Halcyon / OMS/ LMNO Lights - Why isn't the switch on the light head?

[Mo2vation]

Maybe its on the canister to keep it out of harm's way? But a protector would do fine for that...or maybe a locking on / off device.

The switch is a potential flood point - surely its no better to flood a battery than it is to flood a light head, is it?

Switches aren't heavy or big - that ballast on the 18W is bigger than the switch.

Does the switch need to break the circuit closer to the battery for some reason? If it breaks the circuit before the head, does it make a difference?

It wouldn't change the design of the cord would it? Still a 2 conductor cord would work.

Am I just mental - no soup for a year...

I'm confident the brightstars at Halcyon have dismissed this simple change for a reason. I just can't figure out why. On my maiden voyage the other day. I was thinking it sure would be more convienent to have the switch on the head. You know, ehere I could, oh, I dunno SEE IT. of course its a binary issue - light on, switch on... but not if something happened...

I'm confident this has been addressed here - and I didn't search for the answer before posting (bad Ken...) but c'mon...what's the scoop, troop?

Ken

 

[-BlueHole-]

don't know why, but the hartenberger has the switch on the head, and also the fa&mi has it...

 

[Cave Diver]

I would think the switch would be less prone to vibration, etc. on a stationary lid than on the head. I have seen a few HID lights that are activated by twisting the head, and they always seemed to have problems...

 

[runvus4]

There are a lot of reasons for the switch to not be on the light head, and a lot of reasons to put it there as well. It's entirely subjective as to if it is "good" or not.

I don't know the exact design criteria that anyone else may have used to decide where to put the light switch, but to be honest, on a cannister light, there isn't much to be gained by placing a switch on the light head. Generally you turn on the light and leave it on. You don't need to access the switch again till the dive is over.

 

[ColdH20diving]

I was asking myself that same question when I bought my HID cannister light. After reading the instructions which advised leaving the light on for the duration of the dive it became a non-issue.

 

[Divegurl20]

The switch is positioned on the back beacuse the company would then have to water-proof the switch. This task isn't easy, and would cost more money! So unless you want to spend more $$$............ I know that PATCO makes their switches built right into the handle, and they are the same price as Sartek!

 

[Northeastwrecks]

I certainly agree that it would be very convenient.

However, is it necessary. I turn the light on at the beginning of the dive and off when I get back on the boat.

I do this because (1) I use the light to stay in contact with my buddy; and (2) its not good the an HID bulb to be cycled too rapidly or too often.