What color is 30000K?

[toddsmith1]

Can anyone give me a definitive answer on what color 30000K would be? What would it be in nm's? I purchased a 30000k led thinking it was going to be very blue. It is close to what I would think 20000k or maybe 18000K. One guy I talked to said it was "sky blue". Not sunlight (5500k to 6500k depending on reference), but the color of a cloudless sky.

Thanks

 

[TimeConsumer]

The kelvin rating for lighting isn't perfect.

Without getting to much intro astronomy: If you were to take a true blackbody radiator (star) and heat it to 30,000K you would get a peak wavelength around 90nm, or really really ultraviolet. Of course our eyes can't see that, so we just see a very deep blue.

Manufacturers can call a light whatever spectral color they please. Just look at how Kessil originally marketed the A150w Deep Ocean Blue as a 20000k when really it was a pure actinic blend. Of course now they refer to it as actinic, not 20000k. And in the case of halides: Look at a Geisemann 14k and a Phoenix 14k, they're not even close in color.

 

[that Fish Guy]

So what is the difference between Actinic and 20K

 

[Borchers]

The blue in actinic is about 460nm I believe. 20k is higher and adds more white to the mix.

 

[TimeConsumer]

So what is the difference between Actinic and 20K

The absence of the colors other than blue and uv.

 

[that Fish Guy]

So is Actinic more or less Blue than 20K

 

[Bluewater04]

True actinic will look purple around 400nm-425nm. There is some info i put on here that may help you. It is closer to the middle. http://www.cincyreef.com/showthread.php?36635-DIY-LED-Build

 

[Bluewater04]

If anything 30000k the eye probably could not see buy it should be in the purple range.