Re: red light source, for animal watching

JeffLauderdale wrote:
TimR wrote:
On Nov 1, 7:56 am, "JohnR66" <nos...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks,
I don't know the accuracy of sensitivity claims of animals to red light,
However, the red coating on incandescent can be poor filters as it may let
other wavelengths through.
Check out the high power LEDs such as the Luxeon and Cree brands. These
often come on an aluminum hexagon shaped board that allow easy mounting to a
heatsink. You would need some skill and knowlege of proper driving the LEDs
and building an array. You probably would want a lens system for each LED so
it has some throw. The project could get expensive.


I have two separate problems, I guess.

One is what the actual sensitivity of mammals to red light is. There
isn't much available on the web, I may have to check a library. I do
know that people use red light to watch, but it may be partly that the
light levels are fairly low, and human eyes under red light stay dark
adapted; it may not actually be that the animals don't see the light,
just that it's low enough to not bother them. I do know that some
animals see some frequencies of red light very very well, because I've
watched a cat go nuts trying to kill the spot from a laser pointer.

The second problem is how to efficiently generate light. I am a big
LED fan but to me red LEDs are great as indicators visible for a long
way, not so good at illuminating an area. I could be wrong of course,
that's why I ask the question here.

I did get some advice from another forum. This was to buy a cheap
clamp on shop light, replace the regular incandescent with a CFL, and
spray paint the CFL pink or red. His theory was that the CFL runs
cool enough that painting it is not a problem. That's certainly a low
cost solution, under $10 US, and maybe worth trying.

But filtering via spray paint sounds rather inelegant. Are there
other ways to get red light? Maybe visit an auto shop and look for
tail light assemblies?
>>
Red tail light assemblies run about $500 per pound, so if you can afford it, that's the way to go...broke.

Actually, that's a good idea if you have a car junkyard anywhere nearby that you can pull parts for cheap. All you would need is a 12V transformer.

Have you considered red gel sheets used for theatrical lighting? This is worth experimenting with, and if it does the job, you could get a permanent rig with glass filters and proper housings, waterproof, etc.

Theatrical gels are also a good idea, consider taking a coffee can and install a base in it so you can wrap the gel around the opening. or you could find some cheap PAR38/R40 par cans with gel frames. simply put your choice of bulb in and put the gel in the frame.

You can also get sleeves to put over linear fluoescents which is also quite effective.

Come to think about it, what about red neon lights?

.

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