Thread: Compact Fluorescent Black Light

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I am thinking of illuminating ghosts using black lights for my 2010 Halloween display. I was wondering if anyone has used the compact fluorescent black lights before. I want to use Par Cans, but I am wondering if the compact fluorescent bulb in a par can aimed at the ghost from about 10-15 feet away would work, or if someone else has a better suggestion on what kind of black light bulb to put in par cans. Thank you.

I know that with my crank ghost I have to put the black light within a couple of feet from it to get the effect I want. That's with a regular fluorescent tube. 10-15 feet away may be too far, but I could be wrong. I'd say experiment with it.........

I find the CFL blacklights seem to be effective only up to 5-6 fet away. I think it also depends on how reactive your prop/paint is. The more reactive, the less UV it might take to get a good glow out of it. My ghost wasn't all that reactive due to how I sprayed it. I ended up having to use 2 larger CFL's in fixtures with the aluminum reflectors to concentrate more light towards my ghost.

The nice thing about the CFL's though is that they CAN be used in various different light fixtures and I find them far more versatile that way! One year (early in my haunting days), I replaced the 2 floods in my carport sensor security light with CFL blacklights and kept it on "Test" mode, so when ToTs came to the door, they all the sudden turned on the blacklights! Simple but neat effect and didn't cost anything!

The closer the better, is how I do black lights.
You might check some of the UV DJ spotlights or UV LED lights for that kind of distance.
All though it could get expensive...

I use CFL black lights in clamp on reflector fixtures. It increases the distance to about 10'

I agree with all. I very much like the CFL's, and the Aluminum Reflector is a must (get the bigger one). I think 10-15 ft is too far though.

I too use the CFL Black Lights & aluminum reflector and am very happy with the look. Here is my FCG with the lights:

Originally Posted by zacharybinx

I too use the CFL Black Lights & aluminum reflector and am very happy with the look. Here is my FCG with the lights:

Looks awesome! How far away are yours?

Originally Posted by zacharybinx

I too use the CFL Black Lights & aluminum reflector and am very happy with the look. Here is my FCG with the lights:

Where do you get the uv/blacklight bulbs to go in the fixture?
Is your crank ghost freestanding in the yard?How did you do that?

Home Depot by me just started selling the black light CFL's. I bought all of mine at Menards last year and the year before. I think they were $4-5each. They work great. I paint the outside of the reflector with flat black paint to make the light disappear at night. I just measured how far the light is away and it's 8'.