Sea and Sea YS-D2 vs YS$D3

[jbandre]

My observation, not statistically verified, is that I do not want to own a YS strobe. OOMV.

Yeah...I take amazon reviews with a grain of salt but generally from what I'm reading people have similar experiences with the at least the D2s flooding - I've found some people saying the D3s have fixed (so far) and that the D3s are all made in Japan instead of some being made in China...

 

[hilljo88]

After many years of use I had a YSD2J element burn out. I was told there are no replacement elements. So I now have 2 YSD3s (happy with them), one working backup YSD2J, and one paperweight.

 

[Searcaigh]

I still have one D2J, but use two D3s

I had one D3 fail on me a month after getting it, and my buddy had one fail and flood two weeks ago when we were in Romblon.

The key issue is Eneloop Black and Eneloop Pro batteries that Backscatter recommend NOT TO USE in strobes and there is a warning on the Panasonic website about this.

• Do not use in water-proof flashlights or in any device with an airtight battery compartment. Doing so may result in explosions or leaks that may cause personal injury.

In my buddy's case she was using "old" white Eneloops and one exploded as soon as she switched the strobe on at 5m closing out the blue O-ring.

I've been using IKEA LADDA rechargeable AAs now for over a year now, made by Panasonic, and very happy with them, but will probably limit their use to a couple of years before retiring them to above water use.

 

[jbarry_underwater]

I still have one D2J, but use two D3s

I had one D3 fail on me a month after getting it, and my buddy had one fail and flood two weeks ago when we were in Romblon.

The key issue is Eneloop Black and Eneloop Pro batteries that Backscatter recommend NOT TO USE in strobes and there is a warning on the Panasonic website about this.

• Do not use in water-proof flashlights or in any device with an airtight battery compartment. Doing so may result in explosions or leaks that may cause personal injury.

In my buddy's case she was using "old" white Eneloops and one exploded as soon as she switched the strobe on at 5m closing out the blue O-ring.

I've been using IKEA LADDA rechargeable AAs now for over a year now, made by Panasonic, and very happy with them, but will probably limit their use to a couple of years before retiring them to above water use.

My understanding was that the eneloops are enclosed/protected batteries that would not explode. At least the white ones. That’s what a friend of mine who works in optics recommends in night vision optics to avoid corrosion or leakage. I remember reading not to use the black ones but I thought it was for other reasons like voltage. At the end of the day if you have a leak you are mixing electricity and water so I doubt any battery is 100% free of issue or potential explosion. If there is a proven better option than the eneloops I’d be interested to see

 

[Nemrod]

Yeah...I take amazon reviews with a grain of salt but generally from what I'm reading people have similar experiences with the at least the D2s flooding - I've found some people saying the D3s have fixed (so far) and that the D3s are all made in Japan instead of some being made in China...

I was not referring to Amazon reviews but my experiences and observations of divers using YS strobes and just a few weeks ago I was treated to the sight of water coming out of a D3 battery compartment. There is always the human factor involved, a wild card that is difficult to factor in.