One of the most common fluorescent black lights in use today is this one. The T12 has been a standard for all kinds of linear fluorescent fixtures for many decades.  The BLB version of the F40T12 is the kind of lighting that brings them back to when they were a kid lighting up special colors on a poster or an object.  The code BLB means black light blue. Black lighting comes in all different categories of lighting which includes incandescent, fluorescent and HID sources which emit light in different ways.  These bulbs give off a glow which people say is a deep purple color and causes certain kinds of objects or colors to react to the light.  This type of light has been used for this and many other applications like stage lighting for a night sky, display, special occasions bowling alleys and marketing gimmicks to get the attention of shoppers.  You can't help but love the way it lights up, turning everything into something completely different.

Although there are several choices of F40T12 fluorescent black light bulbs, there are really two main types which are the black light blue and the standard black light which looks white when it's unlit, but has a specific nanometer range for certain kinds of lighting. The latter is used for inspection of materials but also is used in bug zappers, that's the color we're talking about here.  The 350 black light or 350BL has been used for industrial inspection and and quality control situations, so if you do that kind of work, this is probably the black light you need.  Evidently, the light helps people see defects in metal or other manufactured products. If on the other hand, you're going to be having a party or have a Halloween gig, then the typical lamp is the black light blue. 

As with all fluorescent black light bulbs, they rely on ballasts inside the fixtures in order to make them work. We have ballasts that are available from Universal among others that will correctly operate this lamp.  The ballast is important because it is specific for each type of bulb and in this case it's the F40T12.  You can't change from one type of fluorescent to another without changing the ballast in most cases.  On a rare occasion there may be a ballast that is made for several different types such as in the case of certain T8 lamps. Most of the time the ballast and the lamp are matched electrically and so it's good to make sure the ballast you have is the right one for the lamp you choose.  When it comes to black lights, you usually don't have much of a choice in changing lamp types, so you need to stick with the fixture and lamp combination you have.

There are many types of fluorescent black lights, we describe some of the most common used in home lighting here, the F40T12 fluorescent black light.  Whatever type you have, you will be getting the best black lights on the market today.  We have a large inventory of bulbs for nearly every type of light fixture in the field.  If you need help identifying a bulb, our customer service representatives can help you determine what you have.