Newbie Torch Builder Looking To Build Hi Power UV 365nm

Hi all.
Briefly, i collect minerals and rocks and wanted a proper 365nm UV torch, so i bought a convoy s2 with a nichia 365nm led and a ZWB2 filter. Great little torch but i want something bigger and better and the ‘fyrfly’ seems the next upgrade but i fancy making one. I am fully upto speed with soldering etc but what I’m not up to speed with is diy torch building.
So, I’m getting lost in a sea of information. I Know i need a host, a pill, leds, a MCPCB (?), a driver and batteries.
The plan is to have a 2x18650 with 3 LG/Nichia UV leds.
But trying to work out what works with what is leaving me with more questions than answers. Could anyone just point me in the right direction. Im looking at loads of stuff on Banggood and ebay but i don’t know whats any good and whats rubbish. Nor do i know what sizes these are (i just made a surefire 501b UV but that was simply a case of dropping a new pill in. Works well though but again, i want something FAR more powerful.
Any help gratefully recieved.

Here is what I did a while back https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/49853. I was exactly where you are now, being a total newbie, and from reading on BLF I managed to make something I use all the time. If I were doing this now I would use the Sofirn C8F and LG emitters from Convoy (djozz test here https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/54827 ). You can do one stop shopping with Simon at Convoy if you want to build it yourself. He will sell you the emitters, triple MCPCB, driver and get a Convoy S12 host. This should make a real cracker. I have also heard that if you contact Simon directly and tell him what you want he would probably build one for you. I am not sure what size the glass is on the S12 so you might have trouble finding a ZWB2 filter in that size (edit: I just looked and it is 28.6mm. You probably won’t find any filters in this size). If you use the C8F it is a 40mm diameter glass so you can find those all ready to drop in. If you decide to go the S12 route you may (probably will) have to cut your own like I did. Good luck and be sure to tell us how it comes out (with pictures).

Thanks for that.
I’ve tried to locate this Simon guy on Aliexpress (The convoy store?) but cant locate him.
I have just purchased a c8 host with extension tube and a ready made seoul Z5 triple led emitter but would love the LG higher power ones. I have located a 42mm filter.
How would i locate / contact Simon, i would be willing to purchase the entire kit off him…

Edit:
Found him and left a message.
So again, thanks for the help.

When your in the Convoy store on Ali, on the left side go down to you see “Service Center” below it will read “Contact Now”
You will have to create Ali account to contact him on the Ali message system.
Pretty sure that’s how I contacted him before.
.
He also is a member here, probably not the quickest way to contact him but he should reply to PM’s.

I’ll add that when building a triple UV light you need a triple reflector. The triple optics do not work with UV leds, they melt and fry the leds from heat.
Been there done that :confounded: . A expensive lesson that I want soon forget.

Going to 8.4V makes totally sense, because those LEDs tend to have very high voltage like 3.8-4.1V, so when your battery drops output drops as well

I can help you to supply a buck driver to power 3P LEDs to 8.4V battery in 2S

Single 4W light output UV LED from Nichia is the 333a but expensive and hard to buy

Yeah, pretty expensive led :confounded: .
Page Not Found - Aliexpress.com?

The price is OK, you can then do a very easy build with a Convoy L6 for example with my 30mm Buck driver

I’ve decided to learn to walk before run and go single led, so i have ordered a convoy c8 host. Cheap enough to experiment with, decent enough to make it worthwhile.Also plenty of options and easily obtainable filters. So, if i understand correctly it has a 20mm mcpcb and a 17mm driver. So armed with that info, my next task is to locate the
best single led i can find for 365nm on a suitable board with a suitable driver. I’m basically trying to make a poor man’s fyrfly.

This is the led i wish to use.
https://www.lumitronix.com/en_gb/lg-innotek-uv-smd-led-3535-leuva33w70rl00-with-pcb-star-1800mw-365nm-32727.html
It states it’s on star-shaped PCB 21 x 19.8 mm, does anyone know if that’ll fit in the c8 host?

if you use such an LED make sure to get copper DTP MCPCB

also this LED has a fairly high test current with low temperature test temperature so it may look better than others like SST-10
LG LEDs are known to produce white waste light so a filter is mandatory

Yikes….

Ok, shopping list:
Convoy c8 host
BD39 17mm 2.2A 3V - 9V 1 cell or 2 cells driver
5W LG UV 365nm Ultraviolet UV LED Emitter 20mm MCPCB

I believe that lot should work, unless any of the more experienced builders on here can see any glaring errors i’ve made.

2.2A to that UV LED?
too much

…and keep in mind that UVLEDs do not like to be overdriven at all. Even the Convoy UV S2+ is slightly overdriven which can/will affect longevity. Try pushing even a little bit more through the LEDs than they’re rated for, and they may degrade very fast, or may just give it up entirely.

And when outputting lots of UV, you’d better be wearing UV-blocking goggles (unless glasses are a wraparound style) to keep from frying your corneas and/or retinas.

Even from the S2+, I get headachey after only a few minutes of snooping around. Thought it was my imagination ’til others here reported the same thing.

Ouch! The MCPCB is $0.96, the mounted LED shows up as $81. LedRise has them from €20 in multiple wavelengths.

233A and 333A are totally different LEDs in size and output
233A and B have only 2 pads on MCPCB which makes cooling a lot more of a problem, same with 276A and 276C

233A LxWxH (mm): 3,5x3,5x1,23
333A LxWxH (mm): 6.8x6.8x1.9

NCSU276C got also released with 1050mW at 500mA which is very very efficient

Thanks for that. I had assumed (incorrectly) that that would provide a margin of error and drive UPTO, not AT. Of course, as the led is the W version, upto 1500mAh, then i have opted for the 1.5a version of the driver which suits the led more without over driving it i hope. It will only be used for brief intervals anyway.

You might find djozz test with this UV led interesting. LG 365nm UV led tested (LEUVA33W70RL00, from Simon)
I modded a Lumintop Tool AA light with the LG LEUVA33W70RL00 led and used the stock driver which should be putting out around 2 amps.
It could be lower than that given the higher vf of this led over the original xpl hd. Just estimated guess from the original led.
I think I used a filed down 16mm copper mcpcb with the lg led reflowed on. Still has all the modes and the flashy, strobe modes in UV light :smiley: .
I really don’t see alot of stray white light, I know all the test show there is more than the nichia NCSU276A but to me it’s not that noticeable.
I got my S2+ with Nichia NCSU276A and the bare LG UV leds from Simon at the Convoy store on Aliexpress. He also sells the S2+ with the LG UV led now.
S2+ UV led history. About Convoy Flashlights | Way Too Cool LLC

I am glad you're getting some advice on this. However, from what I could tell, the majority of UV conversions on here are for low power, or single cell or close-up UV use only.

My purpose was to search for UV fluorescent caterpillars in countryside trees. So I converted an Air Pro DC7 (a BLF Q8 knock off with a simpler UI) to a 4x Seoul Viosys Z5 365nm light. Works very well and these LEDs have minimal visible light emission, though a custom ZWB2 filter is coming my way. The light works very well on high with minimal heat for a long time and if I need to see 30+ feet up into a tree I change to turbo for a short while (that will start to build heat though). I am curious to try that new LG LED, but the Z5 attracted me due to its relatively low visible emission.

You absolutely need UV protective glasses/goggles and I went so far as to put a warning on my creation and I keep it on electronic lockout.