Spelunking advice on Lume needed.

[CharlesN]

I am going on a trip in a few weeks but I want to be prepared well beforehand.

Part of my trip will entail me being in total darkness whilst Spelunking for a good few hours.

What is the best method to give the lume on a watch a very full charge ?

Daylight ?, Flashlight ?, UV light? Or anything else.

What method can you suggest.

[Tools]

Take a red flashlight with you.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by CharlesN

I am going on a trip in a few weeks but I want to be prepared well beforehand.

Part of my trip will entail me being in total darkness whilst Spelunking for a good few hours.

What is the best method to give the lume on a watch a very full charge ?

Daylight ?, Flashlight ?, UV light? Or anything else.

What method can you suggest.

The answer to your question is basic physics.

The dial 'lume' is a phosphorescent pigment that can be activated by exposure to light. The electrons in the pigment rise to higher energy levels and later decay back to their ground state, emitting photons. This is how the lume 'glows', which is a 'cold' process of light emission.

To stimulate this effect you need enough photons in the 100-400 nm wavelength range. The time required to fully charge the dial 'lume' depends on the physical properties of the light and its photon flux.

In other words, any of the listed UV light sources can be used. The only thing that will change is the time it takes to fully activate the 'lume'. You cannot overcharge the dial 'lume'.

[Andad]

I use an Olight Arkfeld Pro.

[brandrea]

Dark places spook me out .. can’t help, sorry

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by Andad

I use an Olight Arkfeld Pro.

Thanks for your reply,

Unfortunately I dont think that model is legally sold in the UK.

We have a ban on anything with a Laser light as some idiots have been pointing them at car drivers to blind them and even at aircraft pilots for the same reason.

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Dark places spook me out .. can’t help, sorry

I am also a bit spooked by dark places but .. This is an opportunity not to be missed so I am grabbing it with both hands (And a watch and my favourite teddy bear).

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by saxo3

The answer to your question is basic physics

Thank you for your very full response.

I have a UV flashlight but it's not the strongest in the world by any means.

Does it make a difference to longevity of the lume emitting once the lume is fully excited ? How do I tell when the lume is fully “Charged”.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by CharlesN

I am also a bit spooked by dark places but .. This is an opportunity not to be missed so I am grabbing it with both hands (And a watch and my favourite teddy bear).

good luck Charles, I love vicariously through you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by Tools

Take a red flashlight with you.

I do have a red filter I can add to one of my flashlights but what is the benefit of using Red ?

[Andad]

Originally Posted by brandrea

good luck Charles, I love vicariously through you


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was that spell check Brian?

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by Andad

Was that spell check Brian?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by CharlesN

I do have a red filter I can add to one of my flashlights but what is the benefit of using Red ?

Red is used in low light situations to preserve "night vision" when you turn the light source off.

It only takes a few seconds of any white light source to charge Luminova, then it will draw down at a fairly stable rate. It doesn't store energy like a battery; it simply excites at a predetermined level, then discharges at a steady rate.

I would hope that your watches lume isn't going to be your only source of light in a non-light environment. It's not the lume that makes the Exp II an underground/spelunker watch, it's the 24 hr hand. Any light source that you are using to see with will allow you to tell the time.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Andad

Was that spell check Brian?

I love you too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by CharlesN

What is the best method to give the lume on a watch a very full charge ?

Daylight ?, Flashlight ?, UV light? Or anything else.

The Internet doesn't forget.