If you can't afford a cannister light...

[Andrew Richardson]

... what light would you buy?

I have a LED UK D4 & Q40. D4 is big to carry around. Q40 is (was) great attached to the mask strap but I heard the complaints about blinding your buddy. More important is that I flooded by Q40 & killed the LED bulb.

I like the look of an OMS light which can be worn on the back of the hand (or as a head light).

What other suggestions to do you have?

 

[TSandM]

Look at the Salvo handheld 10W HID. You can get a soft Goodman-type handle for it. They run in the $400 range, I believe, which is competitive with the UK Light Cannon rechargeable. But the Salvo light is much smaller, and the ability to put it on your hand means you can use your hand for other things during the dive.

 

[nwbrewer]

Build your own.

If the Q40 was enough light, then a simple maglite conversion using the magilte LED bulb will work great for you.

If it sounds like something you'd like to try, PM me and I can give you part numbers and some instructions. Total cost is less then $150. With just the maglite LED drop in it's not an HID, but it's definitely better than the Q40.

PVC pipe ~$5
Latches ~$20
Maglite ~$20
Cable/Glands/Connectors/switch ~$10
Acrylic/HDPE for lid and lense ~$5
Batteries/charger/Battery holder ~$60
Misc(glue o-rings) ~$15

Total - ~$135

Jake

 

[UaVaj]

Very nice setup with the Mag Lite. I could consider that. I would take you up on that part number and instructions.

Also can you elaborate on the performance. Is this setup bright enough for a primary light in clearer tropical water?

 

[MikeRD03]

Well done nwbrewer! Great idea for buliding a solid lamp with less money!!

This setup with a mag reflector is DEFINITLY better than a Q40 ;-)

greets,
MikeRD03

 

[nwbrewer]

I have two pretty much identical lights, one using this LED - LED-Replacement;TerraLUX TLE-6EX MiniStar5 EXTREME LED Replacement bulb for your 4,5 or 6 C/D Maglite with the maglite reflector, and one using this LED - LED-Replacement;TerraLUX TLE-100 MaxCharger5 for your Mag Charger Flashlight.

Either one is good enough for doing night dives in puget sound, so I'd say you'd be in good shape in the water off florida.

UaJaj, Pm me your e-mail address and I'll send you the part number document.

Jake

 

[MikeRD03]

hi nwbrewer,

Both modules are up-to-date regarding their emitters. That should do the job. Unfortunaly the most commercial light lack of this type of LED. They mostly are using the old und dimm luxeon 3W parts.
But for some german dark waters even modern 3W LEDs are a little too weak. You need at least three of them for good light. But with good sight I like diving with just a 3W LED Backup I made.. ;-)

greets,
MikeRD03

 

[nwbrewer]

hi nwbrewer,

Both modules are up-to-date regarding their emitters. That should do the job. Unfortunaly the most commercial light lack of this type of LED. They mostly are using the old und dimm luxeon 3W parts.
But for some german dark waters even modern 3W LEDs are a little too weak. You need at least three of them for good light. But with good sight I like diving with just a 3W LED Backup I made.. ;-)

greets,
MikeRD03

Thanks mike. I had though about upgrading to this - but I think I can make one for less - http://www.terraluxcorp.com/documents/20071210finalTLE-300PressReleasewPhoto.pdf

What do you think? I was thinking I could make basically the same thing with a puck buck, 3 Cree LED's, and 3 small reflectors attached to a heat sink. Be about half the cost.

Jake

 

[MikeRD03]

hi nwbrewer,

You CERTAINLY can do better. Take three of the best binned Cree XR-E leds, grab three of this little guys Sandwich Shoppe and put all together in an alu housing for best cooling. You will go home brighter like every teralux modul.
Able to make your own housing? Go with the the bigger McR-27XR and you are the king of the coast ;-) Expect over 22.000 lux - more like the most HID21..

greets
MikeRD03

 

[spectrum]

Is this setup bright enough for a primary light in clearer tropical water?

What isn't? Usually less in more there.