Newest Intova-Compact, push button

[Hatul]

How about using a a 18650 lithium battery instead of aaa batteries,that would double run time with about the same voltage. I use them in other flashlights and think they are the perfect power source for small flashlights.

I agree. Over NiMH AAA the 18650 would triple the run time, and they're inexpensive on dealextreme. The 18650 is great for dive lights.

Adam

 

[CompuDude]

I agree. Over NiMH AAA the 18650 would triple the run time, and they're inexpensive on dealextreme. The 18650 is great for dive lights.

Adam

See, I disagree. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose... but I use these lights as a backup to my primary, so "inexpensive and readily available" are key features. AA is more handy than AAA because my camera gear uses AA so I already have many of them in a good NiMH rechargeable format, and AA has much more juice than AAA.

I would prefer AA to AAA, but I'll gladly take AAA over 18650 any day. I can buy them at any corner store if needed, and meanwhile, all my AA charging equipment can also charge AAA batteries, so it's not all lost.

Now, figure out a way to make a light that can run off either AA or 18650's, depending on the user's preference, and you REALLY have a crowd-pleaser!

But meanwhile, the fact that these lights use regular batteries like AAA, rather than exotic and often expensive (if you can find them locally in a pinch) cr123a's, is precisely the reason I bought these lights instead of the previous ones.

Still, I look forward to seeing what new innovations come forth next.

 

[Hatul]

I only use rechargeables, and an hour of run time for a backup light is enough to come up in case the primary fails. But a backup light is also an emergency light if something goes wrong and you need a light at the surface that may need to last for some time. For this reason a light powered by 3 AAA batteries just does not cut it.

Adam

 

[CompuDude]

I only use rechargeables, and an hour of run time for a backup light is enough to come up in case the primary fails. But a backup light is also an emergency light if something goes wrong and you need a light at the surface that may need to last for some time. For this reason a light powered by 3 AAA batteries just does not cut it.

Adam

Did you read the posts above?

The 3 AAA batteries give a solid 2 hours of burn time, according to burn tests. Not enough for cave diving or serious wreck penetration, but plenty for NDL open water diving. The light would last considerably longer on the lower power setting, and longer still on the strobe setting.

I only use rechargeables as well... except in backup lights. I'll be using Eneloops in this light, but in my primary things-have-gone-REALLY-bad backup, I only use alkalines for 100% reliability.

 

[divinginn]

I think you would be lucky to get a hour of burn time with rechargeable AAA batteries at full power.

 

[merxlin]

I think you would be lucky to get a hour of burn time with rechargeable AAA batteries at full power.

Opinions are great but:

I didn't get a chance to take pictures, but I did do a battery test since burn time seems to be what people cared about most.

Total time was right at 2.5 hours.

It's a little hard to know what the usable time was. The discharge curve for a AAA is very different than the CR123. With the Nova Wide, you get fairly constant output until it falls off a cliff at the end.

With the AAA the output was very good through about 1 1/2 hours. Between 1 1/2 and 2 hours I started to see a noticeable decrease in the output, but I would still consider it usable.

At 2 hours, I would say the hot spot was about the same as the brightness of the Nova Wide. Because of the smaller beam, the total light was less.

Between 2 and 2 1/2 hours the output dropped more much more quickly. I would not have wanted to use the light much past the 2 hour point.

For me, this is all the performance I need for a pocket light. This is a replacement for 4AA and 6AA halogen lights, and that was all the time I was getting from them.

I'll get pictures of the beam compared to the Nova Wide when I get back next weeks trip.

Practical testing would suggest otherwise.

 

[84turboz]

For those still interested in trying out this light, B&H has the Intova Compact Torches back in stock, and the same original price ($37.95).

Intova | Compact Torch | ICOM | B&H Photo Video

Order placed!

Got mine in today. Must say, I think I'm going to like it. Small, BRIGHT, & easy to handle.
I was surprised by the brightness even at 30%. Will probably replace the lanyard though.

 

[CompuDude]

Got mine in today. Must say, I think I'm going to like it. Small, BRIGHT, & easy to handle.
I was surprised by the brightness even at 30%. Will probably replace the lanyard though.

Mine came in today also. Looks great!

I already replaced the lanyard with a standard cave knot and bolt snap. Be sure to smooth the sharp edges on the lanyard hole. A little more working space would have been nice, also...

 

[Saqqara]

I just took my Intova Compact on a trip that included two days diving in the Red Sea; no night dives and only four dives total, but it stood up to travel, operated easily and didn't flood.

It came in very handy for general use, camping in the Jordanian desert, exploring crusader castles and such. The question used to be should I pack a bulky, heavy dive light for an international dive trip? Now I have a light I might pack even when I do not plan to dive at all.

Don't forget this should be a six hour light on the low power setting, though we haven't done an independent test of that yet.

I intend this as a minimalist primary, backed up by an even smaller minimalist secondary. It appears I misplaced my little princeton secondary on this trip, so I think I will try the snap sights 1 watt luxeon torch for $5.89 shipped on amazon next time I'm trying to make up a minimum order for free shipping.

 

[Zung]

I bought 2 Intova Compact's for my kids and we like them very much: small, light and bright. Run them on NiMh, and a charge lasts over 6-7 dives (not night dives, but hole poking, pointing, etc.).

Sadly, 1 of them flooded on the 8th dive; o-ring seem to be OK, maybe it's the push button. It's a slow leak, and we didn't realize it until dive #9, by then the danage is done.