*Couldn't find a UV-dedicated forum, so, I hope I won't get yelled at for posting here.
I'm a 'desert' hiker. There are scorpions here. I really need to be able to spot them when they're near me. I want to avoid them, which is very different from when someone goes out to actively locate (and collect) them. This is why, at least in theory, I should be able to get away with just a 'cheapo' UV flashlight that does the (very basic) job. I will probably need to buy 2 or even 3, and I'll use those lights in very specific scenarios, which will be 'hardly ever'. So, no point in spending $$$ on something that I will almost never use. Nevertheless, when I DO need to shine some UV light around me, the flashlight has to deliver! I will pay what I have to pay for what I need. And this is what I had in mind:
• A compact unit: I would really like something that takes a single, regular AA or even AAA cell (primary Lithium is what I'll be using). I could settle for a 14500 'setup' but nothing that takes 18650 cells, please. I might consider that weird 3XAAA setup but only if there is really nothing else for me.
• Emitter size: Again, I need something very compact. All UV flashlights that I was able to google have multiple LEDs, which also makes them "fat". I want a model where the head is flush with the main body. I really need something that's slim and very pocketable.
• Output: Don't care about the actual light wavelength as long as it gets the job done, which is: lighting up scorpions. Honestly, I would be OK with something that's effective up to around 8 feet (in complete darkness) but, possibly, even less than that.
• Modes: Just one '"full" on /off' would be fine by me. I want a 'clicky', so there's no parasitic drain. If there are different "intensities" then I would prefer a unit with a PWM-free driver.
• Construction / Durability: Don't care about weather sealing but I do want to stay away from garbage that gives out after just one bad fall. *Would love to have my flashlights in a color that's other than "tactical black". Actually, I can see myself buying something that's made of plastic, as long as dropping it on the rocks a couple of times is not guaranteed to kill it.
Any ideas? Thanks!
I'm a 'desert' hiker. There are scorpions here. I really need to be able to spot them when they're near me. I want to avoid them, which is very different from when someone goes out to actively locate (and collect) them. This is why, at least in theory, I should be able to get away with just a 'cheapo' UV flashlight that does the (very basic) job. I will probably need to buy 2 or even 3, and I'll use those lights in very specific scenarios, which will be 'hardly ever'. So, no point in spending $$$ on something that I will almost never use. Nevertheless, when I DO need to shine some UV light around me, the flashlight has to deliver! I will pay what I have to pay for what I need. And this is what I had in mind:
• A compact unit: I would really like something that takes a single, regular AA or even AAA cell (primary Lithium is what I'll be using). I could settle for a 14500 'setup' but nothing that takes 18650 cells, please. I might consider that weird 3XAAA setup but only if there is really nothing else for me.
• Emitter size: Again, I need something very compact. All UV flashlights that I was able to google have multiple LEDs, which also makes them "fat". I want a model where the head is flush with the main body. I really need something that's slim and very pocketable.
• Output: Don't care about the actual light wavelength as long as it gets the job done, which is: lighting up scorpions. Honestly, I would be OK with something that's effective up to around 8 feet (in complete darkness) but, possibly, even less than that.
• Modes: Just one '"full" on /off' would be fine by me. I want a 'clicky', so there's no parasitic drain. If there are different "intensities" then I would prefer a unit with a PWM-free driver.
• Construction / Durability: Don't care about weather sealing but I do want to stay away from garbage that gives out after just one bad fall. *Would love to have my flashlights in a color that's other than "tactical black". Actually, I can see myself buying something that's made of plastic, as long as dropping it on the rocks a couple of times is not guaranteed to kill it.
Any ideas? Thanks!