Mass production on a budget

Hi!

I’m attempting to build an ultra cheap but powerful little UVA (365nm) light.

The reason it needs to be so cheap is I want to make 1000 of them and install them into a novel product I’m designing.

But I would still like it to be visible in ambient daylight (indoors during the day). I was hoping for 3w output (like the small convoy models) but realise I may need to settle for less brightness to get my costs down.

I know that I need an 18mm zwb2 filter.
I know that I need an orange peel reflector.

What I’m struggling with is the emitter, mpcb and driver.

I have found 365nm emitters for as cheap as $1.20 from Ying Feng. $2.00 with mpcb.

Simon at Convoy offers similar wholesale prices but I need to bring these costs down, as this does not even include a driver.

Can anyone advise me on how I might make my budget light even more budget? Should I reduce the wattage? Will that help get emitter and driver costs down?

Any advice welcome as I am a complete noob.

Update. I have found a 3w emitter marked “cree” on the pcb and watermarked “hotred” and 3535.

It’s an aluminum pcb so I assume not as good for heat but the price is $1.28/unit.

Anyone have experience with these emitters?

Edit, still digging, found similar for $0.93! That’s if you order 50 so 1000 is likely cheaper still…

Thanks for stopping by, BudgetSteve!

I don’t know what this meme is but thanks!

Forgive me for being blunt, but there are contrarians in the forum who won’t help you unless it’s to contradict what other people say, so i will say something…

SO, what are you trying to accomplish? Also, we have no frame of reference as to the products you’re talking about. And being a noob, how can you be sure of what you know you need?

**And do you need the ULTRAVIOLET specifically to be visible, or the objects you intend to flouresce? I assume you’re making some kind of chem detector or something

Hi, no worries about being blunt. I am still in the patent process for my idea so I can’t disclose much.

I want the light to make it easier to spot dust. At a distance of roughly 80mm - 150mm.

I have purchased a few uv lights on the market, with Zwb2 filters, to try to get an idea of the appropriate strength. It seems that a 1-3W emitter should work.

Does that give you enough detail? Sorry that I can’t reveal more at this early development stage

*forgot to tag you @Dc38

1 Thank