OrcaTorch D630 Issues with Flooding

[stuartv]

I have 2 top of the line canister lights. And yet I rarely use them.

I feel like can lights are (slightly) more complex to carry and use. I do not like having a cord to get tangled up unless I NEED a cord - i.e. unless I am doing a dive that needs the burn time that a can light provides.

For dives that do not need that burn time, I feel like it is safer to use a light that does not have a cord.

And if I AM doing a dive that needs the burn time of a can light, then I want to be carrying a light that I have reason to believe is high quality and highly reliable.

If the dive needs a serious light, don't be cheap on the purchase of the light. If the dive doesn't need a can light, don't use one.

Just my opinion.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

I have 2 top of the line canister lights. And yet I rarely use them.

I feel like can lights are (slightly) more complex to carry and use. I do not like having a cord to get tangled up unless I NEED a cord - i.e. unless I am doing a dive that needs the burn time that a can light provides.

For dives that do not need that burn time, I feel like it is safer to use a light that does not have a cord.

And if I AM doing a dive that needs the burn time of a can light, then I want to be carrying a light that I have reason to believe is high quality and highly reliable.

If the dive needs a serious light, don't be cheap on the purchase of the light. If the dive doesn't need a can light, don't use one.

Just my opinion.

Well... I am lazy. I like taking a small sun that's there when I need it and if not I'll get 3+ dives before I need to charge. In my type of diving I never really run it on high, so I end up getting a lot out of one charge.

I know that Orcatorch isn't revered as a "super high quality" light, but that's slightly debatable depending on perspective. It is not UWLD by a long stretch. I think these type of lights are better / brighter than what people were taking into caves 15+ years ago..?

I don't think it's the end all be all, but it's so hard to stomach a light that's 3x the money of this light when this one just works. My buddy has taken his to 400' and it still worked as a light.

With all the one's I've sold I've had one that needed any warranty and OT stood behind it.

And obviously I'm slightly biased as I sell Orcatorch. There are better lights. It's up to the end user how much they'd like to throw at it. I'm still digging my Seaskin drysuit next to my buddy's Santi. I think the majority of people out there that need a can light for technical diving would be fine with a D630. When the time comes that they need to upgrade they'll have all the mechanics down of a can light and a much better understanding what to get.. and places like UWLD will have whatever latest greatest technology is out there.

Cheers @stuartv! Merry Christmas my friend.

 

[stuartv]

Well... I am lazy. I like taking a small sun that's there when I need it and if not I'll get 3+ dives before I need to charge. In my type of diving I never really run it on high, so I end up getting a lot out of one charge.

I know that Orcatorch isn't revered as a "super high quality" light, but that's slightly debatable depending on perspective. It is not UWLD by a long stretch. I think these type of lights are better / brighter than what people were taking into caves 15+ years ago..?

I don't think it's the end all be all, but it's so hard to stomach a light that's 3x the money of this light when this one just works. My buddy has taken his to 400' and it still worked as a light.

With all the one's I've sold I've had one that needed any warranty and OT stood behind it.

And obviously I'm slightly biased as I sell Orcatorch. There are better lights. It's up to the end user how much they'd like to throw at it. I'm still digging my Seaskin drysuit next to my buddy's Santi. I think the majority of people out there that need a can light for technical diving would be fine with a D630. When the time comes that they need to upgrade they'll have all the mechanics down of a can light and a much better understanding what to get.. and places like UWLD will have whatever latest greatest technology is out there.

Cheers @stuartv! Merry Christmas my friend.

LOL!! I thought I might get a response from you.

If it makes you feel any better, I rate OrcaTorch and Light Monkey on the same level for quality. Actually, I think I know less people with LM lights and they have, combined, had way more repairs than the people I know with OT....

I still don't like cords, though.

Merry Christmas to you, too! And all the rest of you filthy animals!

 

[rob.mwpropane]

LOL!! I thought I might get a response from you.

If it makes you feel any better, I rate OrcaTorch and Light Monkey on the same level for quality. Actually, I think I know less people with LM lights and they have, combined, had way more repairs than the people I know with OT....

I still don't like cords, though.

Merry Christmas to you, too! And all the rest of you filthy animals!

Absolutely. I thinks its awesome you rate them along with LM. I don't have any experience with LM or UWLD personally. As a matter of fact, the D630 is the only can light that I've ever owned. I have seen a lot of people with LM, and I've seen quite a few of them fail in one way or another and need work. No idea how old they were and I know they've had quite a few revisions over the years (so I'm not talking bad about LM).

To me the Orcatorch is the perfect can light for someone who thinks they need a can light before actually needing a serious can light (if that makes sense). I don't know if I would take it 6000 feet back into a cave, but I'm also nowhere near going 6000 feet into a cave. When I do get to that point I hope I'll have a better understanding what I want from a can light while actually having experience with one.

I know we say all the time "buy once, cry once" but that doesn't really apply to lights.. at least not anymore. I wouldn't get the cheapest thing on Ebay but Xtar, Orcatorch, DGX all make great entry level lights that can be used as backups or lent out to newer divers when the time comes. For most people diving I doubt they'll ever need anything more than that. I have buddies that are well beyond my technical diving that are perfectly happy with the D630, so I know it'll suit me for at least a few more years.

And by then who knows what technology will be out!

 

[LFMarm]

Plenty of people diving them in Mexico. I cannot compare to more expensive lights in terms of durability but I think it’s good enough for most cave divers. I have not seen nor tired the new can light from DGX but it seems to have the same battery pack of the Orcatorch. If I would be diving a few miles into a cave, I would likely bring 2 of those.