RE: [Leica] Light in the darkroom?

["Austin Franklin" <darkroom@ix.netcom.com>]

> Part of the problem can be that in the presence of EM fields, even
> the type found in households, flourescents can emit or continue to
> emit UV radiation in particular without being themselves switched on.
> If you have no power carrying wires close to your tubes, you should
> be safe, but do you know what wiring is behind your fixtures?

Yes, I know exactly what is behind those fixtures, they also have a full
metal grounded enclosure (except the bottom where the light shines out, that
is).

> There's no point in being paranoid about this, as in most cases
> flourescents will be fine, as long as you wait a couple of minutes.
> Instead of arguing about theories, why not test your situation? Turn
> off your flourescents, wait a measured amount of time, and hold a
> normally exposed strip of the fastest film you use within a foot of
> the tube, with half of the film shielded. Develop it.

Been there, done that...not a problem.  That's why I said, it's not a
problem ;-)

> Make sure that other appliances that are likely to have their supply
> wiring running near the flourescents are turned on.
>
> If you get no fogging, and you feel that there is no other power
> carrying wiring, or high frequency wiring in the neighbourhood, use
> the flourescents.

Er, high frequency?  What do you mean by high frequency?