How big a display case will a lamp fixture light up?
Obviously, in the world of fluorescent minerals, more UV power is better. If the very powerful lamps are out of your price range, you will want to use a smaller case. The 9 watt units will work with a small display case up to a 1 foot cube or so but you will want a unit with a fan if the lamp fixture will be on for long periods of time. The 9 watt units are OK at about 1/4 to 1/3 of a meter high with a spread of about 1/3 of a meter. A 36 watt SW (UV C) lamp fixture will light a standard case that is 2′ tall x 2′ deep x 4′ wide, BUT the minerals at both end of the case will not be lit well so you would need specimens that fluoresce brightly at the ends. According to Philps a 36 watt tube/bulb emits 12 watts of UV C A 60 watt SW lamp fixture will light a standard (2’x2’x4′) case fairly well and will reach out to the ends, but it will not be bright if you raise the lamp much higher than a standard 2′ tall case. A 60 watt bulb emits 18 watts of UV C. A 95 watt SW will do a good job in a 5
