Info New Dive Rite lights - CX3 and ??

[PEDiver]

@stuartv I've found the LX20 is great for short, simple, non-DPV dives if you want to minimize how much gear you're using for that particular dive. I will usually bring it with me for ocean/wreck dives since I limit those to <90 minutes typically. For cave dives, especially if I'm scootering, I much prefer my canister light for a number of reasons.

I do usually pack the LX20 as a backup primary in case my canister light has an issue or my dive buddy has an issue with his light (which has happened). So in that case, it does have a use, but it's usually sitting in my car vs. in the water.

I think if you already have similar lights to the LX20, with similar burn times, I see no reason to spend the money on getting it. I got mine for a great deal used (almost like new) so I'm glad I bought it. But only ~10% of my dives does it see any real use.

I will probably swap out the glove-like handle for the updated soft goodman-style handle and see how it is. I just switch my light between my hands too much for it to be comfortable for the majority of dives I do.

 

[stuartv]

I will probably swap out the glove-like handle for the updated soft goodman-style handle and see how it is. I just switch my light between my hands too much for it to be comfortable for the majority of dives I do.

I tried soft handles, including the UWLD one that is similar to the new DR one that comes with the FX40. I didn't like any of them and changed all my lights that have handles to hard handles. I like that much better. Much quicker/easier to take the light off my left hand quickly and put it back on quickly. Still seems plenty secure to me. Especially with a bungee loop to go around my wrist if I want, like the UWLD soft handle offers.

 

[macado]

@stuartv yeah I am also curious to see the FX40 in person too. I own two BigBlue TL5200P and two DiveRite LX20+ lights. My wife and I use them mostly for sidemount to avoid a canister. I actually use them a lot more more for wreck diving now to avoid having two 20Ah canisters on my belt since I don't need the runtime of the larger canisters lights for most wreck diving.

I would actually tolerate a slightly larger handheld light with a better burntime. I typically run them on medium or low because I need more than 3-4 hours.

I actually think handhelds are perfect for ocean diving since I rarely need more than 2 hours of burntime in the ocean/Great Lakes and my waist already has a 20ah canister for heating. I usually turn my light off on deco. I do miss the beam of my 35W HID lights when I use my handhelds, however. :-(

 

[stuartv]

@stuartv yeah I am also curious to see the FX40 in person too. I own two BigBlue TL5200P and two DiveRite LX20+ lights. My wife and I use them mostly for sidemount to avoid a canister. I actually use them a lot more more for wreck diving now to avoid having two 20Ah canisters on my belt since I don't need the runtime of the larger canisters lights for most wreck diving.

I would actually tolerate a slightly larger handheld light with a better burntime. I typically run them on medium or low because I need more than 3-4 hours.

I actually think handhelds are perfect for ocean diving since I rarely need more than 2 hours of burntime in the ocean/Great Lakes and my waist already has a 20ah canister for heating. I usually turn my light off on deco. I do miss the beam of my 35W HID lights when I use my handhelds, however. :-(

What are you doing where you use a cordless and need more than 3-4 hours?

The only time I need that kind of burn time is in caves. And for cave diving, I'm taking an UWLD can light.

I totally agree on lake/ocean diving and not needing more than 2 hours of burn time.

 

[macado]

What are you doing where you use a cordless and need more than 3-4 hours?

The only time I need that kind of burn time is in caves. And for cave diving, I'm taking an UWLD can light.

I totally agree on lake/ocean diving and not needing more than 2 hours of burn time.

Usually Mexico cave diving. If I am planning a dive longer than 4 hours then I'd probably lower brightness even more or just use a canister light. I've also stuffed an LX20+ in my pocket as another backup a few times.

Most of my Mexico dives are in 3-4 hour range so I can usually get away with running the BigBlue on TL5200P or 2nd or 3rd setting. I should probably just suck it up and use a canister for these dives but I like the simplity of a handheld.

 

[inquis]

The LX20+ seems like a really great light - for a very niche use case. OC cave diving for cave divers that are not doing really long dives. For ocean dives and long cave dives, I feel like I would just never use the LX20+.

I feel the opposite. Lasting more than 4.5 hrs on med, the LX20+ has handled my needs in the caves. (Perhaps by "really long", you mean 5+ hrs?) I wish I had an UWLD, but as I am not on a DPV, I do not need the greater reach, assuming water clarity even allows for the brighter beam. The shorter runtimes of ocean dives are right up its alley, and the particulates seldom allow for the max brightness of a big boy light anyway.

That said, I definitely feel the heft of the LX20+ (and would presumably the FX40). The much lighter head of a can light would be great, but $$$. However, I'm happy to give an UWLD an extended evaluation of you want to lend me yours.

 

[stuartv]

I feel the opposite. Lasting more than 4.5 hrs on med, the LX20+ has handled my needs in the caves. (Perhaps by "really long", you mean 5+ hrs?) I wish I had an UWLD, but as I am not on a DPV, I do not need the greater reach, assuming water clarity even allows for the brighter beam. The shorter runtimes of ocean dives are right up its alley, and the particulates seldom allow for the max brightness of a big boy light anyway.

That said, I definitely feel the heft of the LX20+ (and would presumably the FX40). The much lighter head of a can light would be great, but $$$. However, I'm happy to give an UWLD an extended evaluation of you want to lend me yours.

Lasting 4.5 hours means I would not plan a cave dive with it for longer than 3 hours. 1.5 hours in, 1.5 hours out, and 1.5 hours reserve. So, "really long" would be more than 3 hours or so.

I plan light battery or DPV battery usage just like I plan gas. If everything goes per the plan, I will finish the dive with loads of unused reserve. Running out of battery (on my light or DPV, on a cave dive) is like running out of gas - it is not an option. The only time I should go to a backup light is if the primary actually breaks. If I go to a backup because I ran out of battery, I would feel like I screwed up similarly to running out of gas. "Similarly". Obviously, running out of battery on a primary light is not the same level of screw-up as running out of gas - but I choose to plan it that way, regardless. I feel MUCH better in a cave when all of my consumables are at the level of "way more than I will need".

If I already had an LX20+, I would probably use it for those cave dives that are 3 hours or less. But, I have done (so far) cave dives as long as 4 hours. For that, I would not take an LX20+ and is why I have a can light.

And once having the can light, I just can't see spending for the LX20+ (or an FX40, either, most likely). If I need something more than one of my cordless lights, I'll just use a can light, since I needed it anyway and already have it.

 

[inquis]

And once having the can light, I just can't see spending for the LX20+ (or an FX40, either, most likely).

Totally agree. It's the initial buy-in that's hard to swallow, and not just the light: Three-ish hours is a LOT of kicking, so I'm back to my earlier plan that a can-light and DPV purchase will likely go hand-in-hand for me.

 

[stuartv]

Totally agree. It's the initial buy-in that's hard to swallow, and not just the light: Three-ish hours is a LOT of kicking, so I'm back to my earlier plan that a can-light and DPV purchase will likely go hand-in-hand for me.

I have not (yet) taken a DPV into a cave. I'm still trying to get enough cave dives/hours logged to be able to take a Cave DPV class. After that, I will probably NEVER go into a cave again without a scooter. 'cause yeah, 4 hours of kicking in Ginnie was a LOT. Well, not that I had to really kick on the way out... but still...

 

[batdiver_82]

looking forward to see the specs of the fx40 - seems like a great light for diving in murky and silty lakes... hope it will be constant output...