UltraFire Cree XR-E dive light

[gsk3]

Has anyone ever used this light?
UltraFire W200 200-Meter Waterproof Diver's Cree P4-WC 176-Lumen LED Flashlight (3*AA)

UltraFire has a good rep for cheap but decent LED-based lights. Not sure it's cheap enough to be tempting for dive use, but perhaps it's worth it. Thoughts?

Edit: From the pictures, it looks like it's triple o-ring sealed. If that's the case it's more tempting.

 

[jtivat]

Has anyone ever used this light?
UltraFire W200 200-Meter Waterproof Diver's Cree P4-WC 176-Lumen LED Flashlight (3*AA)

UltraFire has a good rep for cheap but decent LED-based lights. Not sure it's cheap enough to be tempting for dive use, but perhaps it's worth it. Thoughts?

Edit: From the pictures, it looks like it's triple o-ring sealed. If that's the case it's more tempting.

I am very surprised but it looks nice.

 

[Packhorse]

The 3x AA primary cells really put me off this light. but some may prefer it that way. I doubt it will supply full brightness for long though. And definitely 2.5 hours unless using lithium primarys.

The Cree P4 LED has 2 more efficient siblings, the Q5 and R2. Pity it does not use these instead.

It could make a good host to modify. Use 3 AA sized LI Ion rechargeables, Q5 or R2 LED and upgraded driver to suit.

 

[gsk3]

The 3x AA primary cells really put me off this light. but some may prefer it that way. I doubt it will supply full brightness for long though. And definitely 2.5 hours unless using lithium primarys.

The Cree P4 LED has 2 more efficient siblings, the Q5 and R2. Pity it does not use these instead.

It could make a good host to modify. Use 3 AA sized LI Ion rechargeables, Q5 or R2 LED and upgraded driver to suit.

Yeah but by the time you're buying this for $40+shipping plus a $20 LED, it hardly seems worth it ;-). If this was $30 I'd buy it in a minute. At $40, I think I'm waiting to see if someone's tried it first.

 

[Packhorse]

Its free shipping and Q5 LEDs go for $6.

Id buy one but I have a dozen dive lights here at the moment and another 2 dozen on there way.

Click here to help me off load a few.

 

[Katolix]

I'm courious, is that light fully made of aluminium? If so, I'd take one and change the LED to Cree XR-E R2 (got couple recently from DX) with driving it up to 750 mA. But in this case the light itself should serve as a goog heat sink.
As for 3 AA batteries, it's better to use alcaline 1.5V to povide at least 1V excess of supplying voltage to that chinese driver.

PS: don't use Li-ion or any other accumulators in a back-up light . Usual disposable battaries only

 

[Hatul]

I also don't like that it cannot use rechargeable batteries. I also disagree that you should not use rechargeable batteries in a backup light. The new hybrid NiMH are very dependable, and by charging before diving you're assured of a full charge.

Adam

 

[Packhorse]

PS: don't use Li-ion or any other accumulators in a back-up light . Usual disposable battaries only

Why not?
Li Ion cells have a very very low self discharge rate.
The latest Eneloop NiMh cells also have a low self discharge rate.


I should point out neither of these are suitable for this light.

 

[Katolix]

Why not?
Li Ion cells have a very very low self discharge rate.
The latest Eneloop NiMh cells also have a low self discharge rate.


I should point out neither of these are suitable for this light.

I don't like rechargeable Ni-Mg or whatever chemistry accumulators in backup light just because I want to keep it as simple as possible. One can easily forget to charge it before trip or dive...

I strongly do not recommend Li-Ion accumulators for backup light. First of all, one must use protected Li-ion cell, although it's quite expencive - could be more expensive then the light itself. But usually people tend to buy cheap cells like TrustFire form DX, which I consider suicide kit for cave of wreck diver. Anyway, if one uses even highly durable and expencive Li-Ion cells, its protection circuit couldn't be more durable then merely contacts of disposable battaries.
The downside of all other rechargeble accumulators I mentioned earlier also applies here.

I found out that this light does not contain LED driver - directly drived LED. I'm staring like it. The simplier backup light, the better. Of course, it will shorten the life of the LED, but who cares?

So, I still would like somebody who got this light to share his/her opinion if the LED's heat is well dissipated though the light's body.

 

[buddhasummer]

From the pictures it looks identical to the Tilly Tec W30 (300 lumen 3xAAs)...although I assume its not in fact the same given the 162 Euro price tag on the Tilly Tec W30...

upon closer inspection ok maybe not identical but pretty close.