Preface
I’ve had exactly one UV light before this one and it was SO powerful, I got headaches right away using it. I was interested in this JETBeam Jet-UV because I’ve liked JETBeam quality in the past, and I expected this would be a less powerful light.
Coupon
Code: JETUV and Ref link
Link to Official Specs and Features
Specifications
- LED type: 3535-UV-365nm
- Lens’s Glass: Tempered glass
- Shell Materials: aviation aluminum-alloy
- Body: Militarly type III hard anodising
- Battery: 1*AAA
- Water Proof Level: IPX8
- Impact resistant: 1 Meter
- Length:70.4mm
- Head diameter:14.8mm
- Tail diameter:14.2mm
- Weight:13.2gram(without battery}
Versions
Just this one version and two colors (red and blue) of the UV. There are other JETBeams which look the same – same AAA size, but they have Cree XP-G2’s, for example, and I believe TIR optics.
Short Review:
If you’re in need of a UV light for checking bills or other “smaller” tasks, I think this is a great option.
Long Review:
What’s Included
- JETBeam Jet-UV
- Lanyard
- Spare o-ring
- Manual
- Warranty/approval card
Pictures
A few glamour shots, and here’s the runtime on a Eneloop AAA. I didn’t do any whitewall beamshots per tradition because they don’t really make sense with this light.
Package and Manual
This is the packaging
I’ve come to expect from these smaller JETBeam lights. It’s a clamshell plastic container,
which is display-ready. Pop it open and the light and goods come out easily. Included is a manual
which includes the usual information, and is a typical JETBeam manual.
Build Quality, Disassembly, and Durability
Build quality is one of the reasons I asked for this JETBeam
from the outset. I have been very pleased with this brand, and expected this UV light would be well built too. It did not disappoint. It’s a well built light. Of course it should be, as there’s a huge base it’s growing from: JETBeam already has an AAA light that is not UV, so this was probably a fairly simple transition.
The UV comes apart
insomuch that the cell can be exchanged. The driver
may be screwed out, but I haven’t the right tool.
Size
Around 71mm long and 15mm across the head – it’s a very small light. Pretty regular size for an AAA light,
and consistent with the other JETBeams.
Vs Astrolux A01
Vs Astrolux A01
Vs Chapstick
Vs money
Retention
There’s a pocket clip
included, and installed.
Included too, is a lanyard which may be attached through holes
in the tailcap.
Power
The UV is powered by a single AAA sized cell. I used Eneloops exclusively. Sorry to say I don’t have any 10440 cells, but the specs don’t mention Li-Ion compatibility and no voltage range is given: I’d stick with actual AAA cells here.
The runtime terminated at 0.856V. Now, I’m not sure what’s a good shutoff voltage for eneloop AAA’s, but that seems a little low.
User Interface and Operation
Twist for on. Twist for off. Yeah, fairly simple….
LED and Beam
JETBeam names the emitter
as a “Cree Ultraviolet Light3535-UV-365nm.” I found a few references to that emitter. Here’s one that compares it to a much more expensive emitter, and found it to come fairly close to the advertised wavelength (365nm).
I have some reference 365nm lights and this light comes close enough to those, in my unmeasured opinion. Furthermore the wavelength it is, whatever that is, lights up the fluorescent strip in US dollars just fine, and makes other glowy things glow brightly.
So as advertised, this LED does it’s job well.
The beam has a tight hotspot but a surprising amount of spill. I’d really love for the beam to be much more of a TIR type beam (though I don’t think that’d work at all since I believe the polycarbonate of the TIR would block most of the UV output.) Even a UV mule would be a potentially more useful output, since everything would be fluoresced more evenly.
Beamshots, Runtime, and Lux Measurements
The runtime
is with a Eneloop AAA. Of course, my lux meter isn’t really designed for UV, but it’s a fair approximation anyway (since starting output, whatever it is, is counted as “100% output relative”). So the graph will look bad, but it’s noteworthy that the output stays fairly consistent for about 50 minutes, then begins to drop off.
Of note is that the lens on this UV light isn’t a bandpass filter lens, so more than just UV gets through. Likely it’s that other emissions that my lux meter is picking up, but that’s really fine for my purposes on runtimes. (And actually if it hadn’t been for that, my lux meter mightn’t have read anything at all.) But as far as clean UV signal goes, it’d be great if this light had a bandpass filter lens.
I did take some UV beamshots on actual fluorescent things, so you can get a feel for how the Jet-UV works.
Money shot control
And dust. So much dust.
Turns out my old Zebralight H31 has an integrated glow-ring, and the emitter fluoresces slightly under uv!!
And here’s here’s a close-up beamshot,
for a better idea of how HOT the hotspot is, yet how spilly the spill is. If that makes sense – more sense since you’ll note the white paper in the corner is still lit by the UV, but the center spot is very intense UV.
Random Comparisons and Competitive Options….
The only other UV I have experience with is the Convoy UV, a light I owned for a while. I am very UV-sensitive, and I honestly could not use that light for any length of time without getting a headache. This Jet-UV is much less powerful, and that’s a thing I like about it. It’s also cheaper.
Conclusion
This will be a handy tool, and I’m pleased to have it around. For the price, I think it’s hard to beat, and I recommend one just for kicks.
What I like
- Build quality
- Not terribly overpowering UV
- Close [enough] to advertised wavelength
What I don’t like
- Beam profile could be more diffuse
- A clicky version would make my day
Final Thoughts
I recommend it. Fun light, and useful!
Coupon
Code: JETUV, referral link.
Notes
- Thanks to GearBest for supplying this light, and a coupon!!
