About Convoy Flashlights
The Convoy S2 is a white light flashlight with a CREE LED. Five different colors of white light temperature are available:
Option 1: XM-L2 1A 6500-7000K (U2-1A)
Option 2: XM-L2 3B 5000-5200K (T6-3B)
Option 3: XM-L2 4C 4300-4500K (T6-4C)
Option 4: XM-L2 5B 4000-4200K (T5-5B)
Option 5: XM-L2 7A 3000-3200K (T4-7A)
Convoy S2+ UV Flashlight
The manufacturer of the Convoy flashlights used the Convoy S2 white light flashlight as a host and changed the LED to a UV High performance 3 Watt Nichia NCSU 276A U365 nm LED. The name was changed to Convoy S2+ UV and Way Too Cool had some made with the brand name TORCIA 365. Both used a 3-Watt Nichia NCSU 276A U365 nm LED which is rated at 780 mW of radiant flux (UV output) when driven with 500mA forward current. However, in both the TORCIA 365nm, (and the Convoy S2+ UV) the radiant flux (UV output), is higher at approximately 1W, because the LED is driven at 700 mA with two AMC7135 LED Drivers.
In 2018, the manufacturer started using a LG brand of LED model number LEUVA33U70RL00. Both of the original Convoy S2+ UV flashlights have been superseded by the newer versions. The Grey one has 5 of the AMC 7135 drivers and the Black one has 3 of the AMC 7135 drivers. Each driver passes 350 mA of current which is where the 1050 mA and the 1750 mA come from. They both use the same LED - just one is driven harder.
S2 black, ZWB2 filter, 1050 mA drivers with LG LEUVA33W70RL00
This flashlight uses a LG LED 365 nm LED (LEUVA33U70RL00), that is driven with forward current of 1050 mA, so the wattage is about 3.8-4, and the radiant flux is approximately 2W. The other 1.8 watts of energy is dissipated as heat. This is approximately TWO TIMES the amount of UV as the original Convoy S2+ UV flashlight that had the Nichia LED. This LG LED is not only stronger, but it is more efficient than the original Nichia LED used in the first generation of Convoy S2+ UV flashlights.
The LED is from the bin that operates at 3.6 - 3.8 volts. The calculation for wattage is derived by 3.6 volts X 1.050 Amps = 3.78 watts, or 3.8 volts X 1.050 Amps = 3.99 watts. These black flashlights are currently labeled about 4 watts input / about 2 watts output. At about 18", the bright spot for the UV of the 4/2 version is about 5-6" in diameter.
S2 grey, ZWB2 filter, 1750 mA drivers with LG LEUVA33W70RL00
This flashlight uses the same LG LED 365 nm LED (LEUVA33U70RL00), that is driven forward current of 1750 mA, so the wattage is about 6, and the radiant flux is approximately 3W. The other 3 watts of energy is dissipated as heat. This is approximately THREE TIMES the amount of UV as the original Convoy S2+ flashlight that had the Nichia LED. This LED is being driven a little harder than the maximum amount that LG recommends. However, the LG representative told me that the value is very conservative because of the 5 year warranty and he knows of a customer who is driving the LEDs at three times the maximum recommended value.
The calculation for wattage is derived by 3.6 volts X 1.750 Amps = 6.3 watts, or 3.8 volts X 1.750 Amps = 6.65 watts. These Grey flashlights are currently labeled about 6 watts input / about 3 watts output. At about 18", the bright spot of the UV for the 6/3 version is about 8-10" in diameter. The reflector is slightly different, so the beam spreads more. At 18" the fluorescence is about the same intensity, but the area is a bigger diameter. For up close inspections, the 6/3 is simply stronger, but at a distance the 4/2 has a narrower beam so it shows a brighter fluorescent spot.
A Word About Filter Glass and White Light
If you look at the specification sheets for the LG LED, there is no mention of visible light and it does not show on the graph. However, we know that the LEDs do produce some visible light, so I compared Hoya 360 UV A band pass filter glass with ZWB2 filter glass in these flashlights and was not able to tell any difference between the two. Yes, a little visible light DOES get transmitted through the filter glass, but there was no noticeable difference that I could see between the amount of white light from the two filters.
Runtime and Output
The Convoy S2+ lights feature outstanding output, even during prolonged runtime. We conducted a comparison of the original Convoy light, our 4-watt S2+, and our 6-watt S2+. Each light was positioned such that the beam would shine into a tank full of tonic water. This helps to illustrate the distance of the beam. Interval photos were taken for a period of 30 minutes, during which time the lights ran continuously. As you can see from the photos, output from the 6-watt S2+ remains impressive, even after 30 minutes of continuous runtime (not recommended).
Seeing is believing!
Left to right: 1W light, 4W light, 6W light
Runtime: 01 minute
Runtime: 05 minutes
Runtime: 15 minutes
Runtime: 30 minutes