I am a bit undecided about the use of 4 AA batteries to power this device, versus a rechargeable battery product. The one advantage of using the AA batteries is that they are readily available. The user manual states not to use rechargeable batteries in the device. Not sure why that’s prohibited, because that would solve the issue. I use rechargeable batteries in many devices, charging them in their respective chargers (of course not expecting to charge them inside those devices). I think, after some contemplation, that having a rechargeable battery is a better choice, if the corded operation was also an option.
That is another feature of this product. You can operate it using the provided usb cord. Note that it does not include a usb power plug. I imagine a power bank could be used to power the device, thus making portability a viable option (other than using AA batteries).
This is a powerful UV-C device, with 4W. As such, it’s important to use caution when operating it. They do state in Safety Information: “Never shine the light on your skin or eyes or on animals.” After all, using the UV-C light to kill gems, you certainly don’t want to cause injury to yourself. And, this brings me to a concerning aspect of this product.
I own some compact, portable UV-C mini wands ( 1W and 2W varieties). They have a smaller projection scope/range than this device. Those UV-C mini wands included special sunglasses to protect the eyes, with instructions/warning to wear the glasses while operating the mini-wands. I would think that this much larger wand, with multiples of increased lamp size and exposure, that the risk would be even greater. But, no such protective eyewear is included. My advice to anyone that purchases this wand, to purchase protective glasses. (For example: https://www.amazon.com/Edge-Eyewear-DZ116-G2-Safety-Glasses/dp/B00OYIMUDE, which protects from 99.9% of UVA, UVB and UVC rays)
There are more powerful UV wands on the market, now. But, this 4W wand is plenty powerful to deal with most home users. I was fine with my 2W mini wands, but it was primarily for smaller objects/spaces. This full sized wand can handle larger tasks, with less exposure time.
I think this is a very effective and useful UVC wand. I think the 4 AA batteries is not much of an issue. I think the absence of protective eyewear is a ‘glaring’ error. In fact, I didn’t even test the device, until I put on the protective sunglasses that I use with the 2W UVC mini wands.
The wand matches the description and images in the product details. Attached are photos to show real world images of the product, with a ruler for size reference. Including a UVC testing card is a smart decision.
Overall, this is a very good, effective device. I think the necessity of the sunglasses to protect the users eyes is overlooked, and that dings the rating. As such, this UVC wand earns a 4 – 4.25 star rating, with a cautioned high level recommendation. The caution is to be wise and purchase proper protective eyewear.