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Blog
Monday, June 9, 2008
UV LEDs enable DIY pest control
Jun 9 2008 11:40AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (14) |
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I’d heard of high-brightness LEDs (HB LEDs) in the ultra-violet light range being used in therapeutic applications such as bilirubin blankets for treating jaundiced babies. I found out another use for them over the weekend – tracking rats and scorpions.
You may have noticed how black lights at parties show up all kinds of gross stains on white fabric – pretty much any fluid secreted by an animal will glow under UV lights, even after washing. Well, rat urine/scent fluoresces under black light, and provides an excellent way to find rat trails. Sadly, Chez Conner has roof rats, and it’s time to put out rat bait. Rats are evidently creatures of habit and don’t stray far from their rat trails, so finding these trails with a black light is a good way to determine where to place the bait.
Here’s a photo of rat traces under UV light on a toolbox from the website Rat Sensory World:
Back in the olden days UV lights were generally ac-powered. UV HB LEDs enable handy flashlights for tracking rats – or scorpions. Here’s a Scorpion Hunter Urine Tracker LED Flashlight.
Related entries in: Components, Hardware, Interconnect | LED | Power Sources/Controllers | Power Supplies |
Reader Comments
at 6/9/2008 5:44:26 PM, ToocooLEDs said:
Good luck finding true HB UV LEDs in a consumer product. HB LED generally means ~1 Watt or greater. The cheap 5mm LEDs in that flashlight are waaay less powerful than that. I suspect liability concerns limit availability of genuinely high intensity UV LEDs in the marketplace.
at 6/9/2008 9:42:40 PM, Margery Conner said:
TooCool LEDs: I edited the post to remove the statement that HB LEDs were used in the scorpion-pee flashlight - thanks. There are several consumer gadgets coming out with HB LEDs - even some toys are slated.
at 6/10/2008 12:34:59 PM, Meredith Poor said:
This is the low wavelength stuff. Things get more useful at 253nm... like making gasoline out of natural gas, or killing bacteria in creek water. High power LEDS radiating in that part of the spectrum would make a genuinely expensive flashlight.
at 6/10/2008 1:46:12 PM, Steve H. said:
Nice application - however I think I would prefer just to not see that on my toolbox! Ignorance is bliss... ;-) Steve H.
at 6/10/2008 2:23:30 PM, San Clemente said:
Who's the main supplier for the HB UV LEDs?
at 6/10/2008 3:05:52 PM, Mike McJimsey said:
I'd definitely recommend against using poisoned bait. You don't want a poisoned rat crawling into one of your walls and dieing there - it can take months for the smell to go away. Stick with traps.
at 6/19/2008 2:36:07 PM, Bill Mc said:
Seoul Semiconductor has announced commercial HB UV LEDS in the visible and short wave range (255 and 265 nM). Very difficult to find on their webpage though. EDN does not allow me to post the link in these comments, sorry. www.em.avnet.com/ctf_shared/sta/df2df2usa/LightSpeed-Eskow-1206.pdf
at 6/19/2008 5:52:41 PM, Ozzie Bob said:
When I had rats in the roof, I just put the traps where the rat poos were, You can see them with an ordinary torch. The best bait I found were "good-Os" , round chewy dog treats with a hole in th e middle, tied on to the trigger lever with twist ties.
at 7/3/2008 10:02:08 PM, kartik said:
We are team of Elecronics/Inst engineers providing inst related services to hydrocarbon industies It possible to use UV led for Erprom-erresor. karti shukla Engineering services quality services 28 welcome shoping center Baroda-390015 India E-mail- shuklarushi@hotmail.com
at 7/3/2008 10:02:34 PM, kartik said:
We are team of Elecronics/Inst engineers providing inst related services to hydrocarbon industies It possible to use UV led for Erprom-erresor. karti shukla Engineering services quality services 28 welcome shoping center Baroda-390015 India E-mail- shuklarushi@hotmail.com
at 7/3/2008 10:03:20 PM, kartik said:
We are team of Elecronics/Inst engineers providing inst related services to hydrocarbon industies It possible to use UV led for Erprom-erresor. karti shukla Engineering services quality services 28 welcome shoping center Baroda-390015 India E-mail- shuklarushi@hotmail.com
at 7/3/2008 10:04:02 PM, kartik said:
We are team of Elecronics/Inst engineers providing inst related services to hydrocarbon industies It possible to use UV led for Erprom-erresor. karti shukla Engineering services quality services 28 welcome shoping center Baroda-390015 India E-mail- shuklarushi@hotmail.com
at 7/11/2008 1:11:29 PM, Scottie said:
Who uses UV Eeproms anymore?
at 8/7/2008 8:00:49 AM, Doug said:
Haven't seen a UV EPROM since the 80's.
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