Off that list the only 2 worth anything are the jaxman and the nitecore.

Your best option would be a Convoy S2+ with the filter @ about $25 shipped.

So some guy named Quincy Miller spent 46 hours (his claim) researching UV lights in 2018, and did not come up with the Convoy S2+ 365nm UV with ZWB2 filter?, what is renowned worldwide as the best UV led flashlight for an absolute budget price. That makes his complete top 10 unreliable garbage (I bet he did not buy one of them).

Agree with the above; but in addition if you need to use a standard AA battery:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BC8L581/

There are 2 Convoy UV models, the S2+ UV which uses a Nichia led and doesn’t include the UV filter and the newer S2 UV without + which uses a LG led and includes the UV filter as the LG led creates more visible light. The S2 model has higher output and it’s floodier while the S2+ has a higher intensity.

Because the US patent office granted a patent to somebody for UV flashlights with a filter which shouldn’t have ever been granted (as it isn’t a novel idea) , the S2 UV without the + cannot be shipped to the US. However if you are in the US you can still buy the S2+ version and buy the ZWB2 filter yourself.

Edit: I don’t support such patent abuse (I don’t live in the US anyway) but here is the link to a commercial site explaining the situation
http ://www.fluorescents.com/products-uv-flashlights.html

The site sells the S2 version for higher than the original price (2×18650 and a charger are included to be fair but that doesn’t make up for the price difference). Perhaps some of the price difference would go to Simon (Convoy’s owner), but I guess most of it would go to the site and to the patent owner.

Edit 2: This thread has more information

I hate patent fascism..

http://budgetlightforum.com/node/59988 has a list of UV flashlights posted last April. However as everyone has said, the Convoy or Jaxman are probably the best budget lights.

zillah wrote:

Thanks for your help guys

Although I need to do some reading about filter ,,,,,do I need it when testing a bill ?

Regards

 

 

I have used my Acebeam for that purpose. It has UV, Red and regular white. Runs on 2 AAA batteries of any type (including 10440s). The red will light a room. Advertised as keychain but a bit large for that. Incredible output for a smallish light

How does the Jaxman U1 compare to Convoy S2+ 365nm Nichia with ZWB2 filter?

How about Harbor Freight Tools ?

Cheap though?

https://www.harborfreight.com/uv-blacklight-flashlight-63931.html

Does it have to be an EDC size or would something in the vicinity of a C8 size work. The reason I ask is, the Fitorch MR35 has a white, + a UV LED and three other color LEDs as well. It’s really a nice light and has very cool features like dual switches plus on-board charging!
I have one and really like it. In normal white light mode it is 1200 lumen.

wstrachan wrote:

Does it have to be an EDC size or would something in the vicinity of a C8 size work. The reason I ask is, the Fitorch MR35 has a white, + a UV LED and three other color LEDs as well. It’s really a nice light and has very cool features like dual switches plus on-board charging! I have one and really like it. In normal white light mode it is 1200 lumen.

Most paper money today is designed with characteristics that can be checked by 365nm UV-light.
Not that they happen to be visible at 365nm. No, they are designed that way.
Even the best 365nm emitters are not perfect: they also emit more or less visible light.
That’s why you need a ZWB2 filter, that blocks (almost) all emission of light other than 365nm.
Without having seen the Fitorch MR35 I very much doubt if this has a 365nm emitter or a filter.
One review says something about “let the experts decide the wavelenght of the UV”.
Another review says that Fitorch admitted that the green emitter is directly lit by the UV emitter.
And that the UV emission may have a greenish shade.

A member on TLF started his review by emerging the light in water, which also ended his review.

So I would not recommend it, without ever having seen it. Not for paper money.

Henk4U2 wrote:

wstrachan wrote:

Does it have to be an EDC size or would something in the vicinity of a C8 size work. The reason I ask is, the Fitorch MR35 has a white, + a UV LED and three other color LEDs as well. It’s really a nice light and has very cool features like dual switches plus on-board charging! I have one and really like it. In normal white light mode it is 1200 lumen.

Most paper money today is designed with characteristics that can be checked by 365nm UV-light.
Not that they happen to be visible at 365nm. No, they are designed that way.
Even the best 365nm emitters are not perfect: they also emit more or less visible light.
That’s why you need a ZWB2 filter, that blocks (almost) all emission of light other than 365nm.
Without having seen the Fitorch MR35 I very much doubt if this has a 365nm emitter or a filter.
One review says something about “let the experts decide the wavelenght of the UV”.
Another review says that Fitorch explains that the green emitter is directly lit by the UV emitter.
And that the UV may have some greenish shades.

A member on TLF started his review by emerging the light in water, which also ended his review.

So I would not recommend it, without ever having seen it.

One of the first things I did when testing my light was get out a $20 bill. There are two features you can distinctly (glowingly) see with the UV light mode. I believe this is plenty to recognize counterfeits or genuine bills.
I am not doubting you knowledge of UV but I think the light would be practical for many other purposes as well.

Venice wrote:

I have used my Acebeam for that purpose. It has UV, Red and regular white. Runs on 2 AAA batteries of any type (including 10440s). The red will light a room. Advertised as keychain but a bit large for that. Incredible output for a smallish light

I’ve done same homework, and in my opinion, the best bang for a buck is Convoy S2 from Aliexpress:

Convoy S2 UV 365nm => Aliexpress
Led: LG UV 365nm
Driver: 7135*3

Is far more superior over the more popular S2+ from GB:

Convoy S2+ 365nm => Gearbest
Led: Nichia 365UV
driver: 7135*2

Vis

Convoy S2 LG UV with filter:

Convoy S2+ Nichia UV without filter:

zillah wrote:

Quote:

Yes, neat light. Bullet-proof, silly output for such a small thing. Bought a bunch as stocking stuffers, recipients seem to love them.

Adhara it seems to me you have shop and all your recipients are happy with this small beast ?

 

We tried the UV in the lounge on money – it works fine for the purpose of seeing the dye/thread counterfeit measures.

PM me if you are, BTW, there’s a new, in box, silver one on another forum for $45, a nice discount from retail.

wstrachan wrote:

One of the first things I did when testing my light was get out a $20 bill. There are two features you can distinctly (glowingly) see with the UV light mode. I believe this is plenty to recognize counterfeits or genuine bills. I am not doubting you knowledge of UV but I think the light would be practical for many other purposes as well.

I’m not familiair with dollar bills. The EU consist of 28 countries, in 19 countries the EURO is legal currency. Plus in Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City. Because all countries print their own money, there are 19 different sets of EURO bills.
They share however the same anti counterfeit characteristics. Some have to light up in a distinctive colour when lit with 365nm UV. Besides 365nm UV features there are features for short-waved UV-C and IR.
That we, the people, know of.

I have the Customlites P60 365nm UV drop-in. It’s the three level with smoothe finish. I’ve got it in a Solarforce host and put a 365 filter on it. A little pricey but it is high quality and hasn’t failed me yet. Can’t hardly see any light out of it. You have to use CR123’s and not 18650 though. Don’t know why really,probably because of voltage?

How about this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Sofirn-SF32UV-UV-365nm-LED-flashlight-Nichia-365UV-Lamp-18650-Flashlight-UV-Lantern-Waterproof-Fluorescent-agent/32896697802.html

For $21 you get Nichia 365UV and Black Filter

I have the S2 LG UV Led.

I’m happy with my Convoy S2+ Nichia NCSU276A 365. Probably would be a bit better with the filter which I did not get. This might argue for getting the S2 or the Sofirn linked above. The S2+ did not offer the filter (probably for the patent reasons offered above).

The S2+ is supposedly throwier. Not an issue when checking counterfeit bills but would be an advantage if you are a rock hound or caver.

zillah wrote:

Quote:

I have the Customlites P60 365nm UV drop-in.

Just in case someone consider to buy it can you share with us from did you get it ?

Yes google might help but just to avoid imitation one 

https://www.customlites.com/product.sc;jsessionid=0DEBBF433B3E9B9FC6102D...