Courtesy of Scuba Gear Reports
Tryton Gear - A Bright Idea
This year we have seen some truly innovative gear that could be called Game Changers, and the new DryLite is a perfect example. If you made a wish list of all the things you would want in a pocket dive light it might look something like this:
bright beam, long burn time, guaranteed not to flood, small and compact, good depth rating, rechargeable, and of course make it inexpensive. A few of these features would be nice so imagine our surprise when the DryLite hit the mark on all.
The DryLite gets its name because its completely sealed at the factory. It is depth tested to 300-feet and will never leak because you never take it apart. It uses the Tryton Sync Wireless charging base that recharges the Lithium Ion battery right through the nylon housing. A flashing LED indicates charging is in progress and a steady LED signals when the battery is full. A low battery warning lets you know when you have less than 20-percent charge remaining.
A magnetic switch turns the light on and off with a rotating ring located right where your fingers naturally grip the light. A 3W High Efficiency LED is housed in an aluminum light head for extra durability and can even be used as a "tank banger" signal device. The DryLite comes with a padded case that includes the charging base, power cord for both 120V AC and 12V mobile sources, and a lanyard. Whether youre in the car, on the boat, or at home youll have the right plug to charge the light.
The DryLite specs show the output to be 135 Lumens with an 8-degree beam, and a color temperature of 5000K. While this may or may not impress you, what does it really mean? We employed a practical test using a photographers light meter to measure the brightness of the light at a specific distance both at the center of the beam and 12-inches out in all directions. In a darkened room we set the DryLite 6-feet away from a white surface and measured how bright the light was expressed in Exposure Value (EV). Immediately we could see how the specs translate in the real world. The 135 Lumen output registered 9.1 EV at the center of the beam, which is as bright as many large primary lights we have tested. We could also see that the 8-degree beam is very focused making a ten-inch circle of bright white light. The light meter showed a reading of 3.9 EV at 12 from center and there was still a usable halo of light 22 out before falling off. We found the size of the hot spot to be similar to other lights with the same size lens but surprisingly bright.
After fully charging our test unit it was time to get the DryLite wet. We set the DryLite in a test tank to check the stated burn time of 5-hours. We checked with Tryton and found the light can be used above or below the water without concern of overheating but we tested it in the water. The output is supposed to remain consistent throughout the burn time due to a constant current circuit. Using the light meter we found the center spot was still reading 8.9EV at the 4-hour mark, a minimal reduction and still very bright. The low battery warning kicked in at the 5-hour mark, blinking once every minute. It remained on for another 90 minutes with gradually diminishing output for a total burn time of 6.5-hours. While the last hour of burn time was not near the intensity of the fully charged light it did give enough illumination to complete a dive, read gauges and signal at the surface. It takes 10 to 12 hours to fully recharge the DryLite but with over 5-hours of burn time you should have plenty of light for a day or night of diving. The Lithium Ion battery should last between 3000 and 5000 charging cycles (a lifetime of diving for most) at which time the DryLite can be returned for recycling and you will receive 20-percent off a replacement light. The DryLite comes with a one-year warranty.
With light in hand we spent the day diving our favorite sites peering into cracks and crevices seeing how the DryLite works. A quarter turn of the green ring brings the DryLite to life. The focused beam got to the back of the ledges and overhangs with ease.The light is about 5½ inches long by 1¼ wide at the light head, and fits nicely in the hand. Its sized just right to fit any BC pocket.
Bottom Line
We took a hard look at the DryLite and tested its performance. We found it lived up to its stated claims and exceeded our expectations. We found ourselves using the DryLite for everyday use around the boat and shop and it was always ready for a dive. The DryLite is bright for its compact size; its durable and completely water proof. It comes with all the accessories you need at a reasonable price and a low cost of ownership since you dont buy batteries. Now that Tryton has the technology down we cant wait to see a larger version in the primary light category.
$149.99 (Special introductory price $129.99 until June 1, 2013)
trytongear.com
Link to Scuba Gear Reports: TRYTON DRYLITE
Tryton Gear - A Bright Idea
This year we have seen some truly innovative gear that could be called Game Changers, and the new DryLite is a perfect example. If you made a wish list of all the things you would want in a pocket dive light it might look something like this:
bright beam, long burn time, guaranteed not to flood, small and compact, good depth rating, rechargeable, and of course make it inexpensive. A few of these features would be nice so imagine our surprise when the DryLite hit the mark on all.
A magnetic switch turns the light on and off with a rotating ring located right where your fingers naturally grip the light. A 3W High Efficiency LED is housed in an aluminum light head for extra durability and can even be used as a "tank banger" signal device. The DryLite comes with a padded case that includes the charging base, power cord for both 120V AC and 12V mobile sources, and a lanyard. Whether youre in the car, on the boat, or at home youll have the right plug to charge the light.
The DryLite specs show the output to be 135 Lumens with an 8-degree beam, and a color temperature of 5000K. While this may or may not impress you, what does it really mean? We employed a practical test using a photographers light meter to measure the brightness of the light at a specific distance both at the center of the beam and 12-inches out in all directions. In a darkened room we set the DryLite 6-feet away from a white surface and measured how bright the light was expressed in Exposure Value (EV). Immediately we could see how the specs translate in the real world. The 135 Lumen output registered 9.1 EV at the center of the beam, which is as bright as many large primary lights we have tested. We could also see that the 8-degree beam is very focused making a ten-inch circle of bright white light. The light meter showed a reading of 3.9 EV at 12 from center and there was still a usable halo of light 22 out before falling off. We found the size of the hot spot to be similar to other lights with the same size lens but surprisingly bright.
With light in hand we spent the day diving our favorite sites peering into cracks and crevices seeing how the DryLite works. A quarter turn of the green ring brings the DryLite to life. The focused beam got to the back of the ledges and overhangs with ease.The light is about 5½ inches long by 1¼ wide at the light head, and fits nicely in the hand. Its sized just right to fit any BC pocket.
Bottom Line
We took a hard look at the DryLite and tested its performance. We found it lived up to its stated claims and exceeded our expectations. We found ourselves using the DryLite for everyday use around the boat and shop and it was always ready for a dive. The DryLite is bright for its compact size; its durable and completely water proof. It comes with all the accessories you need at a reasonable price and a low cost of ownership since you dont buy batteries. Now that Tryton has the technology down we cant wait to see a larger version in the primary light category.
$149.99 (Special introductory price $129.99 until June 1, 2013)
trytongear.com
Link to Scuba Gear Reports: TRYTON DRYLITE
