Purple Photon Micro-Light II

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

June 09, 2005

Product Requirements:
Two 3V lithium CR-2016 Batteries (first set included)

Not long ago, I reviewed a Mobile Torch Bank Note Detector, which was essentially a device with two purple LED lights which could be used to detect the fluorescence in authentic bank notes and other documents that had been imbedded with fluorescing security features. After writing that review, I was introduced to the Photon Light Micro Light line, specifically their Purple Photon Micro Light II.

The Photon II is composed of "glass filled" polyurethane, which was a term I had never heard before. According to Photon Light's site, it means that the "case of the Photon II is practically indestructible and is very abrasion resistant."

This flashlight is very small, measuring approximately 1.5" long x 1" wide x 0.25" thick, and it weighs just 0.3 grams. This means that it can be slipped onto any ring of keys without adding much weight or bulk. The light takes two 3V lithium CR-2016 Batteries, and they can be replaced through the light's removable bottom.

Perhaps the single most perfect feature of this light's design is the way that it can be locked in the "on" position - just like a full size flashlight. Note the clear plastic slider on the top of the otherwise press and hold power button? When pressed forward it is in the "off" position...

...and when it is slid back, the light is "on" without the need for constantly applied pressure to the power button. This is a very nifty feature that is available on any of the nine colors offered in the Photon Micro Lights II line.

For those that are interested, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, white and Infrared are available, in addition to the purple which I will be covering today. They even have an informative page dedicated to discussing the merits of all of the offered colors, in order to help the buyer choose exactly which will work best for them.

Wow - I must say that I was very impressed right out of the box by how bright the single purple LED was! Take a look at this comparison picture between the single beam of the Photon and the dual beam of the Brando. The lights were each held at an equal distance of five inches above my desk. The blindingly bright light on the left is the Photon.

 
Left picture: the Photon beam, Right picture: Photon beam (on left) vs. Brando beam (on right) comparison

According to the Photon Light website, "Purple bulbs create a black-light effect, making lighter colors appear bright. Purple bulbs do produce some UV light, which can be harmful if viewed directly."

Well, here is why everyone should own a portable purple or UV LED light - it makes checking bank checks, bank notes and and other fluorescent embedded items for authenticity easy and fun. Take a look at these shots, in each you will see some form of fluorescence...

Even though I took these photos in relative darkness, the Purple Photon Micro Light II is also usable under indoor fluorescent, halogen or incandescent lighting. Obviously the darker it is, the more brilliant the fluorescent features will glow, but they are still quite visible in a brighter environment.

Are there any watch collectors in our readership? If so, then they will especially appreciate the on/off slider of the Photon II as it makes dramatic pictures of watch luminosity easy work.

While the 405 nm purple LED lights are very similar to ultraviolet, Photon Light also offers UV lights which offer true 375 nm ultraviolet and can be used for professional forensics work. According to their website, "UV light has a variety of specialty applications. It can be used to: authenticate money, expose imitation art, identify minerals, follow blood, bacteria and protein trails, authenticate collector glass and stamps, and accelerate curing glue. Medical staff, law enforcement personnel, collectors, cashiers and model builders are the main users of UV lights. 370 nm." Hmmm, I've even seen it used to dry fresh manicures in nail salons.

The main difference between the purple and UV Photon Lights (other than their prices, different key chains, and the lack of the locking "ON" slider mechanism), is that the UV lights can be ordered with a covert shroud in place which helps aim the beam exactly where it is needed and keeps the UV beam from diffusing.

When comparing beams, to the naked eye the UV model does not seem as bright as the purple. However it does cause fluorescent markers, such as the green strip in this twenty dollar bill, to fluoresce even more brightly than they already do with the purple - which is saying a lot.

The tighter  beam on the left is from the UV Photon, the wider beam on the right is from the Purple Photon Micro Light II

I would like to close this review by reiterating the points that I made in the previous Brando review, namely that counterfeited bank notes are everywhere and they are more prevalent than most honest people would suspect. It is up to us to protect ourselves and be informed about what marks of authenticity we should be looking for. To that end, the Purple Photon Micro Light II is a valuable tool to keep on hand - or in this case - on the keyring.

Price: $15.95 for the Purple Photon Micro Light II, UV Photon lights start at $19.95

Pros:
Small form factor
Extremely bright light which works well even in normal daylight
Excellent way to check authenticity in various documents and items

Cons:
None