at the top to see it. There are no screws at the top of where the lamp goes. There is a wire connected to a screw in valve type thing, which I assume is the power for the lamp based on the manual.

Off to the left side of the unit, there is is a input valve and some tube/pipe that is glowing a light blue color. Is that how I can tell if they UV lamp is working? The manual mentions a sight port for easy viewing but doesn't really describe where it is. Is that what I am seeing above?


Also, where's a good place to get replacement lamps inexpensively? Found one on Amazon for $32 plus $5 shipping. Anywhere else going to beat that? Cheapest I have found so far. Most other places are $48+

 

[Imp]

Google says that it's a water disinfection system... Water usually uses UV-C at 265-ish nm (?). UV-C is the shit the ozone layer is supposed to block out, but you have to worry about a lot if there's a hole in the atmosphere. What you get daily from the sun is UV-A and UV-B (down to 280nm?).

UV light is invisible. The blue-ish light you may see is 400nm-ish borderline stuff. But UV lamps probably aren't perfect at emitting one wavelength, so there probably will be some "bleeding" of visible light.

Regardless, don't look at the lamp when it's on -- don't even expose any skin without proper protection.

For UV disinfection to work properly, the lamp must emit a certain amount of UV light within an optimum wavelength. Even if your lamp is working, it might be old enough that it's weak, so not working properly (i.e. disinfecting your water). Just like your CFL lamps, they get dimmer with age. If the alarm is related to the lamp, it might be an internal sensor (maybe...), or an internal timer.

 

[pontifex]

Google says that it's a water disinfection system... Water usually uses UV-C at 265-ish nm (?). UV-C is the shit the ozone layer is supposed to block out, but you have to worry about a lot if there's a hole in the atmosphere. What you get daily from the sun is UV-A and UV-B (down to 280nm?).

UV light is invisible. The blue-ish light you may see is 400nm-ish borderline stuff. But UV lamps probably aren't perfect at emitting one wavelength, so there probably will be some "bleeding" of visible light.

Regardless, don't look at the lamp when it's on -- don't even expose any skin without proper protection.

For UV disinfection to work properly, the lamp must emit a certain amount of UV light within an optimum wavelength. Even if your lamp is working, it might be old enough that it's weak, so not working properly (i.e. disinfecting your water). Just like your CFL lamps, they get dimmer with age. If the alarm is related to the lamp, it might be an internal sensor (maybe...), or an internal timer.

The system has alarms for replace lamp in 30 days, lamp has exceeded 1 year (replace lamp) or lamp is not lit.

The unit was installed in May of last year, so it's getting close to time to replace the lamp anyway. I guess I'll buy a new lamp and replace it and see if that fixes the light/tone combo.

Its just weird that the combo I am seeing isn't even in the manual. Assuming orange = yellow, there's still no combo with an orange light and continuous alarm.

Also, if the light is invisible how would I know the lamp is on, assuming I could look at it safely?

This is the replacement lamp on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Replacement-T...=UTF8&qid=1363712701&sr=8-1&keywords=ats4-450

 

[IronWing]

On the units I am familiar with the viewing port is a small circular hole (maybe 1/2 inch diameter in the top of the unit covered with a screw-on top. When covered it looks like a mounting bolt.

Does your unit have a sweeper brush built in to clean the bulb? If so, giving it a few pulls/pushs can sometimes get the alarm to shutup.

 

[pontifex]

On the units I am familiar with the viewing port is a small circular hole (maybe 1/2 inch diameter in the top of the unit covered with a screw-on top. When covered it looks like a mounting bolt.

Does your unit have a sweeper brush built in to clean the bulb? If so, giving it a few pulls/pushs can sometimes get the alarm to shutup.

The only thing on top of the unit that houses the lamp is the power connection for the lamp.

The manual mentions a sight port but doesn't say where it is.

PDF about the unit: http://www.aquat.com/pdf.php?pdf=34

The instructions for installation, after everything is hooked up, is to turn it on and "observe operation through the safety sight port. the lamp will show a bright blue glow." So I'm assuming the blue light from the inlet connection is the safety sight port? The manual has an illustration that does kind of pull out a small picture of where the inlet connection is.

no sweeper brush that I can tell. the manual talks about removing the lamp and the quartz sleeve to clean it.

 

[Imp]

Your lamp should look purple-ish because of the visible light bleed -- hard to make lamps only emit one tight wavelength or something. So, you should see a glow.

On how to do it safely, I have no idea. Never used one, just know about the theory. I do know that with commercial/industrial grade lamps, they can have sensors inside the reactor that detect the strength of a specific wavelength -- for drinking water disinfection, it's required by law usually. For residential grade, I wouldn't count on it.

http://www.light-measurement.com/UV-disinfection/

 

[Rakehellion]

I thought this said "VD Disinfection system."

 

[pontifex]

I thought this said "VD Disinfection system."

desperately seeking one, eh?

 

[Red Squirrel]

I wonder if sun glasses would provide enough protection, they're designed to block UV right? I would not worry too much about skin, given people actually pay companies to go in a pod full of these lights (tanning bed). It's not a couple minutes of exposure that will be bad for you. It is not good for you in long term though but short term should not be bad.

Could also just test the electrical draw of the lamp.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Just take it apart already! It aint rocket science and the amount of UV light you get is infintesimal compared to glancing at the Sun and how many times have you done that? You're not going to stare at the bulb for 15 minutes straight.

 

[Imp]

I was going to say UV-C is really dangerous, but I don't know, most people don't usually get exposed to it because it's blocked by the atmosphere. In man-made things, they're usually required to be in a completely sealed unit.

On whether they really do damage or not, Google says it can depending on intensity... but there's so little data because the atmosphere blocks it and reactors are sealed with few people having to access them.

Regardless, you can't see UV-C anyways, which is really what you're looking for if you want to see if it's working or not. And sticking your hand into it won't tell you if it's emitting enough energy to disinfect water. So, why take the risk?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I was going to say UV-C is really dangerous, but I don't know, most people don't usually get exposed to it because it's blocked by the atmosphere. In man-made things, they're usually required to be in a completely sealed unit.

On whether they really do damage or not, Google says it can depending on intensity... but there's so little data because the atmosphere blocks it and reactors are sealed with few people having to access them.

Regardless, you can't see UV-C anyways, which is really what you're looking for if you want to see if it's working or not. And sticking your hand into it won't tell you if it's emitting enough energy to disinfect water. So, why take the risk?

The UV lights in the disinfecting units don't produce just UV-C AND, there's no way for that lamp to stop producing only a specific wave length in the middle of it's spectrum. They give off a bluish purple glow. You don't even have to look directly at the lamp, you can use a sheet of paper for crying out loud. Some of you remind me of the poster who was seriously wondering if he needed to replace his furnace because the pilot light wouldn't stay lit! Did you never take anything apart just to see how it works?

 

[Imp]

Got an idea that might be stupidly dangerous, so I do not remotely recommend it, but will share it anyways.

Buy these (they react to 300-360 nm light or UV-A/B, last I checked -- might work if the lamp bleeds into higher spectrums):
http://www.dallastopsecretscience.com/UVBeadBracelet.html

Figure a way out to keep yourself safe and far away, yet expose the beads to the light. Also, make sure the beads don't touch the reactor's insides in case they're toxic. It's a children's toy -- who knows though.

I still don't recommend it and you shouldn't do it. Not legally liable. Lallalalalala.

Try to find the viewport or call the company again. If they tell you to just open the unit with no safety gear, they should be sued...

 

[Rubycon]

I would be more concerned as to why you have such a product in the first place.

 

[Imp]

The UV lights in the disinfecting units don't produce just UV-C AND, there's no way for that lamp to stop producing only a specific wave length in the middle of it's spectrum. They give off a bluish purple glow. You don't even have to look directly at the lamp, you can use a sheet of paper for crying out loud. Some of you remind me of the poster who was seriously wondering if he needed to replace his furnace because the pilot light wouldn't stay lit! Did you never take anything apart just to see how it works?

Google says that it's a water disinfection system... Water usually uses UV-C at 265-ish nm (?). UV-C is the shit the ozone layer is supposed to block out, but you have to worry about a lot if there's a hole in the atmosphere. What you get daily from the sun is UV-A and UV-B (down to 280nm?).

UV light is invisible. The blue-ish light you may see is 400nm-ish borderline stuff. But UV lamps probably aren't perfect at emitting one wavelength, so there probably will be some "bleeding" of visible light.
Regardless, don't look at the lamp when it's on -- don't even expose any skin without proper protection.

For UV disinfection to work properly, the lamp must emit a certain amount of UV light within an optimum wavelength. Even if your lamp is working, it might be old enough that it's weak, so not working properly (i.e. disinfecting your water). Just like your CFL lamps, they get dimmer with age. If the alarm is related to the lamp, it might be an internal sensor (maybe...), or an internal timer.

Your lamp should look purple-ish because of the visible light bleed -- hard to make lamps only emit one tight wavelength or something. So, you should see a glow.
On how to do it safely, I have no idea. Never used one, just know about the theory. I do know that with commercial/industrial grade lamps, they can have sensors inside the reactor that detect the strength of a specific wavelength -- for drinking water disinfection, it's required by law usually. For residential grade, I wouldn't count on it.

http://www.light-measurement.com/UV-disinfection/

Dude, I did not know that...

Do all the dismantling you want, but I've actually read the health & safety requirements concerning UV disinfection reactors. I also may have done part of an undergraduate and graduate degree on them... Everything I've learned says NOT to expose myself to them without safety equipment, so I'll stick with my position.

 

[sdifox]

I would be more concerned as to why you have such a product in the first place.

probably works in a lab and that is supposed to disinfect the tabletop.

 

[Imp]

I would be more concerned as to why you have such a product in the first place.

I was going to ask that... but I just went with the assumption that he uses well water.

 

[drinkmorejava]

Buy these (they react to 300-360 nm light or UV-A/B, last I checked -- might work if the lamp bleeds into higher spectrums):
http://www.dallastopsecretscience.com/UVBeadBracelet.html

He doesn't need to go online to buy those. Any party store should have UV reactive stickers and whatnot.

There are tons of common things he could use too. Highlighters, most detergents, high brightness printer paper all have optical brighteners.

 

[Rubycon]

probably works in a lab and that is supposed to disinfect the tabletop.

That's not a laboratory grade sterilizer.

I was going to ask that... but I just went with the assumption that he uses well water.

Microbial water supplies needs a more specialized treatment and monitoring.

UV sterilization has merits but has to be tuned for proper dwell for the target organism. Additionally, monitoring for by-products of over irradiation must be considered if the water has any other compounds in it. Just a tube with a light is not going to work - at all.

He doesn't need to go online to buy those. Any party store should have UV reactive stickers and whatnot.

There are tons of common things he could use too. Highlighters, most detergents, high brightness printer paper all have optical brighteners.

These are sensitive to longer wavelength UVA radiation typically known as blacklight blue. Shortwave UVC does not excite most of these products very well.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Dude, I did not know that...

Do all the dismantling you want, but I've actually read the health & safety requirements concerning UV disinfection reactors. I also may have done part of an undergraduate and graduate degree on them... Everything I've learned says NOT to expose myself to them without safety equipment, so I'll stick with my position.

I'll bet you grew up using a car seat.
UV systems for disinfectiong water are not new, high tech nor, do they require a graduate degree to safely use. I guess most of my ranting is directed at the amazing number (at least to me) of current home owners who know absolutely NOTHING about the sub systems or technology that their home uses.

 

[Imp]

I'll bet you grew up using a car seat.
UV systems for disinfectiong water are not new, high tech nor, do they require a graduate degree to safely use. I guess most of my ranting is directed at the amazing number (at least to me) of current home owners who know absolutely NOTHING about the sub systems or technology that their home uses.

No maybes about it.

Na, don't need a grad degree to use them, which is why they're so common. But having spent so much time researching and writing about them, I might know just a bit more than the average joe...

P.S. You can't stop a a lamp from emitting in one wavelength, but different lamp types do focus their power within certain ranges.

http://www.americanairandwater.com/lamps.htm

Microbial water supplies needs a more specialized treatment and monitoring.

UV sterilization has merits but has to be tuned for proper dwell for the target organism. Additionally, monitoring for by-products of over irradiation must be considered if the water has any other compounds in it. Just a tube with a light is not going to work - at all.

Shhh... keep it down. You wrecking sales.

.... That's why I love environmental engineering. Everything gets tested so you can't really screw it up.

 

[drinkmorejava]

That's not a laboratory grade sterilizer.
These are sensitive to longer wavelength UVA radiation typically known as blacklight blue. Shortwave UVC does not excite most of these products very well.

I thought we were just trying to see if the bulb was on so he didn't have to look at it. Not sure how he would be able to tell the difference either.

 

[pontifex]

I was going to ask that... but I just went with the assumption that he uses well water.

Yes, its for the well water. there was some coliform (I think that was the term) in the water and it needed to be taken care of.

 

[pontifex]

Got a new bulb today and replaced the old one. everything seems to be back to normal now.

 

[Mixolydian]

Got a new bulb

lamp.