Suggest to me a UV Flashlight for US Currency

Don’t worry, these ugly stains are probably détergeant :slight_smile:
I checked my bathroom at home and get the same !

Seriously though! Is that detergent? Please say yes!

Yeah, my washing machine looks a little rough. I scared the crap out of my daughter…I put laundry detergent on my hands and put hand prints coming from her closet across the ceiling in her bedroom and down the wall to her bed. I showed her what the UV light could do so I told her to take to her bedroom to see what all would fluoresce and she started screaming :smiling_imp:

Put me down as accepting your offer, DJ. I have no problem with letting you build me one.

PM me for any further correspondence needed.

That bathroom image, I was a custodian at a Community College. Adults are just as DISGUSTING as kids!!

I don't buy the comment being detergent. On the toilet, yes, some of it. Now imagine that filth spreading throughout the whole facility on anything you may come in contact with throughout your time there. The filth IS everywhere.

Since my time way back as a carpet cleaning tech, I experienced everything imaginable from urine, to excrement of dead people of every form.

Notice how the cleanest part of the toilet is the seat…

It's the angle of the light..LOL!!

When you see a dark spot moving on the seat, shoot from afar!!

PM responded to, DJ ;)

Brilliant.

If you are not familiar with UV lights and applications you should probably do some research.

My modest understanding is that fluorescence occurs at different wavelength depending on the substance or material. Thus crime scene investigators probably want powerful lights that can reveal a broad range of fluids and materials with a wide range of wavelength.

However, for currency checking, i would guess you don’t need something very sophisticated or powerful. Some cheap UV/purple light may be enough?

One thing to keep in mind is that using a UV light for an extended time does require protection glasses.

I tend to think a Convoy UV S2+ is overkill for what you need. Just occasionally playing with mine a few minutes gives me a head heck.

You should check what wavelength are recommended for your application.

No.
You ‘need’ a true 365nm UV LED plus a filter (to block the visible light coming from the LED) to really see the fluorescent bits.
Cheap 400nm LEDs do not do the trick for money detection and the like.

On another note, unfortunately UV LEDs have a rather high Vf.
Like close to 4 Volts.
So the fun is over pretty soon with a normal linear driver (like with 7135 current regulators)
Best would be an AA light with boost driver and current regulation, as to not exceed the maximum current.
So for example, the little Jetbeam would be ideal, but it doesn’t have the filter in it, and i have only seen tiny ones for ridiculous prices…
You could buy a 20.5 mm filter and make it smaller and try to put it in the head… Hmmm… :weary:

Supfire has an AAA 365nm flashlight.

Not sure of its performance, though.

There is also the non-nichia jaxman u1 (18650) and jaxman e3 (aa). The uv output is lower than the convoy (There were some tests where the difference was quite visible) but they are still close to 365nm and have a filter (they are available at the
Jaxman store)

I just recently got the Nitecore CU6. Not real bright in the UV area but it works well. In my research it has been one of the best fot looking at bank notes (money).
Most threads here and on CPF are a few years old at best.

The Convoy with the proper led has been noted as the best dollar value.

My reason for the CU6 is that it can do UV and be a carry light both.

My 2 cents, Lateck.

Wow! 3000mW of 365 UV. Impressive.

Anyone know how is the strength of UV light from the Convoy in comparison with UV component of the sun?

All led’s depreciate in performance. From what I understand the lifespan rating isn’t to failure. Rather, it’s to 50% brightness.

I have both the Convoy S2+ and the Jetbeam Jet-UV. I also own an Nitecore Tube-UV and a Ultrafire WF-501B.

I’ve tested these on $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. Didn’t have a $5 in my wallet.

I bought the Convoy and UF at the same time. The Convoy was clearly superior but both were too big to conveniently carry on a daily basis, which is why I bought the Nitecore. I checked the specs and the Nitecore is supposed to emit at 365nm. This surprises me as I wasn’t impressed with it. Ended up giving it to my daughter, so I can not honestly say I compared it directly against the others, but I also recall that I ordered the Jet-UV specifically because I wasn’t impressed with the Tube-UV. Take it for what it’s worth.

I don’t know for certain, but I think the Ultrafire that I own emits at around 390 nm. It easily fluoresces the strips in the $10, $20 and $50 bills, however with the new $100’s, the strip was not illuminated in a significant way. From the back, the strip is barely visible in certain spots.

Both the Convoy and the Jetbeam were able to fluoresce all of the currency notes in my test group. Holding the Jetbeam about a foot from the notes, I’m easily able to see the glowing strip. It’s more evident in low light, but even under direct fluorescent light, I’m able to make out the strip. In my kitchen, under what I estimate to be approximately 50 footcandles, I’m still able to detect the strips. It’s faint with the Jetbeam, but detectable. If I move the light to within 3 inches, the strip is easily visible. I’m running an older Sony NiMH AAA battery which only has about 300 mAh capacity remaining, but for what I do, works fine. Waiting for the battery to die so I can replace it with an Eneloop. :smiley:

I realize you said you wanted something powered by 18650, but if you can be swayed from that, you might consider the Jetbeam. Otherwise, I like my Convoy. The UF can be purchased in a 365nm version, but I don’t have any experience with it.

Both the convoy and the Cu6 have 3000mW 365nm UV
The tube claims to be, but is not actually 365nm, it won’t fluoresce the red strip on a US 100, the other two above will.

great to hear there is an AAA option with a true 365nm UV, even if it is very low power compared to the 18650 models

Convoy S2, Cu6, are both 3000mW 18650 powered
HDS has a 700mW version that is CR123 powered

Yup. Get it. it’s the best.

Convoy s2+ uses the nichia NCSU276AT 365 uv emitter. It is powered by 700ma and output at best is 800mW. And that is overdriven. So it is definitely not outputting 3000mW

thanks! thats what I though, I posted it here

I believe you are correct. The Cu6 IS a 3000mW afaik

for some reason this guy claims the Convoy is also 3000mw, so I took his word for it, my mistake

that means the Cu6 is the most powerful
otoh, I see very positive reports regarding the Convoy, for example for scorpions

So I guess the OP needs to figure out how strong a UV light he wants, 3000mW, 700mW, or whatever less the little AAA Jetbeam puts out… depends on how close range he needs to use the UV, and how heavy a light he wants to use…

ps, I found a photo of the Jetbeam UV on a US100, and yes the red line shows clearly (pic links to the source)