Ultrafire X8 UV Mod

[Michlar]

@djozz

Sorry, I did not respond to the Ultrafire flashlight that you mentioned above. There are inconsitancies in the description (mention of 2 batteries in series, but a voltage input of 3.6-4V), and in general with chinese descriptions you never know what current you get until you recieve the flashlight and measure it. I would not easily go for 2 batteries in series: it is a bit more risky (li-ion battery use comes with some safety concern), it makes your flashlight bigger, and it is totally not needed for the led and current you use.

I do not mind that the flashlight is long and big, as long as the operating time is as long as possible as it is nice when I go and search for amber in the night

Kind regards

Michael Larsen, Denmark

[X31 (-X3-)]

Well, you can buy a full C8 or S2+ from Simon with a reliable 2800mA Nanjg 105 driver already installed in there, then just swap the LED with an UV one.

[djozz]

@~~X3~~

Well, you can buy a full C8 or S2+ from Simon with a reliable 2800mA Nanjg 105 driver already installed in there, then just swap the LED with an UV one.

You have indeed the better idea, that saves you a lot of work, now you just have to change the ledboard and that is all there is to it… But I would not buy the Convoy C8 because it uses a 16mm ledboard while the UV-led is mounted on a 20mm board. The Convoy M1 has already a 20mm board and is therefore the better choice:

20.89€ |Convoy M1 XM L2 U2 1A 2 Gruppe 3/5 Modus LED Taschenlampe 1*18650 /...

On the web page choose for 7135x8 for the correct current. I hope you are able to buy on Aliexpress by the way?

Michlar, it sounds a bit pedantic but I think it is the right choice: just buy the Convoy M1 and swap the led. It will leave you with an easier to make, smaller and much better flashlight than the one you linked above.

It will probably even have a pretty good runtime because the driver is more efficient than the Ultrafire one. Also buy some good panasonic NCR18650B 3400mAh batteries for it (nkon.nl is cheap and has good shipping fees). One battery lasts you more than an hour, take as many batteries with you as the hours you are planning to use it (carrying batteries is always more lightweight and compact than carrying a bigger flashlight).

[djozz]

One soldering advice: on the ledboard, solder the ledwires as far to the side as possible to clear the reflector: the reflector is aluminium and you do not want to make a short!

[X31 (-X3-)]

I approve the M1 choice, I didn’t think about the 20mm star.

[keltex78]

You may want to check out Hestbech’s threads if you are interested in amber searching (if you haven’t already seen them):

Help/advice needed for diy UV light for Amber searching

Edit: I moved the thread from “Flashlight Modding and DIY Parts” to “want to buy”, as I’m in over my head if i have to make the flashlight myself. Hi I need some good advice before I buy, or make a uv lamp diy-style. The lamp is for when I go treasure-hunting for amber at night by the sea. During my research I’ve searched this and other forums, and found several informative/relevant threads: http://www.alieneye.info/tubelight/index.html But i still have a lot of q…

400nm uv “worklight” – need help finding the parts

I signed up for BLF last year because I wanted to build a light for finding amber at the sea. (slowly turning into a flashlight-oholic) At that time, I realized I did not have the skills for building one myself. Instead, I bought a p60 drop-in with a LedEngin 365nm, and got a C8 size 400nm from fellow BLF member djozz. Since then I learned a bit more about building and modding lights. Especially the “hands on” parts is no problem. I have built two zoomies with Ir-LED’s, and one Convoy with a n…

A lot of conversations on the subject…

[djozz]

@keltex78

You may want to check out Hestbech’s threads if you are interested in amber searching (if you haven’t already seen them):

Help/advice needed for diy UV light for Amber searching

400nm uv “worklight” – need help finding the parts

A lot of conversations on the subject…

Yes indeed, I made him a 400nm C8 flashlight at the time that he apparently succesfully used for amber searching, but this new XM-size Epileds 2800mA led puts out way more light than that one!

[Michlar]

Thanks a lot guys :+1:

#djozz
The project that you mentioned in #3 Host: https://www.fasttech.com/products/1618/10002463/1277400-convoy-m1-diy-edc-led-flashlight-host + driver: https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001683/1122302-8-amc7135-4-group-25-modes-led-flashlight-driver-c
…is it not the same and just as good as the one you mention in #8 : http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Convoy-M1-Cree-XM-L-U2-1B-2-Group-3-5-Mode-LED-Flashlight/826041552.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.2.sFuk1E&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_0,searchweb201602_2_10037_10017_405_507_10033_10032,searchweb201603_11&btsid=9aa4c4fa-0749-4247-95af-963ed68079bb ??

It’s just that, if the product exceeds a price of DKR 95 = around USD 14.4 then I must also pay import duty of DKR 160 = around USD 24 plus the VAT. But if I buy the host separately here:

Convoy M1 NEUE Version DIY Integrierte Leiter LED Taschenlampe Host Sale - Banggood Deutschland-arrival notice-arrival notice And the driver here: https://www.fasttech.com/products/0/10001683/1122302-8-amc7135-4-group-25-modes-led-flashlight-driver-c
…. Then I will not have to pay import duty or VAT on the products stupid Danish tax - and customs rules :confounded: (It’s because they are from outside the EU)
But if the one in #8 is better together with the 2800ma LED, then I’ll have to pay the xtra money.
Kind regards
Michael Larsen, Denmark

[khas]

I have a Convoy M2 with a QLITE REV.A 3.04A driver in my “surplus” box, it’s yours if you pay the shipping.

I believe the max amount is DKK 80 before you have to pay.

[djozz]

Michlas never mentioned it (or thought about it) but the m2 has a bit wider beam than the m1 (and the c8 narrower even). So with amber searching what is best?

[Michlar]

According to this review of the M2 the M1 has a wider reflector ?

For Amber searching I think it is best, when the light can cover as much beach/ground as possible……and the light must be as evenly distributed as possible instead of being centered / having all the power in the middle … and then be weak into the edge of the beam.( I hope you understod me )

Kind regards
Michael L.

[X31 (-X3-)]

You don’t want a thrower…so like I said your best choice would be a tube light, ideally an S2+.
The wider the reflector, the narrowest the hot spot.
You want flood ? chose a small reflector, or better, a TIR optic (though I don’t know how the PMMA of the TIR will react to 400nm UV)

[Michlar]

#khas
You’re right. I just read up on it at skat.dk. I must have been lucky as I sometimes bought items that cost around DKR 90. And I’ve always thought that it was DKR 95 excl. freight . I have only been taken 1 time , but it was also an item that cost DKR 600 lucky me Thanks for info :+1:
Kind regards
Michael L.

[Michlar]

#khas
3.04A driver …is that not too much/ or not ideal for an 2,8A led emitter?
Kind regards
Michael L.

[djozz]

I think the Convoy M2 will be a good choice then, nice offer, khas!

@X3 :I agree that an S2+ could have the right performance, but it only accepts 16mm diameter ledboards, while the led of the OP is only for sale on a 20mm board. You and I can transfer a led from the 20mm board to a 16mm board in two minutes, but if you don’t have experience with that, it is easy to ruin a led and a board trying it.

[Michlar]

#djozz
sounds good…but what about the driver……will it not have any negative effect on the uv light performance or ruin the Led Emitter, because it is 3,04A….and the LED is only 2,8 A ?
Kind regards
Michael Larsen

[khas]

It’s only a bit more than 10 percent extra, it don’t think it will have a significant negative impact on the life of the LED.

Edit.

I think a have a Nanjing 105C 2.8 A somewhere if you prefer that.

[Michlar]

#khas
I will text you an PM….its easier in danish
Kind regards
Michael Larsen

[X31 (-X3-)]

@djozz

I think the Convoy M2 will be a good choice then, nice offer, khas!

@X3 :I agree that an S2+ could have the right performance, but it only accepts 16mm diameter ledboards, while the led of the OP is only for sale on a 20mm board. You and I can transfer a led from the 20mm board to a 16mm board in two minutes, but if you don’t have experience with that, it is easy to ruin a led and a board trying it.

My bad, I forgot that… anyway, don’t overthink this and go for an M2

[Michlar]

@~~X3~~

@djozz

I think the Convoy M2 will be a good choice then, nice offer, khas!

@X3 :I agree that an S2+ could have the right performance, but it only accepts 16mm diameter ledboards, while the led of the OP is only for sale on a 20mm board. You and I can transfer a led from the 20mm board to a 16mm board in two minutes, but if you don’t have experience with that, it is easy to ruin a led and a board trying it.

My bad, I forgot that… anyway, don’t overthink this and go for an M2

Regards
Michael L