Torch help please!

[8u88les]

I have had a Ikelite PCa Halogen for quite a while and have been quite pleased with it but the 6xAA's only seem to last for 2 dives and the light is a bit yellowish. I was considering buying the PCa LED since it produces whiter light and batteries last longer. Is this type as bright for as long as the halogen? Then i heard that next month Ikelite is putting out the Gamma (also LED) but uses 2xCR123 lithium batteries and is same lumens and even longer burn time. Maybe i should wait for that? These small cheap torches are enough for me but i would like one that stays bright for longer before dropping off rather than one that gradually drops off in brightness from the start. Also, do the LEDs shine as 'far(?)' as the halogen?

 

[Herb-alaska]

The cr 123's batteries at least in the us can get really expensive quick and a good rechargeable is really hard to find Two lights I found I like really well is the morph from hog edge at 109 us or the dive right in scuba shorty. The shorty uses 3 aa batteries and the morph uses a single 18650 lithium. They both have a acceptable burn time of about 90 mins and the batteries are easy to get a second set for The morph is a little wider of a beam and the shorty has a better punch. You will not be disappointed in either light

 

[mrokern]

Tip: best place that I've found for the 123 batteries is law enforcement supply shops. I have a couple of smaller duty lights that use them and buy bulk packs.

 

[buddhasummer]

With lights you often, but not always, get what you pay for. Have a look at the Hollis lights, maybe a little more than your Ikes but run on AAA or AA nice burn time and reasonable output.

Diving Backup Lights - Dive Gear Express

Variable focus lights can be more useful as they are more versatile i.e narrow beam for day or low vis use and wider beam for night diving and/or clear water.

 

[ScubaGuy87]

Battery Junction has CR123s for about 1$ each.

CR123A Batteries 3V Photo Lithium Batteries CR123 DL123A CR123A K123A EL123A VL123 SF123A CR17345 23-155 2 PL123A 123A lithium photo batteries flashlight battery 3v CR123A Battery 123A Battery L123A K123A EL123A VL123 SF123A CR17345 23-155 2 PL123A 1

 

[ams511]

LEDs are more energy efficient than a halogen bulb, so the burn time is longer with a given set of batteries. The technology is still in the early stages so they get better every year. They get brighter and burn longer. Two lights that people seem to like on SB is the Dive Right In lights and the Piranha (Dorcy) lights. There are also threads on some of the eBay lights but the reviews seem to be mixed. Some people seem to have very good luck with them while others don't.

 

[8u88les]

thanks guys!
i think i will go for a torch that uses lithiums. 2 lithiums doesnt cost more than 6 AA's and burn time seems longer. dont care much about battery cost anyway since only do about dozen night dives a year.

bulb type? led is whiter and lasts longer for a given set of batteries, but is there a disadvantage? does it shine as far? is 200 lumens led same as 200 lumens halogen? does one drop off in brightness steadily while the other remains bright even as batteries get weaker, before finally droping off in brightness?

 

[Instructor_Tom]

big thumbs up on the Hollis lights. I personally own the LED3 (200 lumen), LED5 ( 260 lumen) and the LED15 ( 1000 lumen) canister light.


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[Chilly_Dipper]

With lights you often, but not always, get what you pay for..

Well that's good since dive lights tend to be exorbitantly priced

That being said you are correct that if you are moving off the standard path there are allot of pitfalls to be found.

Personally I went through about 4 different lights/sources for lights before finding an great one. And for the record it ran me about $130 of handhelds before I sourced the ones I now sell. I get flack from friends that went out and bought a green force/halcyon/light monkey/ insert your $600+name brand but the truth is even after getting 4 duds I am still significantly ahead cash wise and I have a light that levels their much more expensive ones both in burn time and intensity.

The truth is no matter what anyone says a dive light is a FLASHLIGHT the internal workings are the same as the $5 that you get at your local Costco/Walmart etc... The only thing that makes a dive light different from those lights is the pressure tight housing. And I'll let you in on a little secret... it doesn't take more then $50 in material and time to create a water tight housing for the average dive light.

Anyhow I've vented enough. I just wanted to say there are plenty of options for lights out there that don't require a significant cash investment ESPECIALLY if you are a recreational level diver. You just have to do your research (and most of it isn't at your local dive shop).

 

[Quero]

The 123's are hard to find in SE Asia. As far as I know, only Dive Supply here on Phuket has them around here, and they may be equally hard to get in other countries, so the last time I went to the US, I bought two sets of rechargeable 123's and the charger from an online supplier so that I don't have to worry about it any more for my one Tovatec light. I also use rechargeable AAAs in my two Aquastar torches. I've just bought a couple of fairly inexpensive torches from Diving Solutions in Singapore. These tiny lights have a clever hand-mount strap that you can buy, and they already come with two proprietary rechargeable batteries and a charger for each unit. I can't say much about burn time since I've just got them, but they claim a 4-hour duration. I did dive with a borrowed one recently and it lasted through two dives with no problem. I like that they come with two battery packs so that for a dive day you just need the freshly charged one in the torch and the backup to change out to after a couple of dives.