NIR MAG-LITE RETROFIT
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NIR Mag-Lite Retrofit, retail $ (http://store.advancedmart.com)
Manufactured by Advancedmart (www.advancedmart.com)
Last updated 05-27-09




The 40xNIR LED Mag is a 3-D Mag-Lite that has a LED NIR source that is very resistant to drops, knocks, and bangs unlike fragile glass "flourescent" "lite" "blubs" . It uses an array of 40 5mm NIR (near-infrared) LEDs, advertised to have a peak emission of 850nm.

It comes already assembled with the Mag-Lite body; no need to hunt down a Mag or assemble the product yourself.


SIZE



To get NIR radiation, press the rubberised button on the side of the Mag-Lite's barrel until it clicks, and then release it. Press and release it the same way again to turn it off. This is continuous or hands-free mode.

For momentary mode, press the button more lightly (before it clicks) and hold it that way for as long as you need the NIR radiation; releasing the button turns the light off.

The human eye is generally not sensitive to these wavelengths; however, you *MAY* be able to detect a very dim, dull cherry red glow from the LEDs when they're on. I cannot guarantee that this will be the case as the eye's spectral response range will vary from person to person, but you ***MAY*** be able to detect this faint glow.

My stepsister reported that she can also see the red glow; apparently somewhat more brightly than I can.



To feed your Mag-Lite equipped with this "bulb", unscrew & remove the tailcap, gently place it on the ground, and kick it into the garden so the hungry, hungry praying mantids will think it's something yummy to eat and subsequently strike at it...O WAIT!!! YOU'LL NEED THAT!!! So just set it aside instead.

Dump the dead D cells out of the barrel and throw them into a large, extra-heavy-duty garbage can (plastic OR metal) and kiss their sorry butts goodbye (we don't have a battery reclamation program here in California - please recycle them if you do).
Be sure to empty that garbage can every now and again; you don't want baby tarantulas or dragonfly larvae.

Slide three new D cells into the barrel with the button-end (+) positive going in first.

Screw the tailcap firmly back on, and go about your business.
Aren't you glad you didn't kick that tailcap into the garden with all those hungry, hungry praying mantids now?


Here is what a praying mantis looks like.
I found this guy on the morning of 09-08-06 clinging to the basket of my scooter.


And this is what a typical dragonfly larva looks like.

Current usage measures 159mA on my DMM's 4A scale.



As a flashlight, the unit is reasonably sturdy (as all Mag-Lites are), and are of a proven physical design. Mag Instruments (of which AdvancedMart has *no* affiliation!) has been making flashlights for years, and they have a long track record for durability.

I beat the living tweedle out of it (gave it ten firm whacks against the concrete floor of a patio; five whacks against the side of the tailcap and five whacks against the side of the bezel), and found the expected damage. There is some VERY minor gouging to the bare Metalcherrymon - er - the bare Metalgomamon - um that's not it either...the bare Metalagunimon...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 poopoo} up! ) on the sides of the tailpiece and bezel where it was struck. No optical or electrical malfunctions were detected. It still works as well now as it did when I received it earlier this afternoon. The damage was MUCH more minor than what was expected - considering I performed this test with all those heavy D cells still in it...nobody throws empty flashlights around, ya know.

The unit is water-resistant, but it is not entirely waterproof. It *ALMOST* passed "The Suction Test"...I say "almost" because a very small leak was detected. So, while you should be ok using this NIR source in foul weather; and falls in shallow water should not kill it, falls into deeper water should be avoided because the unit will *VERY SLOWLY* become flooded unless you fish it out of the water right away.

I attempted to irradiate an IR detector with the unit, but was not successful. The NIR radiation output by this product is a little too short in wavelength to activate the anti-Stokes phosphor on the card.



I was not able to take a beam photograph, so here's one of the "business-end" instead.



Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LEDs in this IR radiation source.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LEDs in this IR radiation source,
showing that the peak emission is within a range of 821nm and 827nm.
The spectral line half-width appears to be approximately 44nm.


Spectrographic plot
Same as above; newer spectrometer plus new software & settings used.


Spectrographic plot
Same as above; newer spectrometer plus new software & settings used - spectrometer's response narrowed to a range of 720nm to 874nm.
USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.



ProMetric analysis
Beam cross-sectional analysis.
This shows that the ProMetric's camera is sensitive to the NIR radiation output by this product.
Image made using the ProMetric System by Radiant Imaging.









TEST NOTES:
Test sample was sent by J.W. of Advancedmart on 11-17-07, and was received on the afternoon of 11-19-07.


UPDATE: 05-27-09
I see that I failed to apply the "star" rating to this product...that has now been rectified ("corrected", not "converted from AC to DC"). It earned a high enough rating to garner a spot in "The Trophy Case" on this website!!!


PROS:
If you need a portable source of NIR radiation at ~825nm, *THIS* is what you want!!!
Uses a host body that's very common
Easy to use
Reasonably durable (as a finished product, that is)
Uses batteries that are common and relatively inexpen$ive


CONS:
Mag-Lite body furnished with adapter is not submersible - this is what nocked that last ½ a star off its rating


    MANUFACTURER: Advancedmart
    PRODUCT TYPE: NIR LED radiation source
    LAMP TYPE: 5mm NIR LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 40
    BEAM TYPE: Wide spot w/soft corona
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/momentary/off on side of barrel
    CASE MATERIAL: Aluminum
    BEZEL: Metal; LEDs protected by plastic window
    BATTERY: 3xD cells
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: 159mA
    WATER RESISTANT: Yes
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: 3xD cell Mag-Lite body
    WARRANTY: 90 days

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





NIR Mag-Lite Retrofit * http://store.advancedmart.com






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