AR coated glass lens

onetrickpony

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
262
The AR coating typically has a purplish hue if viewed from a certain angle.

Put it inside the light. It will perform the same job either way, but it won't get scratched :)
 

smokinbasser

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
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1,193
Location
East Texas
If you are familiar with photographers polarized filters you can do the same check by holding the lens at an angle to the light source and observing if it has a reflection on one side of the lens.
 

onetrickpony

Enlightened
Joined
Mar 10, 2011
Messages
262
I am not familiar with photography lens. And if it does have reflection? Coated or not coated?

The purpose of the coating is to reduce reflection in order to allow more light to pass through the lens. In a flashlight application, this will make the light brighter in use.

So to answer your question, the side that has less reflection is the coated side, which you should mount inside the light in order to better protect it.
 

goki

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Sep 30, 2010
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57
Location
Philippines
If you tilt the lens at a certain angle, you should be able to see the coated side. It helps if you have an idea of what a coated lens looks like. In some of the lens cleaning fluid I've used before also made the coating standout more once applied on the lens. You just to make sure it's safe to apply on AR coating though. Coated side is better on the inside so it's better protected.
 
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