Review: UV light shootout, seven lights tested

I really need to buy a fluorescent one some day.

Where did you buy yours? I remember a seller on eBay that had them but I can't find him.

There's also a comparatively cheap 254nm version: http://cgi.ebay.com/254nm-Ultraviolet-Pocket-Lamp-Shortwave-Bonus-M12_W0QQitemZ370510530344QQihZ024QQcategoryZ3226QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ht_3228wt_1139

I wonder how safe it is... and how effective it is.

I bought this one, it's even cheaper now than when I bought it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280590817370&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

But you don't need it if you have the TK...

Shortwave UV is much more dangerous so I wouldn't bother with it. With high-powered shortwave UV you must have both eye and hand protection, maybe the 4W isn't that powerful but anyway. I already had enough trouble from the lights I own, briefly I looked into the 3W drop-in without thinking when I had the protection glasses on (not a great idea).

Here is how bright a banknote fluorescences under a high-powered tube light, I would guess it's a 16W or 20W tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNKkCmXBAg8&feature=related

Looks like the TK is the only one worth bothering with. The UK mint warns that no LEDs are likely to give short enough wavelength light to check the security features

http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/kyb_lo_res.pdf

It seems that some of the pictures with the TK-566 were taken when the battery was low (AA powered has it's drawbacks), I have uploaded new pictures of the 500 CZK and 1000 JPY notes.

Thanks mfm! Wow, this is an incredible amount of effort. You really outdid yourself on this one. Nice collection, and incredible shots!

Frontpage'd and Sticky'd for sure.

Thanks!

I added some more shots: the 5 USD vs the 20 USD and some more Czech and Swedish banknotes.

Thanks for all of your hard work mfm!

They really are great photos, it's a little glimpse of something we normally don't get to see. Which is rather a shame as they really are very nice.

Random question...I know some insects can see UV, bees for instance. What would they see if they looked at these notes in day light?

It's not something I've thought about before so it's intrigued me, would they see nothing as we do or would they see non-glowing marks.

I assume the ink that the marks are made with is transparent to visible light, but perhaps not to UV..but really I've no clue :P

I added the backsides of all current Chinese banknotes, I think they are quite nice.

I really like the performance of the TK-566 and am interested in buying one for my mom who is a bit of a geek when it comes to such things. She's familiar with the dangers of such things and would know better than to look directly into the light. Outdoors in the dark, what is the range of this light? Is it best for up-close only such as checking bank notes? Tomato worms are known to fluoresce under a blacklight and she wants something that could be used to sweep tomato plants after dark looking for them. Which UV lamp would be the best projector?

I have the Tank007 PT30 3W 365nm version, which has 3 of the LEDs of the TK-566 and also a slightly larger reflector. I also have an O-Like 405nm 400mW laser. Even taking off the focusing/collimating lenses on the O-Like (ie RAW diode output), the "UV" of this O-Like causes things to flurorescent more and has a longer throw. The PT30 has a longer throw as compared to the T5, but when you are checking out urine stains on the latrine bowl, the PT30 does not really show this while the T5 shows it clearly (just that you have to bring it really close).

The PT30 has a wee bit of visible dull white output in addition to the UV. If your prescription glasses has UV filtering, no issue. Mine is transition, and it even filters the really powerful non-focused raw output of the O-Like 405nm completely.

But for regular stuff like orange/yellow fluorescent stuff, some types of paper, toilet paper, the O-Like 405nm really causes everything to glow crazily. Focus it correctly, it makes stuff 300m away glow as well, eg a white T-shirt. (that distance is farther than the NOHD, so no danger).

BTW it is not Nichia as mentioned in the video (it was advertised as Nichia on aliexpress). Someone said Edison, whatever. A 3W Nichia NCSU033B one was selling for usd300+ on aliexpress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoTYspNclLA

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?311637-Need-help-in-identifying-UV-LED-(advertised-as-Nichia-seems-not-one)

I tried to take a video of the O-Like 400nm RAW diode output with the same settings as the 3W 365nm LED, not good it just overexposes everything.

That 50Yuan note is especially nice, nice UV sunrise :)

380+ nm LEDs are much brighter (and cheaper) than 365nm ones, so if the worms fluorescence under that wavelength it could suffice with a 12 LED UV light from DX for under $5. Even the 5 UV LEDs of the 3-in-1 light is brighter than the TK.

I may buy one if I can find one cheaper than the tank007store...

Yes, I wonder why most other banknotes have so boring (or nonexistant) features.

cool review ..

I have 25 UV lights sent to me by mistake ..It could give a new meaning to the concept of a Uv light shoot out ..

hmm

.22 or 16 guage shotgun ??

Added another Chinese banknote.

I managed to take out the front glass cover of the PT30 (it was screwed in very tightly), seems to increase the UV light intensity by a wee bit. I gauged it by bouncing off toilet paper.

Just to give an idea on UV LEDs (3W 365nm Tank007 PT30) vs very very near UV 405nm 400mW....

First one is Tank007 3W 365nm. Second is Laser diode RAW output. The laser diode output is CRAZY, the hotspot is like spread over 2X of what is visible here. As you can see the top of Doraemon's head is fluorescing brightly. I underexposed the LED so as to accomondate the LD output, in real life it is much brighter than this.

tan007

405

About the lens blocking the UV watch this post below

Still have them? Why did you not send them back for a refund along with the postage?