Product Overview
A 51 LED ultraviolet inspection torch with a metal body, for finding pet urine contamination. The LEDs emit at 395 nm, in the UV-A band that makes the salts left behind by dried urine fluoresce.
It is the standard wavelength for multi-LED torches of this type, and it does the job it is bought for: finding and confirming contamination in a darkened room.
What 395 nm Means in Practice
395 nm sits close to the edge of visible light, so part of what the torch emits is visible purple. That purple competes with the fluorescence you are looking for, which is why this light needs a properly darkened room to work well.
A 365 nm lamp emits far less visible light and puts more of its energy in the range that makes urine fluoresce brightly, so it performs better in less-than-dark conditions. It also costs considerably more.
Judge a UV Light by the Fluorescence, Not the Glow
When comparing torches, judge by how well the target material fluoresces — not by how much purple light you can see. Visible purple is wasted energy, and a torch that looks impressively bright can be worse at the actual job.
A quick and slightly confronting test: take the light into the nearest restroom and switch it on.
Amber safety glasses (AX91D) filter the visible purple out, which raises contrast on exactly the marginal contamination this torch is used to find — and they protect your eyes.
Specifications
| Part number | AX173 |
|---|---|
| LEDs | 51 |
| Wavelength | 395 nm (UV-A) |
| Body | Metal |
Battery type, run time and beam distance are not published by the manufacturer. Rather than estimate them, we have left them out.
Operating Advice
- Darken the room properly. Curtains closed, lights off. This wavelength needs it.
- Mark contamination as you find it. It is invisible again the moment the lights go on.
- Wear amber glasses, and carry a second pair for the customer — what convinces a customer is seeing it themselves.
- Do not shine it into anyone's eyes.
- Remember other things fluoresce too. Confirm with a moisture meter or your nose before quoting a decontamination job on fluorescence alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does everything look purple?
Because 395 nm sits at the edge of visible light. The purple is wasted energy — amber glasses (AX91D) filter it out and raise the contrast.
Will it work with the lights on?
Poorly. It needs a darkened room. A 365 nm lamp handles daylight better and costs considerably more.
Does everything that glows mean urine?
No. Optical brighteners, some fibres and various residues fluoresce as well. Use it to find areas to check, then confirm.
Is a bigger, brighter torch better?
Not necessarily. Judge by how brightly the target fluoresces, not by how much purple you can see.
What else do I need for urine work?
A way to treat what you find — see the Injectimate (AC13) or a carpet syringe (AC14) for sub-surface application.
Further Reading
Using an ultraviolet light to find pet urine — a technician's guide: how to inspect a room properly, and what else fluoresces under UV.
Related Products
- Amber UV Safety Glasses (AX91D)
- SOS UV Black Light Kit (AX174SOSKIT)
- Injectimate Sub-Surface Injection System (AC13)
- Carpet Syringe 60ml (AC14)
What We See in the Field
The inspection sells the job. An operator who finds the contamination in front of the customer, with the customer wearing a pair of glasses, quotes a decontamination job rather than a carpet clean — and the customer understands why it costs what it costs.
