DIR- Generic What are people using for backup lights now?

[Adobo]

Pressing the light head was taught in Fundies as part of how to setup and check gear. GUE-EDGE is a simple checklist, not an in-depth set of directions for each procedure.

I'll do the fundies refresher after I do the open water refresher. (Or maybe I need to do 25-50 dives in between. )

 

[Ouvea]

DGX800 lights have a very bright and tight beam. They are brighter than any of the Halcyon Scout or Lightmonkey 3W lights that I have seen. At $70.00, they cost a fraction of either alternatives. Never had any of my DGX800 lights activate underwater. Can't same the same of the Hollis 3C or the LightMonkey 3W lights that I previously owned.

I've moved away from disposable batteries and just prefer to use high quality 18650 batteries.

 

[rjack321]

DGX800 lights have a very bright and tight beam. They are brighter than any of the Halcyon Scout or Lightmonkey 3W lights that I have seen. At $70.00, they cost a fraction of either alternatives. Never had any of my DGX800 lights activate underwater. Can't same the same of the Hollis 3C or the LightMonkey 3W lights that I previously owned.

I've moved away from disposable batteries and just prefer to use high quality 18650 batteries.

They are nice, but dont have nearly enough burn time for my backup needs.

I am mostly using the light monkey 2w but not for dives that look remotely DIR lol. One of them is actually mounted on the right side of my goodman handle.

 

[Germie]

I use Brinyte DIV-01's from Ali Express. They work well. And yes, I trust them also as mainlight in caves. Are sold in Europe under other brandnames. Work with 3 C-cells (also sometimes with 18650, but I prefer C-cells).

 

[happy-diver]

I used to set my "twisties" to come on at certain depths, or try to, what else you gunna do

Orcatorch D520 Black buy and offers on Scubastore

 

[PullYourselfTogetherMan]

Brinyte DIV-01 or the Securitylng XM02. Best bang for your buck.

 

[tbone1004]

They are nice, but dont have nearly enough burn time for my backup needs.

I am mostly using the light monkey 2w but not for dives that look remotely DIR lol. One of them is actually mounted on the right side of my goodman handle.

wtf are you doing where you need that much burn time from a backup light? 90 minutes is ~4500ft kicking which is a wicked long way back and you should have a backup primary for that anyway since you should also be on a scooter if you're that far back and using backup lights for any length of time is a righteous PITA unless you have a goodman sock *which is why one of the oxycheq ones lives in my pocket*

Here's the way I look at it. The DGX600 lights are $60 each, so $150 with a high quality charger. The Scouts are $225 for the big ones so if you buy a pair of DGX600's you have $300 left over. The LX20+ is twice as bright as the handhelds. It's 8x as bright as the 3C Scouts with the new LED module, and 4x as bright if you need 4 hours of burn time and put it on medium. Has the advantage of serving as a primary for smaller dives and is a much better backup light for long exits. Easy justification for an extra $200. Flare Handheld is $850 instead of $500 and is basically the same as the LX20+ and it's nicer with the foldy goodman instead of the soft one, but for a backup primary I wouldn't spend the extra money.

 

[Ulfhedinn]

They are nice, but dont have nearly enough burn time for my backup needs.

I am mostly using the light monkey 2w but not for dives that look remotely DIR lol. One of them is actually mounted on the right side of my goodman handle.

I use them too. I have had them close to 9 years and no issues what so ever.

What burn time do you get out of them and what brand of CR123's do you run? If you don't mind me asking?

 

[rjack321]

wtf are you doing where you need that much burn time from a backup light? 90 minutes is ~4500ft kicking which is a wicked long way back and you should have a backup primary for that anyway since you should also be on a scooter if you're that far back and using backup lights for any length of time is a righteous PITA unless you have a goodman sock *which is why one of the oxycheq ones lives in my pocket*

It can be 6 to 9 hours to exit some cave systems, possibly more if someone trips, falls is injured and you need to get help. Its not all underwater. Backup primaries are not helpful, too many eggs in one basket. Its better to have a bunch of small lightweight backups you can share, stash or leave clipped to BOs to assist in people's exit. A 60-90min burntime just means you are going to need to find or use another light, and another light, and yet another light before you're out.

Let me know how to get a scooter down 300m of SRT, or haul through 2km of dry cave, or finally how anyone can scooter in a 1 x 2m sump...

Like I said, not a DIR dive. The LM 2W is nearly ideal as it is:

• small,
• weigh almost nothing,
• has a 5hr burntime,
• the CR123 batteries don't self discharge and have high energy density,
• they don't overheat in air no matter how long they are run dry,
• the twist head is pretty much immune to turning on accidentally even if you stash them in a pocket or clip them off to a BO laying in the gravel and something presses on the side where a button would be.

My choice is not really relevant to this subforum though.

 

[rjack321]

What burn time do you get out of them and what brand of CR123's do you run? If you don't mind me asking?

I have gotten at least 4 hours from energizers, but they were not fresh and I have not burn tested them beyond that. My experience with LM rated burntimes is they are pretty conservative.