Black Light Bulbs vs Regular Light Bulbs

If you're looking for a new way to light or decorate a portion of your home, you may wish to consider installing one or more black light bulbs. These specialized bulbs have a very unique appearance and affect on the objects around them. Many people find that black light bulbs can enhance the appearance of a home or a room by setting it apart from the spaces around it. In order to understand the best way to utilize black light bulbs in year interior decorating, repair and installation procedures, you'll need to know the differences between these bulbs and regular light bulbs.

Black Light Bulbs

Black light bulbs are different from regular light bulbs in terms of the type of light that they emit. The majority of the light that black light bulbs emit is in the near ultraviolet range. This type of light is partially visible to the naked eye and appears to be a dark purple in color. Because of the properties of this type of light, black light bulbs give off only a small amount of true visible light, but the appearance of other things within that light is altered. It's not uncommon for certain colors to appear much more vibrant and even to seem to glow when held under a black light bulb. In other cases, it's materials that end up being enhanced in appearance.

Most black light bulbs are constructed in much the same way as regular light bulbs. In the case of fluorescent black light bulbs, for instance, the bulbs themselves are nearly identical, with the only difference being that there is only one phosphor component in a black light bulb. The crucial difference is the type of glass that is used for the bulb itself. In most cases, these bulbs make use of Wood's glass, which is constructed with a mixture of chemicals and elements that absorb the majority of visible light. This means that the only light that will then be able to pass outside of the glass and into the atmosphere is near ultraviolet light.

Regular Light Bulbs

Regular light bulbs function in much the same way as black light bulbs. The electric charge from the power source fuels a chemical reaction between gases in the light bulb and the filament, which ultimately produces visible light. The main difference between these bulbs is that the regular light bulb has standard glass as its component. The full spectrum of light is allowed to pass through that glass, meaning that you'll be able to see everything as normal.

There are different types of black light bulbs and regular light bulbs, many of which have unique methods of producing and emitting light. For more information on the exact mechanisms of each of these two types of light bulbs in their various forms, consult with an electrician or a representative at a hardware store in your area.