2017 top 10 professional UV flashlight

One of the things I got addicted to: (thank you, djozz :wink: )

And from the bussines end (all 365nm lights have ZWB2 filter)

From left to right:

Powdercoated C8 host from 3Tronics, 395/400nm 5050 Epileds UV on 20mm copper (Ali), 6*7135 AMC
Regular S2+ from GB flashsale, swapped 395/400nm 5050 Epileds UV on 16mm aluminum (Ali), 8*7135 AMC
Regular S2+ from GB flashsale, swapped 3535 Int-Outdoor UV on 16mm Noctigon, 3*7135 AMC
S2+ host with SM reflector/pill/driver from “old” Convoy UV-light, 3535 Semileds (led4power) on Noctigon, 3*7135 AMC
S2+ shorty with Nichia UV, 2*7135 AMC
Ultrafire SK68 (ordered for being a real Sipik !! :rage: !!) with 365nm led from “old” Convoy UV-light, driver unknown

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EDIT 20180808: because this thread has been been revived, I have replaced the kaputt links to Phot by links to Imgur. In the mean-time more UV-lights have joined the club.
The second and third light from the left are victims of my “NOT my 2000 post GiveAWay” and are currently on their way to Greece and Bavaria. In a few days there will be another GAW and then light #4 from the left will be given away (be it in a red host.).

I put the lite-on UV led in a Convoy S2+ with a buck driver at 1.5 amps and it does just fine. I’ve used it to cure 25 trits so far.

Really nice collection, however an UV thrower seems to be overkill…I LOVE that :partying_face:
Did you put a ZWB2 glass behind the aspheric ?
How do you like the 395/400nm to compare with 365 ?

how well is it holding up at 1.5A?
I am not sure if I push it to 1.05 or 1.4A.
those UV have only a Tjmax of 90°C and they get damaged real quick compared to white ones if they get too hot

I made even better Macros of it

After a year, mine still looks good. But then again, I only use it for a couple of minutes at a time

Yes, there is also a ZWB2 filter in the zoomie, just behind the aspheric lens.
I replaced the original black plastic shim by a rather thick and smooth O-ring.
With the head facing down, just lay the filter on the lens, inside the O-ring.
When the head is re-assembled, the O-ring can only move in one direction: inwards.
Until the moment is reached that the filter is clamped on all sides by the O-ring, so to speak.

Of the two kinds, 365nm is far better with paper money.
But 395/400nm is better suited for some organic materials, despite the disturbing purple glow.

OK, somebody please give me the “UV for Dummies” version. (I would be the “dummy” …. :wink: . )

I got a Convoy UV about a week ago…… THIS ONE

I got a Jaxman UV in the mail today…. THIS ONE

  • They both say they have a 365nm Nichia UV chip… CORRECTION … Convoy says it has the Nichia
  • Jaxman says it has a 365nm UV
  • Convoy has a clear lens.
  • Jaxmen has a dark lens
  • Convoy says 3W / 700ma
  • Jaxman says 3W /

Questions

  • What does the dark lens “do” that the clear does not?
  • Can they be driven more than 700ma (by adding another chip)??
    ……… If so what is/is there, any advantage??
  • Are there certain “nm” ranges that are better for detecting different things?
  • Is it necessary to wear UV glasses (protective) when using the lights??

Answers greatly appreciated and than you in advance? :+1:
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:slight_smile:

I am stuck between Jaxman and Convoy (you can recommend another at that price point). Help me please :money_mouth_face: :frowning: Can not afford both.

@teacher, not being the expert that djozz is, my first impression is that:

- the picture of the UV-led on the Jaxman site looks like the Royalighting or Intl-Outdoor led as reviewed by djozz. It can be driven by 3*7135 AMC (at least I do, on a Noctigon) but Jaxman has a policy of “not pushing the envelope” so they use 2*7135 AMC. This led emits a lot of non-UV light. You definitely need a ZWB2 filter to separate the men from the boys, so to speak, because that filter blocks the white light that prevents you from seeing what you want to see with the UV light.

- the Convoy UV-light with Nichia is standard equipped with a 2*7135 AMC driver. Stick to that, I do. When I got this light directly from Simon (Convoy) it came with a black ZWB2 filter. IMHO the output (spectrum) of this led is better than that of the Royalighting, but it still emits a considerable amount of non-UV light. You also need a black ZWB2 filter for this one.

- the question of upgrading the driver is already implicitely answered: don’t. You will just kill the led.

- as dr. Ruth already said: always wear protection. Certainly when you are using lights with a ZWB2 filter. You won’t see it coming. And not only from shining directly into your eyes but also from the refection in a glass window or bathroom tiles.

Recommend the Convoy + ZWB2 filter (look at previous post).

I used my Convoy S2+ with the stock MCPCB a few hours and with Djozz board also an hour or so

I noticed that parts of the emitter start to get very dim, no color change like other LEDs had
I guess 700mA is not healthy for this Nichia LED on the stock star

As for UV flashlight, I think Tank007 TK566 is a good choice, professional Japan chip, dark glass as lens which can filter visual light and get more UV light.

Same led, same filter, but NOT the same price-range.

With such a high priced UV light, at least give the sutomers more than “japan UV emitter”…
You need to give them more information in order to justify this price.
The host doesn’t seem to have good quality, I really hope that this is a Nichia in there at least

im confused, whats the need for ZWB2 for the convoy uv flashlight? So i guess using the convoy stock light longer runtimes isnt such a good idea then, since it can damage the LED ? not good… perhaps simon should do a new version of it, anyone can contact him with the pics above?

@Henk4U2…… Thank you so much for the answers and link, I appreciate your time. :+1:

I have another question or so below………

  • So does that mean the Jaxman has a “Royalighting” UV-LED and not the Nichia as advertised?? (It never said this , I was mistaken)
    ………If so, is it “as good as” the Nichia? (I am just curious & trying to learn. :slight_smile: . )
  • Would there be much advantage to adding another 7135 AMC to bring it to 3*7235AMC total?? As long as the LED is on a good DTP board that is.
  • OK, I got mine through GearBest, that might be why it just has a clear lens. I’ll add a ZWB2 lens.
  • Leave it at 2*7135 AMC driver. Check………… :+1:
  • I’ll follow both yours and Dr. Ruth’s advice on wearing protection. :slight_smile:

Thank you again for being so helpful & thorough. :beer:

- I don’t own the Jaxman myself, so I can’t look inside it. But the picture of the UV-led on the Jaxman site sure looks more like the Royalighting led, reviewed by djozz, than like the Nichia led, shown in perfect detail in post #9 of this thread.
The Nichia is about 1 yr “younger”, so I guess it will be more efficient in emitting UV-light.

  • it looks like the Royalighting can endure 3*7135 AMC (3*0.35A=1.05A) when the led is mounted on a good DTP board. And yes, you hear a “but …” is coming up. When you look at the graph in the review of djozz, you notice that the forward voltage is quite high. In plain English: you need about 4 Volt to make that current go through the led. That is possible when you use a fresh off the charger 4.35V battery. In normal conditions, and with a “regular” 4.2V battery, you get 0.9A at the most. So the effective gain of adding an extra AMC is not very impressive.

I bought the banggood s2+ without a filter and had no problems. I installed a filter and saw little if any difference. Whoops! Yes I did! The light looks “cooler” now to the eye. I can also easily tell which light of that form is the UV light and not the white light. it works identically to the user with or w/o the filter from what I remember. I also use mine just a few minutes at a time. Heat might be a problem if one used it for longer, but it isn’t designed to be a mineralogy display light. I’d never pay close to $300 for a UV light when the s2+ works so good and has so much going for it. Just remember to turn it off and on as required. It’s no big deal.

Your advice is good. Thanks. But a real Nichia UV chip is more expensive than our TK566 flashlight.

Thank you again Henk4U2…… :+1: … I had forgot the Royalighting LED picture was on the review you gave the link to. I guess I had a senior moment. :person_facepalming: … :wink:

  • But you are correct, it does look more like it. I am gonna locate my magnifying glass and check for sure tonight.
  • I see that adding a 7135 AMC ‘chip’ won’t do much. Thank you for explaining why. :slight_smile:

Royalighting - left~ Nichia UV (Convoy) - center LiteOn UV - right


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I am beginning to be fascinated by these UV LED’s…… :slight_smile: