d-i-y S.A.D. lamp?

[T i m]

Hi All,

I was round a friends earlier and he has bought one of those anti SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lamps (bright white light) to help him as he is fairly housebound (.. elderely / ill etc).

It was a nice looking unit (Brightspark) ..

but seemed a touch on the expensive side at over 100 quid?

Assuming the 'light therapy' theory thing works? Apparently you need a minimum of 2500 lux before you get any positive effects and domestic lighting is typically only "around 200-500 lux".

A good sunny day would give you 100,000 lux (and I live in the UK so can't wait that long) ;-)

( from

).

So, does anyone know what one would *actually need* to make one of these lamps (for general background theraputic use rather than actual treatment as such) please (I'm not worried about the enclosure but the lamp / electrics / electronics etc)?

I did consider the 'Gro Lux' type of flouro strip lamps they sell for tropical fish tanks .. they do seem very 'bright' (producing vivid colours etc) in comparison to std lamps? (These could be fitted into a traditional bulkhead lamp enclosure and stood in a corner sorta thing .. as it happens I have such that just needs two new tubes and starters .. ) ;-)

Whilst Googling about I also found a SAD lamp that used ultrabright LED's. Would they offer the same broad spectrum as the traditional lamps (whatever *they* are) would you know (obviously a much easier solution if it were feasable .. less heat / power / complexity etc)?

Q, How many LEDs would it take to produce 10,000 lux (at say 50 cm) ? A, Looks like about 72 from the pictures I've seen!

This model suggests that some LED's over a very narrow spectrum .. but if it's on the bit that matters (as far as SAD etc ..?)

these things generally 'expensive' because they are being sold to those looking for a cure[1], or actually the 'right price' considering manufacturing / component costs etc?

Anyone used one and have any feedback please (and before that nice Chris Bacon points me to alt.health.magic or whatever I'm also asking that bit here as you guys are 'practical folk' rather than 'health nuts' )? (and the focus is 'building one / some myself' Chris, 1 because I can / would like to and 2, to maybe save some money and maybe design something that fits our needs)) ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

[1] Like I imagine funeral services could be when 'sold' to the next of kin .."Would you really want to see Grandad off in a cheap casket like that Sir?" ;-)

[R obbo]

Take a look at

have purchased quite a few from them and they are good prices and delivery

Hope that helps

[Ian Stirling]

There is a lot of light.

The right way to make these is a pair of glasses, with around 5 white LEDs per lens, a diffuser over the top of the lens. So you get a bright 'sky', and can see normally for the rest of the field.

[Andrew Gabriel]

Just get a set of cheap fluorescent fittings (sometimes you can buy them in 4-packs). Stick with the tubes they come with (which will probably be quite efficient 3500K ones). Another thought would be to get a 4-tube modular ceiling fitting -- these are dirt cheap from electrical wholesalers, and even less from a skip outside an office refurb. They are available for 2' and 4' tubes.

Commercial units up the price by using dimming electronic control gear and some special coloured (and expensive and only available from the manufacturer, etc) tubes. None of this is necessary.

'Gro Lux' are optimised for plants, not humans. Suggest you don't bother with any special coloured tubes (such as daylight or full spectrum) as they are less efficient and there's no evidence the colour at this level makes any difference, just the intensity.

Sounds like another way of charging even more. LED's are not more efficient than fluorescent lamps.

[T i m]

Thanks for that.

It might .. if we know these are the *right* LED's for the task in hand (assuming there is such a thing etc).

From what I understand there may be a specific sub band of the visable light spectrum that helps with SAD so if we don't get that right it might not actually do anything (apart from making a bright LED 'light' that is?) ?

All the best ..

T i m

[T i m]

So it seems ;-)

So you are suggesting the fact that the light source appears to be similar to the sky that it works more naturally (would seem sensible) ?

Is this similar to the peaked hats you can get with the LEDs facing back at you?

All the best ..

T i m

[T i m]

Hmmm .. so, thinking of my daughter in her room, I buit the bed in the celing above her worktop and hung a 5' flouro under the bed part. Could this be actually contributing towards anti SAD effects or wouldn't there be enough light from a single tube?

Hmmm, I was playing with the exect same thing the other day .. (4 x 2' tubes). ;-)

Ok, thanks.

Well true, however I thought they might be more effective if they output a stronger light (more lux) or a wider spectrum ...?

Ah, ok, so basic and bright is our goal here ;-)

No but smaller, lighter, cooler, easier to run from DC and safer (lower voltages and no risk of breaking a tube etc)?

Assuming I had the choice of a 4 x 2' flouros or an equal number of white LED's (to offer the same level of observed brightness) in the skip would you still avoid the LED's Andrew (just wondering why)?

All the best ..

T i m

[Ian Stirling]

Basically, yes. And that it's a lot more convenient to actually use, not to mention much, much lower construction and use costs.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

They're not cooler running than florries with electronic ballasts.

To achieve the same brightness would cost a *lot* more with LEDs.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

I have one of these.

Although this is a flourescent table lamp its realy quite bright.

Sir Benjamin Middlethwaite

[T i m]

The suggestion that you need at least 2500 lux to start to push the right buttons?

All the best ..

T i m

[Peter Parry]

might be of interest.

[Mark S.]

Feel like you are falling into the sun with one of these. :-)

S.

[meow2222]

suggest asking in the lighting newsgroup, where someone can bring all this back to facts.

NT

[Alan]

In message , T i m wrote

If you just want a bright light - splash out £2.50 at screwfix.

As they seem to be designed to light half a town I'm sure it will give adequate light when positioned a few feet away from you :)

[T i m]

They are interesting indeed Peter (thanks).

It doesn't state what lux they are so I wonder how many I would need to get the suggested 2500 min level?

All the best ..

T i m

[T i m]

wear sunglasses to be in the same room with the thing ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

[T i m]

Amazing what range of NG's there is eh! ;-)

There were a couple of similar (SAD) threads on there so I'll check them through again and may ask a 'different' one myself ..

All the best .. and thanks fella ;-)

T i m

[Rob Morley]

But you can conveniently get them a lot closer to you, so they don't need the same output.

[John Stumbles]

Until your eyeballs melt :-)

But Screwfix do a fluorescent work light

chucks out masses of light with not too much heat in a rugged enclosure