umbilical torches ( which has been good in your brief opinion )

[JohnK]

Salvo 21w HID. - cant beat it for light output at the price.

[nigelH]

I have a Halcyon Proteus 6 10w HID focusable umbilical. It has had more new bulbs than dives and last time in the water it went out after a minute or so and I suspect the ballast is chopped.

Frankly I'm getting tired of throwing money at it to try and make it work.

The occasion where I was sent a new bulb, sixty quid odd, put it in my luggage, took it to Finland paying excess baggage at 8 quid a kilo and then discovered they had sent me the wrong part (right label wrong bulb) is not a happy memory.

[Reikimaster]

Originally Posted by nigelH

I have a Halcyon Proteus 6 10w HID focusable umbilical. It has had more new bulbs than dives and last time in the water it went out after a minute or so and I suspect the ballast is chopped.

Frankly I'm getting tired of throwing money at it to try and make it work.

The occasion where I was sent a new bulb, sixty quid odd, put it in my luggage, took it to Finland paying excess baggage at 8 quid a kilo and then discovered they had sent me the wrong part (right label wrong bulb) is not a happy memory.

So what are you going to get as a replacement?

[Scuby]

Never seen one myself, but there are some new LED umbilicals that are supposed to be just as good as a good HID, but far more robust and I expect cheaper. I know FaMi and Greenforce do them, not sure about others. Divers Warehouse defiitely have them listed, might be worth a look, although I'd want to see one in the water for myself before actually buying one.

David

[Keiron]

Seen the FA-Mi umbilical at my LDS a couple of days ago, it's a completely modular system too so it could be turned from umbilical to hand-held and visa-versa. Good bright beam but, against a 21w 9ah Salvo is the test I guess?

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by Reikimaster

So what are you going to get as a replacement?

I was going to watch threads like this and see what isn't stabbing the owners in the back and try one of them.

However we are getting near the date of my annual dive medical so I'm in training for the dreaded step-ups and I don't buy anything until it is over.

Off to Brixham with my BSAC club for a week first thing tomorrow.

[Al_Star]

Another vote for the 21W Salvo light - fantastic bit of kit.

Cheers
Al

[johntemp]

Originally Posted by JohnK

Salvo 21w HID. - cant beat it for light output at the price.

I must be the only one that thinks £600+ is a very expensive torch no matter how good it is.

[Al_Star]

Originally Posted by johntemp

I must be the only one that thinks £600+ is a very expensive torch no matter how good it is.

The thought crossed my mind - but I've found it invaluable since I got it. When it's a bit murky and the ambient light has dropped the HID's cut through it like you wouldn't believe. My buddies all have HID's and we actually use them set in the spotlight mode (also known as lightsaber) to signal to each other.

Besides anyone who complains about cost secretly wants one and is just trying to upset people who've spent lots of money on a torch

[royplumber]