Easy Led Black Light Flashlight

by bizydad

35K237

Intro: Easy Led Black Light Flashlight

This is a very quick and easy way to make a black light flashlight if you have the parts in hand.

This project should take you under 5 minutes to complete.

If you're not a member of CSI, don't worry. There are other fun and practical uses for a portable black light. I have used mine to help spot pet stains on carpet and let the kids make fun drawings with highlighters.

STEP 1: Materials

  • ultra violet led (courtesy of a kids meal movie toy)
  • mini mag flash light
  • pliers

STEP 2: Assembly

Disassemble the toy to get the led anyway you see fit, as long as you don't smash the led. Remove the top of the mini mag and the bulb. Trim the ultraviolet led wires, if needed to insert in the mini mag bulb socket. Replace the top and enjoy!

7 Comments

luxstar 11 years ago

UV LEDS here:

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/component-leds/filter/Color,Ultraviolet,3,1223:

My favorites are the 400nm 5mm and the one watt star. I made a couple of flashlights using the 5mm led. Then my wife asked me to make a brighter one to charge up things like glow in the dark nail polish. I converted a 6 volt flashlight with the square Lantern battery into a long run time UV flashlight. It is plenty bright with the star current limited to about under half a watt.

KingOfCatfish 13 years ago

I see the plausibility in moving it from the toy to the MagLite, it's much more durable. This also shows that you can go to RadioShack, grab a UV LED, then quickly mod your mini-MagLite. There should be a spare bulb in the rear of the handle, where you unscrew to replace batteries, if you can fit the original bulb witht he spare you can quickly switch from UV LED to plain bulb. Love your 'ible!

Chromatica 14 years ago

A resistor would have been better because I doubt that that LED was 3v DC.

bizydad 14 years ago

Haha..no, sorry I didn't take more pics.  It was a normal Mag light before.  I realize it is a very simple mod, but I still have fun with it from time to time.

wwejason 14 years ago

They mean that the toy was was a UV light to start with so why bother swapping the LED over to the Maglite?

bizydad 14 years ago

Mostly just out of boredom...I get your point though, it does seem a little pointless now.  I must have really been looking for something to do that night...haha