Advice needed for UV headlamp to illuminate fishing line

[Pumaman]

my neigbor's boss is a bass fisherman and has asked for something i am not really familiar with.

he wants a small UV light that can clip to his hat, that will illuminate flourescent monofilament line.

what are the options? he has many friends that would be interested so something inexpensive and production(not custom) would be best.

thanks!

 

[PhotonWrangler]

my neigbor's boss is a bass fisherman and has asked for something i am not really familiar with.

he wants a small UV light that can clip to his hat, that will illuminate flourescent monofilament line.

what are the options? he has many friends that would be interested so something inexpensive and production(not custom) would be best.

thanks!

Wal-Mart has a three-UV-LED light that clips onto the visor of a cap. It's meant exactly for that purpose. It's in the flashlight section (and probably in the fishing section nearby) for $9.95.

 

[Pumaman]

thanks for the quick reply. is it any good? if he is willing to spend $30-50, is there anything more effective and worth it?
thanks

 

[PhotonWrangler]

thanks for the quick reply. is it any good? if he is willing to spend $30-50, is there anything more effective and worth it?
thanks

I haven't used it myself so I can only speculate. Because they're regular 5mm LEDs, they won't have a lot of throw, but they should be good enough for close-up work at night.

I have yet to see anything like a Cree 7090 UV-LED mounted on a cap yet. Of course, the mere mention of it in CPF will probably prompt someone to build one!

 

[Pistolero]

I actually have one of these puppies.
I got it to illuminate some pet stains, cheap GITD and fluorescent stuff. Also works as a counterfeit handbill detector.

It runs on two coincell batteries. CR2032 I think.

I was thinking about how well it would work for it's intended purpose and I don't think it will do that well, unless you're just dropping the line. The throw on it isn't very good and if you cast your line out, I don't know if you could see it.

Alternatives are:
the UV photon.
The UV Inova X1 or X5 (the X1 reflectored might work better.)
a UV fauxton. I think lighthound had some. (also, lighthound has some other UV light offerings I think.)

OH WAIT. What about a Terralux minimag drop in for UV?
http://www.batteryjunction.com/miulvikitwi1.html
Add the Nite-ize minimag headlamp kit and you should be set.
http://batteryjunction.com/maledre1.html

Although, it might be dangerous to go fishing with him if he turns around to look at you. :duck:

 

[Codeman]

I haven't used it myself so I can only speculate. Because they're regular 5mm LEDs, they won't have a lot of throw, but they should be good enough for close-up work at night.

I have yet to see anything like a Cree 7090 UV-LED mounted on a cap yet. Of course, the mere mention of it in CPF will probably prompt someone to build one!

I put my Aleph A19UV in a NiteIze Headband when I go scorpion hunting. It's Cree 7090 is the only small, portable UV source that I've seen with any throw beyond a few feet. On a new 123 cell, it can reach out 40-60 ft.

 

[sysadmn]

Aleph A19UV - probably not $30 - $50

 

[Pumaman]

thanks for the suggestions. the terralux might be a good option. the 2AA minimag may be too big. he has been using a seoul'd Q3 with an RCR123, so he has decent expectations.

DX has these UV emitters

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4334

maybe drop them into a cheapie light that can go into a nite-ize headband.

also, should they be wearing UV protective glasses?

 

[Codeman]

Yeah, a complete A19UV would probably run about $250.

Even for the Cree 7090, as long as you don't look into them, UV protective glasses really aren't needed. Even my prescription eyeglasses block most of the 7090's output, so the lower output UV emitters shouldn't be a problem at all.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

I hjave a CREE 7090-based drop in module in a mini-m@g. It has really decent throw and the whole kaboodle including the M@g host was well under $50. I suppose you could velcro that to the side of a cap.

Got the UV drop-in from Brightguy.