Advice on Torches?

[Mark Chase]

Originally Posted by nigelH

Humm... I have one and I'm unconvinced.
We know the expensive snag with the focusable 10W
is it just that we don't know know the snags with the others yet?

No I'm not pleased with mine. Two dives and I'm on the second bulb (80 quid) and supplying me the wrong parts to mend it meant I spent another 80 quid in excess baggage taking it to Finland and back where I couldn't use it.

nigelH

???? Bulbs for the fixed head 10w are £65?? I am pointing out the merits of the fixed head unit I haven’t tried the focusable head and I here it is fragile. The unit also weighs not a lot (1.6kg) so I cant figure out the bit about access baggage??

ATB

Mark Chase

[tom]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

If you can afford it go for the 10W HID umbilical from Halcyon.

What's the charge time like on these? (I assume this is the 'entry level' model with the 2hr burn time)

I'm coming closer to convincing myself I can afford one...

[Garf]

I use the halycon proteus3 as my primary. Tis a fine fine torch indeed.

[Druid]

I have a Kowalski 620.

Very well engineered bit of kit.
Nice bright light (20W), with a 50% setting to conserve power
Made of aluminium, so it will take some abuse without breaking.
Slightly negative buoyancy
No need to open it to recharge
Comes in a range of colours. Mine's in techie black so it's harder to see if I drop it, or put it down on a RIB

Bad points - takes a while to recharge, though there is a 620 Speed which has an 80 min recharge time.
If you need more power, the 1250 has a 50W bulb

Costs about £200

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

???? Bulbs for the fixed head 10w are £65??

That was the refurb kit with some spare O-rings

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

I am pointing out the merits of the fixed head unit I haven’t tried the focusable head and I here it is fragile.

Wind in the wrong dirction from narrow beam to get a wide beam and you are winding the bulb into the glass and it breaks. Winding with you left hand since the thing is on a Goodman handle why should you choose one way not the other. There is no warning in the manual that I ever saw. Just no end stop.

Originally Posted by Mark Chase

The unit also weighs not a lot (1.6kg) so I cant figure out the bit about access baggage??

I have the bigger battery pack and naturally I took the charger as well. BA want over 8 quid a kilo excess baggage each way to Helsinki. I wasn't happy and I'm still not happy. I was prepared to pay the cost to have the torch because it was a very special diving trip but the packet had an 18w bulb in it when I sat down in the hotel room to sort it out.

nigelH

[Tim Ingmire]

Light Cannon. No debate. Best bang for your buck. Buy the non-rechargable option and then with the money you've saved over buying the recharge unit go out and buy 2 sets of rechargable c cells and a charger.

With a set of fresh batteries you'd need a seriously expensive umbilical torch to outclass it. Don't buy a Halcyon torch right now given the question marks over spares from their supplier.

[tom]

Originally Posted by Timing

Light Cannon... With a set of fresh batteries you'd need a seriously expensive umbilical torch to outclass it.

Yeah, the light cannon looks like a great torch and I've been impressed when I've dived with people using them. Only reason I haven't bought one is that I want a hands-free torch, which means umbilical.

I'm currently using a little Princeton Tec Surge (12v, 8-10 Watts I think) worn on the back of my hand (using a soft Bowstone hand mount), and it's SO much easier than using a pistol-grip torch.

It's a great little torch, but I really want something with a bit more power for the winter. Ideally I"d be looking for a 20-30w Halogen umbilical with 2hr burn time. For as little dosh as possible. The cheapest of the Halcyon offerings looks the best option at the moment, though I'm less keen on the fact that it's an HID. Any other suggestions?

(Scubajay - sorry for hijacking the thread - hopefully any responses will be useful to you too)

[gunsentry]

Originally Posted by Garf

I use the halycon proteus3 as my primary. Tis a fine fine torch indeed.

Yes indeed. Fine example of quality bit of kit.

[Noel Johnson]

My Princeton tec shockwave (rechargable) does everything I could ever need, it's bright and robust. Dawn uses a D4R and that's pretty good too. The main advantage the D4R has over my shockwave is taht it has two bulbs in it (high and low intensity) but I've had mine since I started diving 4 years ago and I'm still on the same bulb... You wouldn't go far wrong with either of these.

HTH

Noel

[JohnK]

I`ve got the UKD8R as well and have had for 4 years. This bugger is bomb proof, twin bulbs (still the originals) and still works perfectly despite dropping, bashing, etc etc.

Im going to upgrade to an umbilical so if you fancy a cheaper second hand UKD8R, pm me. (also got the recharger)