SUNKE LIGHT 390nm
UV LED FLASHLIGHT

1-LED 390nm UV LED Flashlight, retail $7.99 (http://store.advancedmart.com...)
Manufactured by Suncke
Last updated 06-16-07




The Suncke Light flashlight is an aluminum-bodied light that has 1 UVA (advertised as 390nm) LED in the end, powered by a single AAA cell held in its barrel. The LED is protected by a glass window (or "lens" if you prefer).

A DC-DC inverter circuit in the flashlight's head boosts the ~+1.5 volts from the AAA cell to the ~+3.6 volts the LED needs.


SIZE



Getting this light to work is as easy as turning the head clockwise (as if tightening it) until it lights up; turn it the other way to turn the LED back off.



To change the battery in this flashlight, unscrew and remove the bezel (head), dash it to the ground, and stomp on it with spiked golf shoes...O WAIT!!! THAT'S THE GOOD PART!!! So just set it aside instead.

Tip the open end of the barrel into your hand, and dispose of or recycle as you see fit the used AAA cell that comes out.

Insert a new AAA cell in the barrel, orienting it so its button-end (+) positive faces outward, and screw the bezel back on. Unscrew it slightly when the light springs to life so you don't just waste that new AAA cell.
Aren't you glad you didn't stomp on that bezel now?

Unable to measure current usage due to how the product was constructed.



I beat the living tweedle out of it (gave it fifteen firm whacks against the concrete floor of a patio; ten whacks against the side of the tailpiece and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and found the expected damage. There is some VERY MINOR gouging to the bare Metalgomamon - er - the bare Metaltogemon - um that's not it either...the bare Metalveemon...er...uh...wait a sec here...THE BARE METAL (guess I've been watching too much Digimon again! Now I'm just making {vulgar term for crapola} up! ) on the side of the tailpiece where it was struck. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected. It still works as well now as it did when I received it a couple of days ago.

I tried to cut through the window with a folding knife, and I was not successful. This tells me it is made of glass, not plastic.
Would I really try to chop up the window of a perfectly good flashlight
You bet your sweet patootie (sugar-coated toilet muscle) I would, if it's in the name of science.

This flashlight is splash- and weather-resistant at absolute maximum, but I do not believe it is submersible. There's an O-ring on the bezel, but I don't know exactly how effective it is. It has a "loose" feel to it, so it may not provide 100% water-resistance. So please try not to drop it in creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceansides, docksides, puddles of concentrated camel urine, slush piles, mud puddles, tubs, toilet bowls, cisterns, sinks, fishtanks, dog water dishes, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found. A little rain or snow probably wouldn't hurt it though, so you need not be too concerned about using it in lightly bad weather.

If it fell in water and you suspect it got flooded, disassemble it as you would for a battery change, and set the parts in a warm dry place for a day or so just to be sure it's completely dry inside before you reassemble and use it again.

If it fell into seawater, if somebody squirted Massengill brand post-menstrual disposable douches or Fleet brand disposable enemas at it, or if somebody or something peed on it, rinse all the parts out with fresh water before setting them out to dry. You don't want your flashlight to smell like seashells, flowers, fresh butts, or urine when you go to use it next. Besides, salt (from seawater, pee, disposable douches, or disposable enemas) can't be very good for the insides.

The peak wavelength advertised is 390nm; this was spectrographically measured at approximately 392nm; it is, for all intents and purposes, right on the money.

[[BEGIN SERMON MODE]]
I must emphasize, protect your eyeballs when using this light. You only get one set of eyes - and if you wreck them, you can't just go down to the local seven-eleven and buy a can of them.
Here is one simple way you can do this:

Most sunglasses and some prescription eyeglasses have some degree of UV protection already; to determine if yours do or not, aim the flashlight at something that clearly fluoresces (such as those neon green & orange stickers that occasionally show up on your mail, day-glow orange price tags, or painted portions of a blacklight poster), positioning the light so the object in front of it glows (fluoresces) brightly from the ultraviolet light. Then put the glasses between the face of the light and the target. If the glow stops or dims dramatically, the glasses are stopping the UV and you can use them as eye protection at least for short-term use.
However, if the glow remains or dims only slightly, look for another pair.

In any case, never look directly at the LEDs without eye protection - not even for a minute.

Symptoms of UV exposure may not appear immediately; they can be delayed by 30 minutes to several hours. They can include a burning or "sand in the eyes" sensation, and a hazy look around light bulbs and other bright objects. Mild cases are self-correcting within 24 to 36 hours; however if despite my warnings you still stared at this light from close range for more than a few minutes, it might not be a bad idea to see an eye doctor and tell him you've been exposed to UVA radiation.

DISCLAIMER: I shall not be held responsible for any damage or loss of eyesight arising from your use or misuse of the information on this page. Thank you for listening.
[[END SERMON MODE]]

The flashlight has a label on it with the following text:

DANGER
Ultra Violet (UV) Light
Visible and Invisible
LED radiation can
damage your eyes.
Do not stare at the LED
light or reflected UV light
Keep away from children

The LED has its bond wires ("whiskers") attached at its corners; I know it is not Nichia. I do not know who makes this LED, so please stop asking.

There is a wide band of knurling (cross-hatch shaped texturising) on the barrel and on the bezel (head); this helps to aid in retention (the ability to hold onto the flashlight when your hands are cold, oily, or soaked with water, cold coffee, warm Arbor Mist, diet Pepsi, gasoline, piss, Fanta, pine sap, melted vanilla ice cream, Mountain Dew, etc.)



Beam photograph on the test target at 12".
There was some fluorescence from the target, but it was rather minor.
Wavelength is too short for me to measure intensity.



Fluorescence in a "hummingbird" from a set of Hummingbird Wind Chimes.



A plastic-handled screwdriver, with photoflash.



Same screwdriver; with no photoflash and irradiated by this flashlight only.
Note the strong fluorescence.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrometer plot of the LED in this flashlight.
Ocean Optics USB2000 Spectrometer on loan from WWW.TWO-CUBED.COM.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by J.W. of AdvancedMart, and was received on the afternoon of 06-12-07.


UPDATE: 00-00-00



PROS:



CONS:



    MANUFACTURER: Suncke
    PRODUCT TYPE: UVA LED Flashlight
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 1
    BEAM TYPE: Medium spot w/dim corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Twist bezel on/off
    CASE MATERIAL: Metal
    BEZEL: Metal; LED protected by glass window
    BATTERY: 1xAAA cell
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: Light splatter-resistance at maximum
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: 1xAAA cell, swivel, small wrist lanyard
    SIZE: ~2 6/8"L x 1/2" W
    WARRANTY: 90 days

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star Rating





1-LED 390nm UV LED Flashlight * http://store.advancedmart.com...






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