Tritium lights. Worth a look? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:01:43 pm
content: Some time ago tritium lights came to my attention, and I thought "Ha, that's pretty cool"As usual, I haven't done anything about getting one, but I thought I'd have another look today. The usual suspects have them ranging in size from tiny to small and in price from $20 to $300.I reckon some of you guys have beat me to this. Is it worth spending some bucks to get a tube? What's the smallest one you'd bother with?

author: Fred27
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:31:34 pm
content: Some interesting stuff being done with these...http://forum.biohack.me/discussion/1470/firefly-tattoos/p1

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:32:25 pm
content: Aren't they just fun glow in the dark toys? (fluorescent)

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:35:00 pm
content: Don't suggest cheap Chinese crap. They have tritium contaminated with other radioactive elements, radiation from which is not stopped by the shell. They aren't highly radioactive but I wouldn't put them in the pants.In Russian, but you may have an idea. Pure tritium shouldn't cause detection at all, because radiation will be fully absorbed by the shell. Watch at 4:30

author: AlxDroidDev
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:45:47 pm
content: I hadTritium sightson my Glock G25. They looked really bright at night. Too bad I sold that G25 a few years ago. If I ever get another Glock, I'll put Tritium sights on it again.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2016, 10:59:08 pm
content: Quote from: Fred27 on November 17, 2016, 10:31:34 pmThat is unexpectedly appealing!

author: ealex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 07:44:31 am
content: i've got a green one fromhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/Nite-GlowRing-Glow-In-The-Dark-Tritium-Clear-Case-Nine-Colours-Available-/141174790101I keep it on my tent zipper when camping / on my key chain otherwise.It's quite bright when your eyes get adjusted to dark - i would compare it to a firefly.I don't see many normal-day applications ... maybe embed them in some gear you need to find quickly at night - i'm thinking of a head-lamp.

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 10:55:14 am
content: One good application for these is in emergency exit lighting, no need to run wire and you just need to replace the tubes every 20 years or so.The units are expensive, but only until you consider the cost of the wiring you don't need to do and the periodic maintenance that is now on a 20 year cycle not monthly.BetaLight were the manufacturer IIRC.Regards, Dan.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 11:29:05 am
content: I epoxied a couple of these into slots cut into some steps in my garden so you can see where the edge of the step is is at night if the lights aren't working. Works really well.

author: sainter
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 11:44:17 am
content: I have a watch with tritium. It's very bright when your eyes adapt to the dark.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 05:38:18 pm
content: Quote from: dmills on November 18, 2016, 10:55:14 amWe used to have these at university, hundreds of them, possibly thousands.One day one of the student bars was being renovated and the builders doing it took out all the emergency lights and threw them in a skip with other building rubble causing some of them to be broken open. The university's principal safety officer wasnotamused as this required an official report to the National Radiological Protection Board of an accidental release of radioactive materials. (It was me who spotted the broken lights in the skip so I was not a welcome messenger when I reported it to the safety office.)

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 05:54:19 pm
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on November 17, 2016, 10:45:47 pmLol, why were you shooting at night? I mean yea it's cool, but you can't see anything unless your range is lit up.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 06:32:09 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on November 18, 2016, 05:54:19 pmAiming at self at the mirror ? or moving practice target in the dark ?..... j/k AlxDroidDev

author: raptor1956
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 18, 2016, 06:48:32 pm
content: I had a cool watch in the late 70's with tritium -- lost it after maybe 6 months...Brian

author: Dataforensics
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 08:47:47 am
content: Like these a lot, on my second watch with them fitted. The first lasted 15 years before it went too dim for me. Also have them dotted around home, they can give a surprising amount of light if your eyes have achieved full night vision.Trouble is I bought all mine over 10 years ago and the price seemed reasonable then, now the price seems much higher and has become too much for me.

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 11:38:31 am
content: Quote from: AlxDroidDev on November 17, 2016, 10:45:47 pmYeah, I had custom Tritium sites put on my H&K Mk.23; usability is *sooo* much better than run of the mill light-pipe style night sites. Personally, I prefer them over a rail mounted laser. (The laser added to the weight of the gun (plus suppressor) just makes it too heavy for my tastes.)

author: nowlan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2016, 12:14:26 pm
content: I have a small tritium on my keychain. I think came from deal extreme. A small chip of plastic came off case. Hope i dont get testicular cancer.But otherwise, works really well finding my car keys in the dark. I looked at them recently and the larger ones are expensive.