Review: Convoy 365nm UV flashlight with Nichia LED inside
This light was provided for review by Simon from Shenzhen Convoy Electronics Co., Ltd
The Convoy 365 UV flashlight retails for US $54.21 $35.16 and can be purchased here. 20% off UV flashlight for BLF
Product Description
This flashlight runs on protected or unprotected 18650 battery
Notice that battery is not included
Notice that battery is not included
Notice that battery is not included
LED:Nichia 365UV
Driver:7135*2 one mode
Head diameter :32mm
Body diameter:24.5mm
Length:127mm
Flashlight weight: 81g
Product total weight: 195g
Other accessories: Charger connector, USB to micro USB cable, EU adapter
Protection: Battery reverse protection / Low voltage protection function
I’m guessing the LED is the NCSU276A U365
http://www.nichia.co.jp/en/product/uvled.html#NCSU276A
PROS:
Excellent machining and a smooth unblemished black satin finish.
Knurling feels good in the hand.
Integrated switch-direct-rechargeable
Metal Switch Button
Tail Stands
Comes with EU USB charger (if you live in the EU)
Comes well lubricated
Driver is single mode
The Convoy UV flashlight comes in a black gift box
CONS:
Comes with EU USB charger (if you live in the USA)
Contents of the gift box:
Convoy UV flashlight
Charger connector
USB to micro USB cable
EU charger
Lanyard
Here is a family portrait with the Convoy UV alongside it’s ThorFire BD04 cousin. Unlike it’s ThorFire BD04 cousin and Convoy BD04 brother, the Convoy UV only has a AMC7134*2 single mode driver where they have a AMC7135*4 5%Low-30%Mid-100%High-100%Strobe-100%SOS.
The EU charger can receive 100-210 volts 50/60 HZ input so it will work in the USA if you have a gender bender. Or you can use another USB charger that can put out 5 volts and at least 1000mA.
Lucky for me that I own some EU multistandard NTSC/PAL VCR’s and already have a gender bender handy.
The 18650 battery installs backwards with possitive towards the tail. The Convoy website states that the driver has battery reverse protection / Low voltage protection function. That can be a good thing with this setup.
I can’t get a picture of the innards because either the threads were glued or Lou Ferrigno tightened the head down. I guess it is best since I’m as graceful as a bull in a glass shop.
Here’s a look down the business end where you can see the Nichia UV LED.
The Convoy UV has a nice looking metal button. You can see the charging status LED just below it.
Here you can see the charging status LED is red while it is charging.
Now that the battery is fully charged, the LED is now green.
My wife was nice enough to go to the bank on payday and get me the two larger bills I needed for the next part of the review. I’ll stop yapping now and show you the money.
Here is some US currency in almost total darkness (there are 4 peanut nightlight bulbs on in the ceiling light fixture) with just the light from the Convoy UV. The Nichia puts out some visible light but not a whole lot.
Here is the Intl-Outdoors Royalighting RY-3535P 365nm UV. It put’s out a good amount of visible light. It lights up the strip in the $100 bill so it is putting out 365nm.
I saved the worst for last. Here we have a UltraFire 502B that you’ll find on Ebay or Aliexpress that is always claimed to have a “365nm UV Cree” in it. I believe it is a 395nm - 405nm UV LED. Now look and laugh at the purple nurple explosion coming from this turd. :Sp
I asked my wife if she had any amber jewelry that I could borrow for the review, she said no and asked if I would buy her some for the review. Since you don’t see any amber pictures below, you can guess what my reply was to her after had reminded her that I had just bought her a jewel of a ruby Red Convoy S2+.
Here’s a couple of pictures the Convoy UV zoomed that shows the image of the die being projected.
Conclusion:
The Convoy UV is a well built light and a great value for the price. You couldn’t build this light for the price that Simon is asking.
I’ve always thought that Convoy flashlights are a high quality and affordable flashlight made for the working man. The Convoy UV is the first of it’s kind. There is no light out there that is like this. Simon took a quality affordable zoomie, put a high end Nichia 365nm UV LED in it and sells it at a price that is still affordable.
The Convoy UV answers the question of why Simon would quit selling the Convoy S2 with the Chinese 365nm LED .
Now that Simon has came out with the Blue Convoy S2+, other than having the multiple XM-L2 and 7135 options, it would be nice to have a Nichia 365nm and 7135*2 single mode option. If you are reading this Simon, Hint! Hint!
I’m proud to say that I’m a Convoy fanboy. I like my flashlights to be well built, affordable, more Spartan and less blingy. I dream of the day when Simon decides to build a monster of a Convoy XHP70 flashlight that other than, being able to beam the Bat Signal on the clouds, you can brain a zombie with it. Are you reading this Simon? HINT! HINT! I’m sure that some members of the forum will be glad to give you some ideas on the flashlight host and driver design. All you got to do is ask.
EDIT:
The price of the Nichia UV emitter has dropped considerably. Because of this, Simon has lowered the price of the Convoy BD04 UV accordingly.