OP
greatlakeswreckdiver
Contributor
OK - sorry for the delays everyone but we finally had our dive light shoot out. Not as many lights as I originally thought, but a great cross section with some older technologies mixed in with the new LED technology. No doubt - LEDs are the way to go, but that doesn't mean you should scrap the old one. You can see some of the data here
My overall thoughts after using the light on a few dives and dealing with Ano:
1. Light is well built
2. Personally I like the form factor. May not be for all, but I find it easy to hold, good size and weight, and easy to aim. I tether it with a snap/bungie and usually don't unsnap unless looking inside an opening.
3. Like that it does not need to be opened to charge. There is a charging port on the back that is covered with a metal screw port cover. They even provide a coin to use although a standard nickel or quarter would work just as well.
4. Beam is bright with a large hot spot and wider halo allowing peripheral view. Took this light on day dives at 90 - 100' where I normally don't bring lights and was surprised how much more detail I could see. It is bright even during the day. Night dives you can use the low or medium settings and still see extremely well.
5. Kit comes with light, charger, spare o-rings (although I could not see where the ones provided would be used...) and a coin for opening the charge port.
6. Ano Industries is very easy to work with. Have to allow for the time difference with responses, but I found them very responsive and willing to help
Now the cons:
1. Since there are no US distributors, any warranty issues the light needs to be sent back to China.
2. I had a pre-production model and found the battery to be direct connected in. Was told the mass production models will have a removable battery that can be field replaceable.
3. Light stays constant brightness throughout the burn time. Although this is a plus, it gives no indication of battery condition so once the batteries are low, the light just shuts off. I have been told the mass production models will strobe the light for a short period when the pack is getting low so the user can switch to a backup light or to low power to conserve the battery.
4. Twice I had charged the light, let it sit in the off position for a week and then took it on a dive in 50 - 55 degree F water. The light turned off in about 15 - 17 minutes of high power operation. When I charge and dive right away - I was able to get well over an hour of burn on high. Believe there is an issue with the pack or electronics. I have returned this light and will be getting a mass production model next month.
Ano produces a number of torches including land and sea models. I have only tried the HL-2400 but can say from the build quality, I would not have an issue with trying other lights from them. Hopefully there will be some US distributors that will pick up some of these lines so we can see them first hand and have local access to sales and repair. It is a leap of fail buying direct from China. Sometimes it really pays off.
My overall thoughts after using the light on a few dives and dealing with Ano:
1. Light is well built
2. Personally I like the form factor. May not be for all, but I find it easy to hold, good size and weight, and easy to aim. I tether it with a snap/bungie and usually don't unsnap unless looking inside an opening.
3. Like that it does not need to be opened to charge. There is a charging port on the back that is covered with a metal screw port cover. They even provide a coin to use although a standard nickel or quarter would work just as well.
4. Beam is bright with a large hot spot and wider halo allowing peripheral view. Took this light on day dives at 90 - 100' where I normally don't bring lights and was surprised how much more detail I could see. It is bright even during the day. Night dives you can use the low or medium settings and still see extremely well.
5. Kit comes with light, charger, spare o-rings (although I could not see where the ones provided would be used...) and a coin for opening the charge port.
6. Ano Industries is very easy to work with. Have to allow for the time difference with responses, but I found them very responsive and willing to help
Now the cons:
1. Since there are no US distributors, any warranty issues the light needs to be sent back to China.
2. I had a pre-production model and found the battery to be direct connected in. Was told the mass production models will have a removable battery that can be field replaceable.
3. Light stays constant brightness throughout the burn time. Although this is a plus, it gives no indication of battery condition so once the batteries are low, the light just shuts off. I have been told the mass production models will strobe the light for a short period when the pack is getting low so the user can switch to a backup light or to low power to conserve the battery.
4. Twice I had charged the light, let it sit in the off position for a week and then took it on a dive in 50 - 55 degree F water. The light turned off in about 15 - 17 minutes of high power operation. When I charge and dive right away - I was able to get well over an hour of burn on high. Believe there is an issue with the pack or electronics. I have returned this light and will be getting a mass production model next month.
Ano produces a number of torches including land and sea models. I have only tried the HL-2400 but can say from the build quality, I would not have an issue with trying other lights from them. Hopefully there will be some US distributors that will pick up some of these lines so we can see them first hand and have local access to sales and repair. It is a leap of fail buying direct from China. Sometimes it really pays off.
