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Summary
/ End Results:
We put our bread box to
a test. Not just once, but 3 times. We took 2
identical breadboxes, one modified and one unmodified.
We used rolls from the same bag for each test
(new bags of rolls for each test) and we picked
up some extra bags at our local bakery. Each time
we got the same results. The roll left in the
bag in the unmodified bread box molded up in about
2 weeks. The roll in the UV box never molded up
the same way and eventually dried out. Now this
does not mean that the bread box will prevent
the mold from growing. In fact molds can grow
inside the roll quite happily. The molds surfaces
are just for reproduction. But we found that it
gave us a regular and predictable increase of
self life of the foods we put in this of about
50%.
Other
applications for this concept:
This is a great proof of
concept idea. Ultraviolet lights are really good
at sterilizing different environments. Possible
in your fridge or in your dish washer for instance.
Or even water proofing one and placing it in the
door to your washing machine.
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We have received some great feedback from our users
on the breadbox project. One item that we feel needs
some clarification on this project is some perhaps
less than common sense safety practices when working
with any UV source. Using any type of UV bulb designed
for sanitization means UVC output and ozone output
in small amounts. Usually less than that of an ionic
breeze for example. Normal backlights ( filtered
or LED) produce only UVA and UVB spectrum. These
are the types of ultraviolet light that we ware
sunscreen for. UVC how ever is really nasty stuff.
You have 2 options to make the rig safer. Install
a kill switch so when its opened even a crack it
turns off the light. Or use a non medical UV source.
Even UVA will kill molds and bacteria, but is less
effective than its higher energy counterparts. The
UVC bulb we used from a water clarifier has a protective
black PVC coating on it to protect the hot bulb
from direct content with the water. This filters
out much of the UVC light making them safer in some
instances to work with.
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