Which Umbilical Torch?

[JohnK]

If any one is buying umbilicals at the dive show, let me know - thats top of my list.

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Kate R

i really want an umbilical, and was thinking of that one after jack (digger) did his sales pitch on me.... but i'm not so sure now. i was looking at one that someone had at stoney today, and i really don't like the idea of wearing the battery pack on the waistband. i'm very small, and even if i was to attach the battery as low on the belt as possible the switch would still be in my armpit! i could have it upside-down on my tank and reach behind me, but it doesn't seem the best. so... anyone recommend a HID with the switch on the light-head, not too much over £300?

kate

Are you sure it was the two-hour Protious? The can is only about 250mm long. The big burn time ones have massive cans but they are strictly cave diving units IMHO. Moving the mounting strap to the top of the can you would have about 30mm of torch above your waste band.

One of the reasons it’s so cheap is because the switch is on the can. It’s a lot easier that way. I have my one cam banded on the side of the tank and inverted so I can reach back and switch it on. You could invert it on the waste band? It is so light in the water that it will not affect your trim but more importantly it is HID so you do not / shouldn’t switch it on and off. Kit up switch it on on the boat and switch it off when you de-kit. If I am doing deco I switch it off when I am on the 6m stop but apart from that I just leave it on the whole dive.

Andrew has his mounted in such a way he can’t switch it off. I switch it on for him just before we jump in and that’s it.

Be warned that on units with switches in the head the failure point is normally the switch. This was definitely true of my Custom Divers torch (the switch failed several times) and I have herd the same said about Green force.


ATB

Mark Chase

[Kate R]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

Are you sure it was the two-hour Protious? The can is only about 250mm long. The big burn time ones have massive cans but they are strictly cave diving units IMHO. Moving the mounting strap to the top of the can you would have about 30mm of torch above your waste band.

yep, it was definitely the same one. i just felt that hanging an 8-inch canister off my harness was a bit contrary to my aim off getting rid of as many dangly things as possible - however i positioned the thing it just seemed massive. it definitely seems to me that that the clutteriness of any clutter is inversely proportional to size of diver. i do take your point that i should only have to access the switch once during the dive - and if a switch on the lighthead would make the whole thing much more expensive i suppose i could live with it!

cheers, kate

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by Kate R

yep, it was definitely the same one. i just felt that hanging an 8-inch canister off my harness was a bit contrary to my aim off getting rid of as many dangly things as possible - however i positioned the thing it just seemed massive. it definitely seems to me that that the clutteriness of any clutter is inversely proportional to size of diver. i do take your point that i should only have to access the switch once during the dive - and if a switch on the lighthead would make the whole thing much more expensive i suppose i could live with it!

cheers, kate

If you can afford more then go for the same with a NIMH battery pack and can. It’s tiny in comparison to the lead acid one. The green force arrow is the perfect design of battery pack IMHO due to it being totally unobtrusive but the HID head is a house brick and quite expensive. I would go 50W halogen. HID is fantastic but 50 W halogen is still very very good and the cost of HID units is rock bottom due to the HID trend.

ATB

Mark Chase

[Digger]

Kate, I think you need to see the Stealthdive canister. There's a thread in the DIR section about it (10W HID options) and it is a bit of extra money, but it it tiny. And I mean tiny, and burns for a long time. And I mean a long time.

I've tried a few options, and you wouldn't notice a canister on your waist. The only reason not to do it is stages over that side, but I've been playing around a bit with things, and I think I can get it to work pretty good with them both sides and a canister on my waist.

If you want to play with how it would feel I have an empty canister the same size as the Pro 3 that we can stick a small block of lead in and a lighthead. I think you'll find it's not a problem. There are some pretty short DIR divers out there!!!

[Digger]

And kirky, I'm putting a group together. It's a bit open to who wants what and where from right now, but I'm more than happy to hear any ideas. We're looking at it being Halcyon at the moment just because of price and availability. PM me with what you're looking for, and we'll see what we can do to help.

[JohnK]

Thanks Digger. Andy Hayhurst confirmed the Sartek 10W HID should be available this week so I`v stumped for one. However, if things go T*Ts up then I will be looking to do business at the show. I`ll get back to you on this.

[Mr T.]

Gotta go SARTEK!!! They are the nads!

Here's the script:

SARTEK INFO

[Special K]

http://www.deepbluedive.sageweb.co.u...gue/pr1044.htm
I`ve got a greenforce 100w HID video light withe a spotter lense, at 10m you wouldn`t know it was on and all the numptys with their candles laugh as it cost £700 new.

But go a bit deeper in poor vis and the people of the nearest town get up for work `cos they think it`s morning. Awesome but massive head, I belt mount the battery(which holds the long hose down) but like they say it`s horses for courses, I wouldn`t recommend it because it doesn`t suit everyone. But if you want a light that is suitable for a group of 10 on a night dive then this is the one for you. Umbilical tucks into the harness when not used with a home made goodman(style) handle.
Burn time apparently 90 mins but not to be switched on and off rapidly being HID and dont leave it connected to battery in your bag it`ll burn the house down.
Divers warehouse have them.

[manganui222]

Sounds like Halcyon or Sartek then from feedback so far. Think that will have to be a bit of a dive show thing and then work out which one looks the best. Has anyone got any recommendations of ones that I should stay away from due to problems?