Info New Dive Rite lights - CX3 and ??

[macado]

So the full specs were finally released on their website.

FX40 Handheld Primary Light - Dive Rite | Equipment for Serious Divers

The Dive Rite FX40 Handheld Primary Light delivers a powerful 2400-lumen beam in a compact, meticulously engineered package that’s ready to take on your most challenging dives. Its tightly focused 4-degree beam cuts through darkness and murky conditions with pinpoint precision and allows for...

diverite.com

It says 3 21700 6000mah (replaceable) instead of 4. I assume that means user replaceable cells but unclear. It also lists a battery indicator LED.

90 minutes on Turbo
240 minutes on High
600 minutes on Medium
48 hours on Low

The LX20+ is no longer listed on their website so I assume that means it was discontinued although I am not sure if that is fact.

I may pick one up. I was hoping for longer than 240 minutes on the 2nd level but I guess that makes sense given it's 3x21700 and not 4x21700.

 

[PEDiver]

Yeah, the "replaceable" comment is still a little vague - almost everything is replaceable by the factory...

Edit: I sent Dive Rite a note to clarify that. Will see if I get a response.

 

[stuartv]

Interesting.

No mention of it being Constant Output.

And I suppose the 3 x 21700 batteries could be done like Big Blue does. I.e. 3 cells assembled into a pack, so you would need to buy a replacement pack from DR, rather than being able to charge/replace individual cells.

 

[stuartv]

I have obtained some info.

The FX40:

- Is Constant Output. (they should really plaster that all over the product page. Or at least mention it once.

- The batteries are 3 X individual 21700 cells, not made into any kind of proprietary pack. So, they *can* be changed by the user if an individual cell dies - or they all get old and have lost capacity. But, changing them is a process that was not designed or intended to be done between dives or anything like that. Changing them has the risk of losing small parts (e.g. if you were trying to do it on a boat or at a dive site). And, if you do it too often, you'll be at risk for eventually wearing out/stripping some threaded holes.

They could have designed it like the LX20, where there is a cartridge (if you will) holding the cells, to make it really easy to change them out. But, the light body would have had to be even fatter to accommodate that and they decided the tradeoff should go in favor of smaller size to the light body.

I would call it user repairable. Not "readily user-swappable". No problem if you have average skills with normal hand tools. If you are Hand Tool Special Needs, take it to the shop where you bought it and have them swap in new cells.

- The cells themselves are 6000 mAh. Not the more common 5000.

- It takes a well-timed double-tap to turn the light on. They tested it a bunch with things like putting one in a bag full of gear and shaking it for a while and other things. They were never able to get it to turn on by accident. I will still be a bit reluctant to trust that and am hoping they come out with some kind of simple snap-on plastic cover (like my UWLD light heads have) to protect the on/off button when you have it stored (or clipped to your harness).

I think 4 hours (240 minutes) of burntime at a constant 1200 lumens, with a 4 degree beam is going to be very nice. Having 3 x 21700 cells means it's not going to be as fat/bulky as I originally thought (when I was expecting 4 cells).

I have added the FX40 to my order where I already had ordered a CX3. I also ordered a hard Goodman handle, with a thumb loop, and a QRM striker plate for the CX3.

I strongly prefer a hard Goodman to a soft handle. I think it could be handy to have lights where the primary and backup will both snap onto the hard handle, so if my primary goes out, I can stow it without that bulky handle on it, then attach my backup to the hard handle, so I don't have to actually hold the light itself in my hand while I'm using it.

All in all, this seems like it should be a very nice light package to have and use for every kind of open water diving (including long tech dives), and including cave dives with up to a max of 160 minutes planned run time (80 minutes in, 80 out, and 80 reserve). The QRM thing is okay by itself, but it seems like it will really shine (pun intended lol) when you have multiple lights with QRM that can take advantage of shared parts, like the hard and soft Goodman handles.

 

[macado]

I have obtained some info.

The FX40:

- Is Constant Output. (they should really plaster that all over the product page. Or at least mention it once.

- The batteries are 3 X individual 21700 cells, not made into any kind of proprietary pack. So, they *can* be changed by the user if an individual cell dies - or they all get old and have lost capacity. But, changing them is a process that was not designed or intended to be done between dives or anything like that. Changing them has the risk of losing small parts (e.g. if you were trying to do it on a boat or at a dive site). And, if you do it too often, you'll be at risk for eventually wearing out/stripping some threaded holes.

They could have designed it like the LX20, where there is a cartridge (if you will) holding the cells, to make it really easy to change them out. But, the light body would have had to be even fatter to accommodate that and they decided the tradeoff should go in favor of smaller size to the light body.

I would call it user repairable. Not "readily user-swappable". No problem if you have average skills with normal hand tools. If you are Hand Tool Special Needs, take it to the shop where you bought it and have them swap in new cells.

- The cells themselves are 6000 mAh. Not the more common 5000.

- It takes a well-timed double-tap to turn the light on. They tested it a bunch with things like putting one in a bag full of gear and shaking it for a while and other things. They were never able to get it to turn on by accident. I will still be a bit reluctant to trust that and am hoping they come out with some kind of simple snap-on plastic cover (like my UWLD light heads have) to protect the on/off button when you have it stored (or clipped to your harness).

I think 4 hours (240 minutes) of burntime at a constant 1200 lumens, with a 4 degree beam is going to be very nice. Having 3 x 21700 cells means it's not going to be as fat/bulky as I originally thought (when I was expecting 4 cells).

I have added the FX40 to my order where I already had ordered a CX3. I also ordered a hard Goodman handle, with a thumb loop, and a QRM striker plate for the CX3.

I strongly prefer a hard Goodman to a soft handle. I think it could be handy to have lights where the primary and backup will both snap onto the hard handle, so if my primary goes out, I can stow it without that bulky handle on it, then attach my backup to the hard handle, so I don't have to actually hold the light itself in my hand while I'm using it.

All in all, this seems like it should be a very nice light package to have and use for every kind of open water diving (including long tech dives), and including cave dives with up to a max of 160 minutes planned run time (80 minutes in, 80 out, and 80 reserve). The QRM thing is okay by itself, but it seems like it will really shine (pun intended lol) when you have multiple lights with QRM that can take advantage of shared parts, like the hard and soft Goodman handles.

Thanks for checking with Dive Rite on some things! I'll get one on order shortly; Your post helped convince me. I was originally sold on 4 x 21700 for better runtime but you are right that 3 x 21700 will be smaller, especially without the battery cartridge (and it's plague of issues) like the LX20+

100% agree on hard goodman handle.

I assume 6000mAh cells may eventually become more common but they only came out recently (about a year ago?) Right now I do think ~6000mah is largest theoretical power density of an 217000 cell without much more advancement (it used to be 5000mah) but it's certainly possible we could see ~6500mah cells in the future which would mean squeezing even more runtime out of this.

 

[stuartv]

Thanks for checking with Dive Rite on some things! I'll get one on order shortly; Your post helped convince me. I was originally sold on 4 x 21700 for better runtime but you are right that 3 x 21700 will be smaller, especially without the battery cartridge (and it's plague of issues) like the LX20+

100% agree on hard goodman handle.

I assume 6000mAh cells may eventually become more common but they only came out recently (about a year ago?) Right now I do think ~6000mah is largest theoretical power density of an 217000 cell without much more advancement (it used to be 5000mah) but it's certainly possible we could see ~6500mah cells in the future which would mean squeezing even more runtime out of this.

Yeah, could be. But, I'm not too worried about an extra 8% capacity. If they're out when I eventually need to replace the original batteries, I'll get them. Definitely wouldn't bother to replace good 6000's just for 6500's. If 6000 isn't enough for what I want to do, I'll take a can light... lol!

And, yeah, 20 Ah for 4 x 21700 (5000 mAh each) vs 18 Ah for 3 x 21700 seems like a perfectly fine tradeoff for the slimmer size. My BB with 4 x 21700 is just .... FAT. (I wonder if BB will upgrade the battery pack for that to 6000 mAh cells... hmmmmm..... lol a 20% increase in that light would be pretty sweet....)

 

[PEDiver]

The LX20+ is no longer listed on their website so I assume that means it was discontinued although I am not sure if that is fact.

Was just perusing DGX during work (which happens all too often ) and it looks like they have discounted the LX20+ pretty significantly. Definitely seems like it will be discontinued altogether going forward.

 

[inquis]

Was just perusing DGX during work (which happens all too often ) and it looks like they have discounted the LX20+ pretty significantly. Definitely seems like it will be discontinued altogether going forward.

They also added their own canister light -- a phenomenal deal and cheaper than the (reduced) LX20+.

 

[PEDiver]

They also added their own canister light -- a phenomenal deal and cheaper than the (reduced) LX20+.

Yeah, specs aren't bad either. Seems like a good competitor to the OrchTorch canister lights if you're looking for something that won't break the bank. DGX also discounted the EX35 so I'm wondering if Dive Rite is looking to release another canister light option.

 

[macado]

The DGX canister looks like it is a re-branded OrcaTorch. Not sure if OrcaTorch is actually the OEM here. I've never really paid much attention to their lights but I thought about buying the DGX canister as a travel light.