Torch or no Torch

[gopbroek]

I won't get in the water without a light. I keep it clipped and stowed to my shoulder harness. I consider it, like a buoy, to be basic safety equipment. Plus I spend most of my time either looking in nooks and holes in the wall or exploring the inner reaches of the reef. I use my light a lot and carry a second backup in my bag. At night I carry both.
Use lights with 18650 batteries (produced in mass for the millions of inhalers) which are cheap and the rechargers are everywhere.

 

[dflaher]

I have a light with 18650 batteries (Li-Ion) also. Do you bring the batteries and recharger with you or buy them at destination?

 

[gopbroek]

I have a light with 18650 batteries (Li-Ion) also. Do you bring the batteries and recharger with you or buy them at destination?

I bring them with me in my carry-on. Most lights like the DGX 600 come with a small light weight charger. I top charge them every night after diving and keep a spare battery in my dry bag.

 

[lowwall]

I bring them with me in my carry-on. Most lights like the DGX 600 come with a small light weight charger. I top charge them every night after diving and keep a spare battery in my dry bag.

Same here. Both my Volador and DGX came with nearly identical little chargers that hook up to a micro usb cord. I bring both to have a backup.

If you really want to avoid bringing the charger blocks, you can buy 18650 batteries with a built-in micro usb port. Nitecore is the largest producer currently.

Don't be surprised by how long all of these take to recharge over a micro USB. Figure something like 8 hours for a full charge. You can get plug in 1 or even 2 Amp chargers that will dramatically cut charging time, but at the expense of shortening the life of your battery.

 

[ggunn]

Don't be surprised by how long all of these take to recharge over a micro USB. Figure something like 8 hours for a full charge. You can get plug in 1 or even 2 Amp chargers that will dramatically cut charging time, but at the expense of shortening the life of your battery.

That's one reason I use alkaline batteries.

 

[inquis]

Recreational dive perspective...
Day: 18650 torch clipped to the shoulder ring, spare battery in my room or drybag for quick turnaround at lunch. A second torch usually lent to my buddy, otherwise it comes with me on the other shoulder (mainly because why not?).
Night: Sola 1200 (rechargeable) and 18650 torch as backup. Possibly a second 18650 with me, depending on buddy's memory.
Everything recharged each night. I have an XTAR 4x charger I bring. Storage charge mode on the evening before flying out. (I just don't recharge the Sola. One hour night dive leaves it about at storage level / half full.)

 

[inquis]

2 Amp chargers that will dramatically cut charging time, but at the expense of shortening the life of your battery

Rechargeable cells are *designed* to charge at a rate equal to their capacity: the so called "1 C" rate. For example, 2A for a 2000 mAh capacity. I don't believe babying the charge at (0.1C or 0.2C) will increase lifetime but don't have a source to back that up at the moment.

Storage charge has by far the greatest impact on battery life. The worst thing you can do is leave them on a charger or stored at full charge.

Also realize the capacities of many rechargeable 18650 batteries are overstated. A legit 5000 mAh 18650 doesn't exist at the moment.

 

[ontdiver]

It was not often, but every time I dove without a small light during the day I regretted it.

 

[gopbroek]

Rechargeable cells are *designed* to charge at a rate equal to their capacity: the so called "1 C" rate. For example, 2A for a 2000 mAh capacity. I don't believe babying the charge at (0.1C or 0.2C) will increase lifetime but don't have a source to back that up at the moment.

Storage charge has by far the greatest impact on battery life. The worst thing you can do is leave them on a charger or stored at full charge.

Also realize the capacities of many rechargeable 18650 batteries are overstated. A legit 5000 mAh 18650 doesn't exist at the moment.

Millions are used in Vapers. Needless to say there are a lot of false capacity claims and junk batteries out there. Do a little homework before purchasing.

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

I always carry a torch. Literally and figuratively speaking.