Dive light from E-Bay -- Great buy!!!

[CuzzA]

I'm not sure if you're talking about the same torch that started this thread, but you don't rotate the head to to operate it... The magnetic switch is a ring mid-way along the length of the tube, but it has nothing do to with unscrewing the head or tail.

I've taken my 2 lights on ~30-40 dives now, including 1 to 130 ft, and they both just keep working with no problems. I'm curious if everyone commenting on this thread has bought the same dive light recommended back on the first page. There are quite a few chinese import dive lights. The endorsements by several of us were about a specific light from a specific vendor. Of course that vendor may have changed to a cheaper supplier by now <shrug>. YMMV, etc etc.

Yes, I did not read the whole thread. Just the most recent links which included the same light I bought. Ignore my post.

 

[spoolin01]

With two, it seems likely you're getting units with different circuitry, not just a bum unit. I'd return the ones you bought, and buy from someone who can confirm how the switch operates. I'd feel the same way, the way yours works is not as useful.

 

[Derelict]

So I got a 2nd light (one from China, one from US) and they appear to be exactly the same with the magnetic ring as described above. The main reason I bought this light was because I want it to always turn on to highest setting and neither of mine do this. Mine always go from 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% even if I put switch to off and wait 2 minutes to turn back on. Anyone have any idea if I can do anything to get it to be 100% every time it goes on from off position?

I don't think that's possible. Having just fixed a torch by soldering the positive to the circuit board, I had a good look at it. There's a row of diodes, I'm pretty sure 7 of them from memory - exactly the amount of light settings.

Went for this one instead http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=351218325481&alt=web

This just arrived today. Great construction, seems higher quality than the one in the OP. Simple sliding magnetic switch on it, without any fancy % systems or sos modes. Quite bright as well, much brighter than my Oceanic Arc 250.

 

[CuzzA]

That's the model I bought. Pretty much dummy proof. Slide forward = on/full intensity. Slide back = off. Anything in between will be determine the intensity by the driver. The one thing you have to watch out for, especially if you're carrying a spare, is inadvertently turning the light on and draining the battery. I put some inner tube over the switch to help prevent this from happening. Some kind of locking mechanism would be nice, but for $25, it's hard to complain.

 

[robstrash]

Looks like I might be ordering a 3rd light, thanks for the links

I'll probably give one to wife who will only use on night dive so on all the time and maybe give the other one away or reward somebody.

 

[CuzzA]

If you're into night diving you may want to pick up one of the UV model lights as well. Same light just a 395 uv blue led chip. Nothing quite like coral fluorescence.

 

[Derelict]

That's the model I bought. Pretty much dummy proof. Slide forward = on/full intensity. Slide back = off. Anything in between will be determine the intensity by the driver. The one thing you have to watch out for, especially if you're carrying a spare, is inadvertently turning the light on and draining the battery. I put some inner tube over the switch to help prevent this from happening. Some kind of locking mechanism would be nice, but for $25, it's hard to complain.

Have you found the intensity of the light can change? After a dive on Saturday, my light seemed to be completely dim. I showed the instructor (I was on a wreck course) and they said "nah, it was fine", but I shined it in my eyes and had no trouble. But then by the time the next dive rolled around, it was bright again? Weird stuff.

But yeah, I did accidentally hit the switch a bunch of times.

 

[CuzzA]

I have not noticed the intensity change without reason on mine. It obviously gets dimmer as the battery wears down. Aside from video lightning, I bought two of the these lights for my rig. The single battery short one and the double battery long one. The short one comes with me all the time either holstered or if night or cavern diving it goes on a soft handle grip I bought at DGX for $10. This way the intensity shouldn't be effected by inadvertently hitting the switch. The second double battery one would be my back up light with the thought process that if it inadvertently was turned on it has twice the battery power so if the short light were to die and the the long light was on it should still give me ample time to end my dive. The long one remains holstered during night or cavern dives in a $17 holster, again purchased at DGX.

LED lightning has a little more going on than a typical halogen light. There are more things to fail like the driver and magnetic switch and heat is still an issue. I don't know enough to say with certainty, but perhaps the light got hot and some kind of failsafe dimmed the light to prevent it from burning up? Perhaps you can test it fully charged and watch what it does through a whole battery discharge.

 

[FiddlerOnTheRoof]

I own 4 of these lights that I mentioned in my original post! I even use them in my helmet... Love them.

 

[Derelict]

I have not noticed the intensity change without reason on mine. It obviously gets dimmer as the battery wears down. Aside from video lightning, I bought two of the these lights for my rig. The single battery short one and the double battery long one. The short one comes with me all the time either holstered or if night or cavern diving it goes on a soft handle grip I bought at DGX for $10. This way the intensity shouldn't be effected by inadvertently hitting the switch. The second double battery one would be my back up light with the thought process that if it inadvertently was turned on it has twice the battery power so if the short light were to die and the the long light was on it should still give me ample time to end my dive. The long one remains holstered during night or cavern dives in a $17 holster, again purchased at DGX.

LED lightning has a little more going on than a typical halogen light. There are more things to fail like the driver and magnetic switch and heat is still an issue. I don't know enough to say with certainty, but perhaps the light got hot and some kind of failsafe dimmed the light to prevent it from burning up? Perhaps you can test it fully charged and watch what it does through a whole battery discharge.

I considered that with the heat. It's the most logical explanation. Decent torch if it does have that built in protection.