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DIY: Ultimate fungus killer
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:54 pm    Post subject: DIY: Ultimate fungus killer Reply with quote

Hi colleagues!

Living next to the sea, makes me scare of fungus. I've read all your storage techniques, and seem nice. But I was looking for some proactive way of preventing fungii.

As is well known, UV light kills fungus and spores.
So, why not bath our lenses in UV when not in use?.
Some people exposes the lenses to the sunlight, that is rich in UV. But to use sunlight we have to put the lenses outside. Other UV sources are dangerours, like the UV lamps used to erase EPROM memories, or the ones used to kill bacteriae.
There is a safe UV light of low power that can be used to keep the lenses clean. I thought in this when reading an article on Elektor Electronics magazine, about a device to expose PCB (printed circuit board) negatives.
They used UV LEDs in an array. The times to expose the PCBs are six times longer than if one use the sunlight, so the UV radiation is lower and safer.

I've built a small device set up by 4 UV leds, two 240 ohm resistors, a diode and a wall power supply.

Coupled to the body mount side of the lens, and placing a mirror on the other extreme, we can get a complete sweep of the insides of the lenses, keeping them free of fungus.

Since the device uses a little power it can be permanently connected and the lenses can be cycled through the device, for instance once per day.

The device looks like this: (The light on the first picture is not real, the camera sensor changes the colour).











PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now that's an interesting idea. I wonder if the glass absorbs a lot or most of the low power UV coming from them, though. Easy enough to add more if that's the case.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Farside wrote:
Now that's an interesting idea. I wonder if the glass absorbs a lot or most of the low power UV coming from them, though. Easy enough to add more if that's the case.


Hi Dave,
Probably the big lenses will, but it's matter of building a second one for the other side of the lens....
And yes, you can add as many as you want, these are cheap.

Jes.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Would that work to remove yellowing of glass, also? I have been 'sunning' my ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 but the noxious chlorine green colour of the rear element does not seem to be going away. I heard that UV deals with yellowed Takumars...

Should have snapped up Richards copy when it was going, and disposed of mine, I suppose.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think this is a great idea Jes, thanks for sharing! I don't know this is kill or not fungus, but simple lights also can be effective if store lenses on bright place.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChrisLilley wrote:
Would that work to remove yellowing of glass, also? I have been 'sunning' my ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 but the noxious chlorine green colour of the rear element does not seem to be going away. I heard that UV deals with yellowed Takumars...

Should have snapped up Richards copy when it was going, and disposed of mine, I suppose.


Chris,
This is UV of low power, whatever UV do, this will do. Probably you will have to keep it under the UV light much more time than with sunlight...

Jes.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
I think this is a great idea Jes, thanks for sharing! I don't know this is kill or not fungus, but simple lights also can be effective if store lenses on bright place.


Attila,
Probably this will kill spores and fungus, but what do not will do is cleaning the lenses of the already grown fungus....


Jes.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I gave a lens to my bird she is sitting on it kiss it, full lens covered with dust. Lens mostly in high humidity air, but always in good light. One year left still no fungus on it and inside. I guess worst case in lens stored with caps in case on in bag. I started to use cheap UV filters as lens caps, I need to figure out transparent rare caps too.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
I need to figure out transparent rare caps too.


For M42, get some cheap rear caps, cut a hole in the back and then glue a perspex/acrylic window in.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent Bob! Thanks!


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jes, this really looks good. Could you draw a diagram for the wiring?

Thanks

Jules


PostPosted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

lulalake wrote:
Jes, this really looks good. Could you draw a diagram for the wiring?

Thanks

Jules


It's really easy, I took an old 10VAC wall plug adapter but if you have any one that gives DC instead of AC, you can save the diode and the capacitor.



Feel free to ask if you need further details.

Jes.


PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jesito wrote:
lulalake wrote:
Jes, this really looks good. Could you draw a diagram for the wiring?

Thanks

Jules


It's really easy, I took an old 10VAC wall plug adapter but if you have any one that gives DC instead of AC, you can save the diode and the capacitor.



Feel free to ask if you need further details.

Jes.


Thank you very much, yes it does look easy. I will build a few for some lenses.

Jules


PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

lulalake wrote:
Jesito wrote:
lulalake wrote:
Jes, this really looks good. Could you draw a diagram for the wiring?

Thanks

Jules


It's really easy, I took an old 10VAC wall plug adapter but if you have any one that gives DC instead of AC, you can save the diode and the capacitor.

Feel free to ask if you need further details.

Jes.


Thank you very much, yes it does look easy. I will build a few for some lenses.

Jules


If you are building several, think about sharing the same wall plug for them. Mine is rated to 400mA, and since the device uses only 40mA, you would be able to power 10 of them with it.

Jes.


PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jesito wrote:

If you are building several, think about sharing the same wall plug for them. Mine is rated to 400mA, and since the device uses only 40mA, you would be able to power 10 of them with it.
Jes.


Or use up to 40 LEDs in an array for greater brightness.


PostPosted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ChrisLilley wrote:
Jesito wrote:

If you are building several, think about sharing the same wall plug for them. Mine is rated to 400mA, and since the device uses only 40mA, you would be able to power 10 of them with it.
Jes.


Or use up to 40 LEDs in an array for greater brightness.


Be careful of not melting the lenses... Smile


Jes.


PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 4:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

@Attila
What about the same idea with the cheap push on lens caps? Cut out the centre and glue some acetate or other clear film onto it.

Jim


PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It works , good idea I got this suggestion from Bob too. My problem only I am over on hundred lenses , I lazy to make for each.


PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
My problem only I am over on hundred lenses

Shocked Shocked Shocked Laughing Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Seems an idiot to keep this amount, but believe me hard to sell any Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
Seems an idiot to keep this amount, but believe me hard to sell any Laughing

Not silly Attila...
I am counting down on you..
Was just thinking in how many years will i get there Razz !!!
But please promise to stop somewhere !! Laughing Laughing


PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This low cost UV solution is a brilliant idea!

I assume a battery would provide enough power for the LEDs.
Perhaps I should have a few made!


PostPosted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 7:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

hk300 wrote:
This low cost UV solution is a brilliant idea!

I assume a battery would provide enough power for the LEDs.
Perhaps I should have a few made!


If you have a PC with an USB port nearby, would be much cheaper to use the USB power. Most current desktop PCs power the USB even when switched off...

Jes.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

You're right that it is sometimes easier to use USB or so, but if these are battery powered, it would be possible to use these in airtight/ closed boxes.

hmmmm ... let me think ... Very Happy


PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2008 10:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

what LED type was used?

I have seen LED with 200 - 390nm light wave, UV-A, UV-B, UV-C, etc
...