# Need Help In Locating a US Source For This Item. A Traser. Tritium Light Source. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539 "2006-11-15T16:32:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/1 "2006-11-15T16:32:22Z")
Trasers are Tritium light sources. From here- [http://www.unitednuclear.com/traser.htm](http://www.unitednuclear.com/traser.htm) > [@](#): > > Tritium gas ( H3 ) is a radioactive form of ordinary Hydrogen gas ( H2 ). > High pressure Tritium gas is sealed inside these small borosilicate glass vials, and continuously emits low energy Beta radiation (electrons). These electrons impact a special phosphor coating on the inside of the tube, which in turn emits a visible GREEN glow. > > Each Tritium Light Source is a laser sealed borosilicate glass vial which has been coated internally with phosphor. In one single process, the unit is sealed by a CO2 laser and injected with gaseous Tritium. The low energy electrons emitted by the Tritium, excite the phosphor and this creates a safe, low level light without filaments or heat dissipation and no risk of fire or explosion. Newer models– [http://www.glowrings.com/](http://www.glowrings.com/) I’ve been Googling, but I cannot find a US source. I’d buy from overseas, but it could potentially cause all sorts of hassle on shipping. Trsaer-lit wristwatches are all over the place, but not these. Can anybody help me find one of these for sale? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/2 "2006-11-15T16:48:58Z")
There are US Regulations preventing the novelty or excessive use of tritium in consumer products. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/3 "2006-11-15T16:54:22Z")
The glowrings aren’t legal to sell or own in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/4 "2006-11-15T17:40:01Z")
I wish I could remember who the flashlight freak is around here (not that there’s anything wrong with that). He knew so much about flashlights that he simply must know about this Traser thing you speak of. Anyone remember? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/5 "2006-11-15T18:34:23Z")
**Bear\_Nenno** , **yoyodyne** , the site I linked to sold them here recently. They may yet be legal. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/6 "2006-11-15T18:55:49Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] **Bear\_Nenno** , **yoyodyne** , the site I linked to sold them here recently. They may yet be legal. [/QUOTE] They sold them here not realizing they were illegal in the US, and stopped when that was pointed out to them. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/7 "2006-11-16T02:27:59Z")
Yeah, they’re illegal in Canada too; shoulda got a bunch while [The Register](http://www.theregister.co.uk/) was still shipping them (fairly cheap, too) years ago. I looked up the law once… can’t be used for ‘novelty purposes’ or something, then there was something about gunsights and watch faces that I forgot. If you find any, I want one too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/8 "2006-11-16T16:13:13Z")
Anybody got any leads? ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/9 "2006-11-16T16:20:35Z")
[[http://www.unitednuclear.com/](http://www.unitednuclear.com/)](United Nuclear ) says they are sold out. Oddly, I was just looking for some of these today. Great minds think alike. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/10 "2006-11-16T20:59:37Z")
I’ve got one right here. It’s no good at all. It glows very dimly. See the line that says, ‘Can be clearly seen in total darkness’? You **need** almost total darkness to see any glow at all. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-in-locating-a-us-source-for-this-item-a-traser-tritium-light-source/380539/11 "2006-11-16T21:55:43Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] I’ve got one right here. It’s no good at all. It glows very dimly. See the line that says, ‘Can be clearly seen in total darkness’? You **need** almost total darkness to see any glow at all. [/QUOTE] In that case get a [Navy Seals](http://www.luminoxshop.com/kjjk.html) watch. It is so bright I can read with it. (When in total darkness of course, and you have to hold the watch against the page at an angle) This is the best watch ever, as I can read it without glasses in any light any time. (shameless plug)