UV flashlight 2020 test: Now Live

I use my UV light (with Nichia led 365nm and UV filter, both from Convor originally) while cleaning home, near the stove, kitchen, etc.
The other UV lights I have (395nm) are not as good to show grease and other stuff. So that can also be a “testing spot” :+1:

We use our Convoy S2+ UV with a ZWB2 lens primarily to find dog urine around the house. With lighter carpeting, it’s pretty easy to find the yellow spots, but with darker carpeting, it’s nearly impossible to find without a UV flashlight.

Not sure if you have the same problem in your household ChibiM, but I’m sure BLF members with pets would appreciate a test that helps find these accidents.

As a corollary, could you please look at the performance of a few ZWB2 filters also? What to look for in an online ad that would indicate a genuine filter, or worse, a fake filter? Perhaps a quick & dirty way to test at home?

I'd like to be confident that a lens touted as being bandpass for ~365nm really does exactly that, and isn't just a piece of overpriced (or insanely cheap) dark glass or plastic.

slmjim

For the test you should probably mention how close the light is from whatever object you look at. Some small UV lights are only really usable at very close range. A fixed arbitrary distance test for all lights would certainly be meaningful.

Good stuff.

Any recommended UV flashlights you want to see reviewed?

I'm waiting for ordering the Olight i3 UV and Jetbeam Jet UV next week. Fasttech had a 10% discount on all products on April 1st.

Any higher end, popular UV lights?

Good point. My AceBeam UC 15 has one but it needs to be up close unless in total darkness.

I'll try to keep that in mind.

Does anyone know of any other UV lights that are popular?

How about the new MF01 UV (full size or Mini)?
It is supposed to be UVC+UVA to use as a sterilizing tool… so it probably does not compare to the others?

I thought about that as well. But since it's used for different purpose and at the same time a little more 'damaging' in use, I don't think it's wise to add.

I’ve got a little Olight i3UV coming as a bonus item, so I get to see what all of the fuss is about?

It should work fine for a small UV keychain light.

Chris

I am about to order that one this week at fasttech.

I concur on the distance test. I have been keeping an eye out for a good UV light to check for scorpions. Having to get within a few inches to see them would not be ideal

Test results are live: https://1lumen.com/best-uv-flashlight/

If possible please consider including the Wurkkos WK30 (which one of my all time favorite lights) in any future testing.

This post contains my observations as a casual observer concerning the UV LED on the WK30:

https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/57734/280

Thank you for the idea.

For my test I solely focused on dedicated UV flashlights. I had to draw a line somewhere. There are many flashlights that have a UV emitter installed, and I have thought about adding those as well, but then the comparison would be even harder. Anyways, thank you for the idea.

Very nice review. May I suggest to add to the last line in your review the words:

UV light reflected by windows, or shiny bathroom and kitchen tiles can be as hasardous as UV light that shines direct in your eyes.

The human eye does not respond the same way to UV light as it responds to visible light.
If you look into the sun you pupils contract in order to reduce the input to acceptable levels.
Looking into a UV-light does nothing of the sort, your retinas get blasted at full force.

I will put that on the top! :D

Some of the flashlights on the list are uv filtered on the lens. Will the filtered lights still activate the glow on glow in the dark objects? And dose the uv filtration make them much safer on the eyes/skin? It seems like uv filtration would not be desired on these lights, as the whole point is to let the uv wavelengths through, while limiting other wavelengths.

Yes, No, in that order.

The ZWB2 filter merely blocks out all visible spectrum of light and lets UV through.

It mostly helps with UV leds that emit visible light that might not be wanted.

Ah, I see. So the uv filter is more of a visible light blocking filter.