A good UV flashlight is only as reliable as the battery powering it. For 365nm lights using rechargeable 18650 or RCR123 cells, the battery affects runtime, output, reliability, and safety. The biggest rule is simple: don't buy lithium batteries based on the biggest...
Our display UV lights are mostly based on fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs require a special ballast to operate. Lots of folks buy surplus transilluminators on Ebay and upgrade them to very powerful SW lights using off-the-shelf bulbs and new electronic ballasts. When...
UV lighting intended for fluorescent mineral displays should normally produce little or no ozone, so it is important to use lamps specifically designed as low-ozone or ozone-free types. A distinctive sharp smell around a UV lamp may be ozone, and if a mineral display...
I recently had the opportunity to test a 395nm 100 LED unfiltered flashlight. It is advertised as having 100 high power LEDs and claims to have high radiant intensity, a flood effect, and an 18-watt UV beam suitable for commercial and domestic use, even in ambient...
Friends don't let friends use crappy unfiltered 390nm flashlights. This is an educational post, directed towards folks new to the hobby. There has been discussion in our FB group lately about using cheap 395nm flashlights for fluorescent minerals. I am passionate...
I have happily been using and recommending the Convoy S2+ 365 nm UV flashlight since early 2017 when Mark Cole first posted about it. It is a fantastic product, small and powerful and cheap. However, it is a little too small and I found myself putting it down and...
Originally posted on Nature's Rainbows by Michael Isaacson in 2015. Electrical work is dangerous. Do not attempt a project of this nature without a strong understanding of light fixtures, wiring, and electrical safety. I'm not sure how many people have built the 18...