Glow in the dark PCBs from PCBWay - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ledtester
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 11:13:51 pm
content: According to this video PCBWay can provide glow-in-the-dark PCBs:Can Circuit Boards Actually GLOW IN THE DARK? -- Botmatrixhttps://youtu.be/bdmOeqohdNsScreenshot from the video attached below.Currently you have to request it through the Contact Us page.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 11:25:18 pm
content: Good for soldering in the dark

author: UnijunctionTransistor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 11:26:15 pm
content: HmmmmBesides the novelty, what advantages would a glow in the dark board have?

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 11:49:30 pm
content: Quote from: UnijunctionTransistor on March 23, 2025, 11:26:15 pmFront panel designs.You can for example create a dial for diy mechanical clock

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2025, 11:50:49 pm
content: Seems like a gimmick as most PCBs will be hidden inside a box, so whatever photo luminescent pigment they use in the silkscreen ink will not absorb any light.It could be useful for front panels or related art projects made from PCBs though.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2025, 04:45:49 pm
content: Does it come with a Geiger counter?

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2025, 04:51:11 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on March 23, 2025, 11:50:49 pmThe only practical reasons I can find is for conformal coating.Some of that uses UV reactive material, maybe you want to mark something when that gets checked. It's a bit far fetched.For artists stuff I understand.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2025, 04:59:40 pm
content: Quote from: Bud on March 24, 2025, 04:45:49 pmTritium keyfobs are available. My old 1970's National Semiconductor watch uses a tritium backlight but it's 1/2 life is long over it's not glowing.I held it close to my head, did not enhance IQ. I likely glow more from all the CRT sets I repaired with 6BK4 cages open.I think this glowing silkscreen is neat, limited use but at least we won't be making PCB's the same old green for decades more lol.It's nice to think outside the box, North American fabs do nothing like this.

author: EggertEnjoyer123
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 01:03:29 am
content: Does anyone know what the pricing is compared to a normal PCB?Might send them an email about it.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 01:11:04 am
content: What is this fake nonsense!Make Watch Dials Great Again!https://www.cnn.com/2017/12/19/style/radium-girls-radioactive-paint/index.html

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 08:47:53 am
content: Quote from: Bud on March 24, 2025, 04:45:49 pmI doubt it's radioactive. Most glow in the dark stuff isn't radioactive.In this case it's just a phosphor which is excited by the shorter visible wavelengths and near UV and releases visible light for a prolonged period.Radioactive glow in the dark materials contain a phosphor which is excited by a radioactive source. It has the advantage of not needing to be exposed to light to work, but has the disadvantages of being radioactive and dying when the source has decayed.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 10:21:52 am
content: Quote from: Zero999 on March 25, 2025, 08:47:53 amActually, on old Radium dial clock / watch faces, it isn't as a result of the source decaying, it's the phosphor 'burning out'. Such items remain quite radioactive, you can often see a brown shadow marks on the dial where an old watch has been stopped and put away in a drawer for many years. They can make useful test sources if you don't open them up.Ed: Tritium vials, on the other hand, decay rather (too) fast for consistent illumination over the product life.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 12:13:04 pm
content: Quote from: Gyro on March 25, 2025, 10:21:52 amAs I understand the radioactive material puts out photons that are to typically UV. The phosphor absorbs it, it's electrons go up to higher energy levels (in one step) and jump back to normal in several smaller steps, emitting visible light. So 1 UV photon in, several visible photon out. The phosphor isn't effected.

author: DashApple
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 12:37:49 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on March 25, 2025, 12:13:04 pmIn the case of Tritium this undergoes beta decay ; Single electron, This electron provides the energy to the electrons in the phosphor and they go up to the higher energy levels.Radium is a highly active alpha emitter ( Helium 4 nucleus ) This alpha radiation is what provides the energy for the phosphor in radium based glow paint and Far as I know the alpha particles do damage the phosphor over time, given the very long half life the phosphor fades before the radium.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 01:44:39 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on March 25, 2025, 12:13:04 pmNot quite, the radioactive material outputs higher energy radiation than UV: gamma rays or high speed subatomic particles which excite the phosphor. Shorter wavelength, ionising radiation has much more energy than visible and UV, which is presumably why radioactive excited phosphors get burnt out, more than those excited by visible and UV light.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2025, 03:52:21 pm
content: Quote from: Zero999 on March 25, 2025, 01:44:39 pmYes, I think I confused the info from the Fluorescent lights and this together.Thanks for correcting it.

author: EggertEnjoyer123
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2025, 03:53:53 am
content: I sent PCBWay an email asking about the pricing, and they told me it would cost $150 to get a glow in the dark PCB made.Might as well buy some clear nail polish and a pound of glow powder on Aliexpress for $30, then you can paint your PCBs (and your nails) as much as you want for a fifth of the price.