Review: UV light shootout, seven lights tested

The L2P is a what I’ve used as well, I have enough Solarforce parts to make about 9 lights, over 20 drop ins (not all Solarforce) but only 5 Nitecore 3100mAh 18650s, I have a few Xenon drop ins 3, 6, and 9v so I also had the 3v Lithium 123As.
The extension tubes aren’t HAlll anodized though.
I’ve got a pair of Trustfire flames on the way from Manafont so that’ll give me a few more options.

That's annoying.

Those Trustfire Flames are cheaper at Fasttech.

http://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10000377/1053200-trustfire-18650-37v-25002600mah-rechargeable-li-io

They were an impulse buy, I bought some AR coated lenses and started looking what else they had.
I’m spending a lot of time at FastTech recently and it looks like continuing, thanks for the link.

I’ve asked Manafont about the possibility of a forum group buy.
Would there be interest ?

So far, I only run UV with 1 x 18650. It is convenient for clearing scorpions when the kids visit. Of course, everyone wears UV protective safety glasses.

I have the Solarforce “Luxeon” UV drop-in, and several “generic Taiwan” UV drop-ins, including this acclaimed Manafont.

For me, the Solarforce works well. The others do not.

I’m guessing my Solarforce spectral output is centered around 390nm, with some visible purple light. My meter measures 0.50A. The purple/blue light is visible at all distances through about 20 feet or so. Whatever the UV component, it causes fluorescence through 40 feet - tennis balls, bits of polyester, shoelaces, scorpions, etc. I would like to have better.

I’m guessing my Manafont spectral output is centered well above 400nm, mostly just visible purple light. My meter measures 0.25A. The immense purple/blue light is predominate at all distances through about 30 feet or so. It is maybe half as good as the Solarforce at causing fluorescence. For example, scorpions glow just dimly, and must be much closer. I do not want to buy anymore UV ‘junk’.

If your 3-18V Kaidomain UV works better than the Solarforce (greater fluorescence at greater distance), then then I want one just like it!

Thanks

The output of the Kaidomain 3-18v UV looks very dim compared to the Solarforce and a couple of others that I have, it has an orange-peel reflector so doesn’t throw all that well but close up it reveals the patterns on banknotes that are usually hidden. Another example is GITD paint and powder, I’ve painted the end of the handle of Hultafors Heavy Duty knife GITD red, in normal light the colour is a creamy white, when hit with the beam from the Solarforce drop-in it shows a pale pink/violet then glows red when the light beam is removed. With a white light the paint is bright cream until the light is removed then it glows red. With the 3-18v drop-in the paint glows bright red straight away and continues to glow when the beam is removed. There is definitely more visible light from the Solarforce. There is a visible beam that isn’t there with the 3-18v drop-in both will show white objects and things that fluoresce at a similar distance it’s just that the Kaidomain has 365nm output and less visible light.

What type of lens is best for UV? Glass, acrylic? AR coated or not?

What do you think of it? Is it really 375nm, or higher?

Hard to tell for sure, but it is a shorter wavelength than the 390 nm… and probably shorter than the 380 nm

I use these from Kaidomain, $3.03 each well protected with plastic peei-off film covering both sides of the lens. If you are careful you can place the lens without even touching the edges, drops right in to Solarforce L2 series heads.
With them in place you can hardly see that there is a lens at all and they seem to improve output but that’s only by eye, I have no measuring equipment other than my eyes. 8)

Thanks, I added it to my wishlist. FWIW, I just tried mine with four 18500's, seems brighter than with the four 16340's I had in it.

The 123 primaries that I am running with @18v are about done, but I have more, they lasted better than I thought they would, cheap WF cells.
I’ve just got 4 Samsung 18650’s that arrived within 0.01v of each other and I’ve got a spare L2T and 3 extension tubes so I think I’ll put together a 4x18650 version like yours, thanks for the tip.

Two extension tubes with a L2P body fit perfect. I'd have to look up the L2T, don't have one. I'd guess four 18500's would provide higher voltage than six CR123A's over much of a side by side run, if you're going to run the 123's to death.

Edit: L2T looks to be the same.

Seems similar to me! The MF one I’ve got emit mostly visible light, barely does anything that is UV. It’s not even that good in highlighting money security. The cheapie $1 invisible pen/UV light combo I got from FT actually does better job.

It’s closer to royal blue than anything UV.

Does absolutely nothing in highlighting biological trace, which is the primary reason I bought it. Sometimes we get rats coming in/out of the house, need to see rat’s waste so it can be cleaned.

So, despite what others have reported, my MF UV drop-in is totally useless to me. I share your sentiment, I don’t want any more UV junk, just one that works.

Was hoping to see one of the rep’s in here with a special deal for us when I got email notification, instead, spam :frowning:

I saw these optical transmission curves of glass and was wondering if anyone knew what kind of glass these lens are made of? 365nm LEDs are already very low efficiency so it’s important to pair with an appropriate lens.

Here soda lime glass has a dip around 350-400nm:

That’s no good.

Worst case for 365nm, just run it without glass, or mod a flip case. 100% transmittance when you use it.

This emitter linked below has been in my ebay Watch for quite a while. But $10 is quite pricey for something of unknown quality. Anybody had experience with one of these supposedly true 365nm?

The best results that I’ve had are from this drop in.
Since I’ve bought it I haven’t felt the need to look any further, I put an AR coated lens in front of it again from Kaidomain I’m using 6xCR123 3v cells at the moment but when they’re used up I’m going to put 4x18650’s in to power it.
It’s the best set up for me but that Tank007 TK-566 365nm 1W AA light in the OP looks hard to beat.

Same picture used on Aliexpress for a 3W 395-405nm. :~

I had a look around for some 365nm with datasheets.
LED Engin have a range of 365nm emitters, some multi-die too.

5W:
http://www.ledengin.com/files/dist/5wLZ/LZ1-00U605.pdf

Damn. I had been avoiding any UV lights, because I couldn’t find the really good one in the OP. Now someone went and posted a link to it… so there’s a pretty good chance I’ll end up with one soon.