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

[PfcAJ]

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.

It’s also cool to be able to see on deco.

I have a couple of the 2w LMs. They’re adequate.

 

[tbone1004]

@rjack321 sump diving makes sense, though I'm surprised that came up in a DIR forum and also surprised you don't have different light choices for the dry portions

 

[JustinLoos1985]

Are there any good alternatives to scout lights?

I use 2 Light Monkey 3 watt LED

 

[SaltyWombat]

The Underwater Kinetics SL3 L2 has worked for me so far. Only $55. I'm told that Underwater Kinetics supplies the LED electronics to Halcyon, but I have not seen that officially confirmed.

The previous generation SL3 was prone to flooding, but Underwater Kinetics was great about replacing it. The current generation has apparently fixed those problems.

I also have a Scout. Its Delrin housing is nice, but not worth the extra money in my opinion.

SL3 eLED (L2)

 

[ls23]

Heser. I trust them to work no matter what and that's what is most important for me in a backup.

 

[loosenit2]

I have both the button and twist DGX 600s, I like them very much. I did an experiment with batteries. With the 18650 batteries included with them I got a 1:15 burn time. I did burn time with 2 ea CR123 batteries and I got a 2:43 burn time. The CR123 batteries are a higher voltage than the flashlight is rated for so that is a risk.

GUE still teaches the use of alkaline batteries as a part of their DIR standards. I believe they would say that putting CR123 batteries in the DGX600 with more voltage than rated for is an unacceptable risk.

thread on it.
DGX600 Burn time 18650 vs cr123a

 

[Lorenzoid]

. . . GUE still teaches the use of alkaline batteries as a part of their DIR standards. . . .

'tis true <sigh>. I was happily using DGX600s until I took Cave 1 and reluctantly bought Scouts. The DGX600s are at least as bright as the Scouts, and for Cave 1 dives tell me why I need 3 hours of burn time?

 

[ginti]

'tis true <sigh>. I was happily using DGX600s until I took Cave 1 and reluctantly bought Scouts. The DGX600s are at least as bright as the Scouts, and for Cave 1 dives tell me why I need 3 hours of burn time?

[This is my opinion]

If you dive shallow, you can reach 40/45minutes, sometimes even more before calling the dive. If you break your light at the end of the dive, and when coming back you have a series of delays, your average speed when coming back could be way less than the one for entering the cave. Althoug 3h seems very conservative, I believe that having more lights will make you feel more comfortable, if anything. In the end of the day, what would be the advantage of having a smaller light?

 

[Lorenzoid]

@ginti, are you advocating a 3-C cell light like the Scout? I’m just a bit exasperated feeling I could carry four nicely compact, bright DGX600s (two in my pocket) and not have spent as much money as I did on one Scout. The Scout is fine, but is it worth the money? I don’t think so. Yet, to avoid a lights discussion with my Cave 1 instructor, I went with the light that is unquestionably compliant with GUE standards.

 

[ginti]

@ginti, are you advocating a 3-C cell light like the Scout?

Yes, I am doing that. But when I said "it's my opinion" I wanted to highlight that, right now, I don't have much cave/tech experience, so my opinion is based on what I understand from courses - and not on real diving.

I’m just a bit exasperated feeling I could carry four nicely compact, bright DGX600s (two in my pocket) and not have spent as much money as I did on one Scout.

I would never keep my backup light in my pocket. I am not sure if I could deploy it as fast as I can with my backup lights on my harness. Furthermore, I have for sure other stuff in my pockets, and I do not like to keep my pockets full of things (because, if I need something, then I have to look for it)

The Scout is fine, but is it worth the money? I don’t think so.

I agree with you, too expensive. I have two lights: a second-hand scout, and a Scubapro nova (an old model, the owner of my LDS sold it to me for a good price). I think I spent in total 120€, which is less than a single halcyon scout.