I was so happy to get my Nite Glowrings today (2 green ones). I couldn't wait to find a dark corner to see that glorious glow!

And when I did, my heart fell.

The glow came only from the small tube inside the outer polycarbonate tube. I was expecting so much more!

All the pictures I've seen online show the entire polycarbonate tube glowing.

My question is, to those of you that have glowrings...do your whole tubes glow, or just the small inner tube?

False advertising I'd say...unless I have defective ones. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I feel ripped off <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I'm sorry that you are disapointed Ors.

I have a green glow ring with the black aluminium top and bottom, which I bough from The Glow Company in the UK. I find mine satisfactory for identifying gear and illuminating stuff in the dark (although dimly).

Green is by far the brightest, and the thing that glows is the borosilicate glass vial inside which contains tritium gas, H3. The gas emits beta radiation which activates the green phosphor coating on the tube and makes it glow. The larger the tube is the more light it puts out. My glow ring is much brighter than the tritium face of my marathon watch. The vials are the same type just much smaller on the watch.

The "traser" vials have to be protected by the polycarbonate tube because they are very fragile and it is not good to breathe the tritium gas if they break.

Also a tip, wait until night and then take them to a dark room. After a few minutes your eyes will have night adapted, then they will appear much brighter. They are also brighter when held against a white wall than something dark.

jup, it's just the little tube that glows. It's really only good enough to find you glowring and the thing(s) its attached to in the dark.

Could you guys post a link to the website with this glowrings? I would like to know what this thing is.
Tritium gas, radiation... that sounds a bit unnerving. <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Nite Glow Rings

Radiation is relative. There are are three main types of radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma. They all can be deadly in large enough quantities under the right circumstances, but are safe when contained in appropriate ways.

Alpha radiation has the least amount of energy and can be stopped by a piece of paper or skin. Beta particles have more energy and are stopped by aluminium foil or glass. Gamma is the most penetrating and requires quite a bit of lead to stop, and is the most dangerous.

The good news is that tritium vials contain beta radiation which is stopped by the boroscilicate glass vial and is unable to be detected by a radiation meter in contact with the glow ring. (I've tried it) So they are very safe, you get more radiation from a banana than the glow rings. Yes, bananas are radioactive, they contain small amounts of a naturally occuring radioactive potassium. This potassium releases small amounts of Beta radiation. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Actually we are exposed to small amounts of radiation every day and every time you fly on an airliner you receive much larger doses of radiation, than you do on the ground.

LOL <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Bananas <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Where did you get this info? Are there any other foods that are radioactive?

Hi Ors,
I experienced the same feeling when I first received mine, because I did exactly what you did, which is rush to see it in action.
However, Macgyver is right on target. Your eyes must be fully adapted to the dark( pay attention here, you will see this again!) to truly appreciate the light your glowrings emit. Also he's right when he says that a light colored surface like a white wall or inner tent will greatly enhance perceived light output due to reflection.
If you are a looking for more light output still, there is a device that is actually a glowring on steroids called a "Beta Light" .
I have two of these "monsters" to complete my collection of glowrings and think they are great (yes, I bought many more after my initial dissappointment) . This little nugget is capable of giving off enough light to read by in total darkness (they are actually made for this purpose) and when suspended inside your tent will light up a small dome tent with a VERY soft green glow, enough ( to dark adapted eyes, once again) to "find your way" and distinguish gear in total darkness and clearly see facial expressions of others in your tent.
Btw. if you're seeing faces inside your tent and you're hiking alone you may need help from someone other than us from the ETS community to solve that one for you <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.
If you are interested, here is where I got mine :
www.edirectory.co.uk/penrithsurvival
At approx. $91.oo USD the price my seem steep, but keep in mind that these things run 24/7 for over 10 years which turns out an operational cost of less than ten bucks a year <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> !!
Hope this helps.
Pharaoh.

Pharoah, are these "Beta Lights" the multipurpose illuminator made by Betalight.com? Where did you purchace them from?

How does the light output compare to a krill lamp?

Well actually bananas don't glow, they just emit small amounts of beta radiation. The radiation has to collide with something which scintillates or produces light in order to glow. Phosphorous is one of these substances and is what is used in the glow tubes.

The bananas contain large amounts of Potassium which (when found in large enough amounts) always contains a small amount of Potassium 40, which is mildly radioactive. Do a web search for Potassium 40.

Aparently table salt substitute is radioactive, I haven't tried it. Some older orange glazed pottery contains Uranium which gives it it's color and is therefore radioactive.

Lots of info on CandlePowerForums <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />